Entangled Brandt’s Cormorant Rescued at La Jolla Cove
Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew rescued a Brandt’s Cormorant entangled in fishing gear at La Jolla Cove and transported the bird to wildlife rehabilitation for care.
Entangled Brandt’s Cormorant,. Photographed from a distance via zoom. © Wildlife Jewels® / Azi Sharif, Aug 26, 2026.
Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew rescued a Brandt’s Cormorant entangled in fishing gear at La Jolla Cove.
A precious Brandt’s Cormorant was rescued from fishing gear at La Jolla yesterday. 💙
A compassionate community member reported the entangled bird at La Jolla Cove while Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew was already nearby searching for injured and distressed wildlife along the coastline.
Our Rescue Crew immediately responded. With the tide rising and the cormorant at the water’s edge, every second mattered. The bird was safely contained, rescued, and transported to wildlife rehabilitation for care.
Sadly, this was not the only entangled cormorant documented in La Jolla yesterday.
Stay on site and keep her in sight from a safe distance until a rescuer arrives. Immediately:
If you see an entangled, injured, or distressed bird in the La Jolla area, please report it immediately:
wildlifejewels.org/report-wildlife
Community reports play an important role in helping responders locate wildlife in need, assess conditions, and determine whether rescue may be possible.
Every survey matters. Every report matters. Every life matters.
Thank you to International Bird Rescue and Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center for giving Pelican 429 a second chance.
Join Wildlife Jewels EYES or Rescue Crew Search Scout to help us survey coastal areas, document wildlife, identify animals in need, and contribute observations that support wildlife protection and conservation.
Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew rescues an entangled Brandt’s Cormorant at La Jolla Cove on August 26, 2026.
For reporting guidelines in San Diego or Orange County, visit: wildlifejewels.org/report-wildlife
For general emergency and harassment reporting see our Rescue Resources for San Diego County HERE.
Join the Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew to help us track cases, report hrassments, support next steps when needed, and connect animals with authorized care. Trained volunteers may also assist with the rescue and transport of birds.
Join us and together let’s work to ensure safety of our precious wildlife!
Young Western Gull Entangled in Fishing Gear in La Jolla | Wildlife Jewels
Wildlife Jewels is searching for Beryl, a recently fledged Western Gull in La Jolla with fishing line and a lure wrapped around her beak. Learn how to report a sighting.
Beryl the Western Gull, entangled. Photographed from a distance via zoom. © Wildlife Jewels® / Azi Sharif, Aug 10, 2026.
Young Western Gull Entangled in Fishing Gear in La Jolla | Wildlife Jewels
💔 She is only about two months old.
It was devastating today to find one of the precious Western Gull fledglings documented through Wildlife Jewels’ near-daily EYES monitoring since her parents were nesting, now caught in a nightmare of fishing line and a large lure.
The line is wrapped so tightly around her beak that she cannot properly open it to eat or drink. She can still fly, making rescue especially difficult.
One of her parents stood right beside her, looking directly at her as she struggled. It was heartbreaking to witness.
This is what discarded fishing line, hooks, and lures can do to wildlife. In La Jolla, young gulls are fledging, resting, and learning to forage in the same coastal areas where fishing activity continues to put them at risk. Lost and discarded gear can turn these essential coastal habitats into deadly hazards.
Now we need to find her. She can still fly and may return to her nest cliff or nearby areas around Shell Beach and Point La Jolla. Finding her quickly is critical.
🚨 If you see this Gull in La Jolla:
Stay on site and keep her in sight from a safe distance until a rescuer arrives. Immediately:
Call SeaWorld Rescue at (800) 541-7325.
Submit a report to Wildlife Jewels Rescue at wildlifejewels.org/report-wildlife.
She has only just begun her life. We need to find her before this deadly fishing gear takes that chance away.
If you see an entangled, injured, or distressed bird in the La Jolla area, please report it immediately:
wildlifejewels.org/report-wildlife
Community reports play an important role in helping responders locate wildlife in need, assess conditions, and determine whether rescue may be possible.
Every survey matters. Every report matters. Every life matters.
Thank you to International Bird Rescue and Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center for giving Pelican 429 a second chance.
Join Wildlife Jewels EYES or Rescue Crew Search Scout to help us survey coastal areas, document wildlife, identify animals in need, and contribute observations that support wildlife protection and conservation.
For reporting guidelines in San Diego or Orange County, visit: wildlifejewels.org/report-wildlife
For general emergency and harassment reporting see our Rescue Resources for San Diego County HERE.
Join the Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew to help us track cases, report hrassments, support next steps when needed, and connect animals with authorized care. Trained volunteers may also assist with the rescue and transport of birds.
Join us and together let’s work to ensure safety of our precious wildlife!
A Second Chance for an Entangled Brown Pelican
A Second Chance for an Entangled Brown Pelican. One moment of awareness helped change the course of his life. On July 22, 2026, a Wildlife Jewels® Search Scout survey at Crystal Cove State Park became an unexpected rescue mission.
Onyx, the California Brown Pelican July 2026. © Wildlife Jewels
A Second Chance for an Entangled Brown Pelican
One moment of awareness helped change the course of his life.
On July 22, 2026, a Wildlife Jewels Search Scout survey at Crystal Cove State Park became an unexpected rescue mission.
As Wildlife Jewels Founder and Executive Director Azi Sharif began walking toward the beach, she noticed a park vehicle leaving the area. Knowing that local seabirds had recently been facing starvation and a growing fishing-gear entanglement crisis, she stopped to ask park staff whether any birds were in distress.
They alerted her to an entangled Brown Pelican on the beach.
Azi immediately returned to her vehicle, gathered Wildlife Jewels rescue equipment and a large pelican transport crate, and headed down the long trail to find him.
When she reached the beach, the pelican was still mobile and could have entered the water at any moment. Through careful coordination with others nearby, he was safely guided, captured, and secured in the transport crate.
Onyx was then transported to Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center for expert medical and rehabilitation care, where his journey toward healing began.
At the time of rescue, his injured wing appeared severe, and his future remained uncertain.
But rescue creates possibility.
This story is a powerful reminder of why every observation matters. Being present, paying attention, and acting at the right moment can give an injured wild animal a second chance.
From his rescue to the expert medical and rehabilitation care that followed, a community of compassion gave Onyx a second chance—and his story was only beginning.
Every life matters. Every moment of awareness can lead to hope.
Watch the rescue story below, and stay tuned for the next chapter of Onyx's remarkable journey.
If you see an entangled, injured, or distressed bird in the La Jolla area, please report it immediately:
wildlifejewels.org/report-wildlife
Join Wildlife Jewels EYES or Rescue Crew Search Scout to help us survey coastal areas, document wildlife, identify animals in need, and contribute observations that support wildlife protection and conservation.
Wildlife Jewels® Rescue Crew: The Story of an Entangled Brown Pelican Rescue
July 22, 2026
Crystal Cove State Park, CA
Join us and together let’s work to ensure safety of our precious wildlife!
A Growing Crisis: Entangled Cormorants at Point La Jolla
Wildlife Jewels documented at least 10 entangled cormorants in one day at Point La Jolla. Learn about this growing seabird entanglement crisis and ongoing monitoring efforts.
One of at least 10 entangled cormorants documented at Point La Jolla during a Wildlife Jewels Search Scout survey. Photographed from a distance via zoom. © Wildlife Jewels® / Azi Sharif, July 25, 2026.
A Growing Crisis: Entangled Cormorants at Point La Jolla
On July 25, 2026, Wildlife Jewels documented at least 10 entangled cormorants in a single day at Point La Jolla.
The birds were observed during a Wildlife Jewels Search Scout survey and photographed from a distance using a zoom lens. All 10 birds were located on the closed bluff, where public access is prohibited and rescue options are extremely limited.
Over the past month, Wildlife Jewels has documented a sudden and deeply concerning increase in cormorants affected by fishing line and hooks in this area. Several birds appeared to have fishing line wrapped around their bodies, wings, bills, or legs, placing them at risk of injury, restricted movement, starvation, infection, and death.
The location of these birds makes the situation especially challenging. Because they are resting within the closed bluff area, responders cannot simply enter the site to attempt a rescue. Each case requires careful observation, documentation, coordination with the appropriate agencies, and evaluation of whether a safe and authorized rescue pathway is available.
Wildlife Jewels is continuing to monitor the birds' condition, document changes, report cases, and explore every possible rescue pathway.
This is an evolving situation, and we will continue providing updates as more information becomes available.
If you see an entangled, injured, or distressed bird in the La Jolla area, please report it immediately:
wildlifejewels.org/report-wildlife
Community reports play an important role in helping responders locate wildlife in need, assess conditions, and determine whether rescue may be possible.
Every survey matters. Every report matters. Every life matters.
Thank you to International Bird Rescue and Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center for giving Pelican 429 a second chance.
Join Wildlife Jewels EYES or Rescue Crew Search Scout to help us survey coastal areas, document wildlife, identify animals in need, and contribute observations that support wildlife protection and conservation.
Every Observation Matters: Blue-Banded Pelican 429 Spotted at Point La Jolla After Rehabilitation.
Blue-banded Brown Pelican 429 at Point La Jolla, CA. Photographed from a distance via zoom. © Wildlife Jewels® / Azi Sharif, June 24, 2026.
For reporting guidelines in San Diego or Orange County, visit: wildlifejewels.org/report-wildlife
For general emergency and harassment reporting see our Rescue Resources for San Diego County HERE.
Join the Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew to help us track cases, report hrassments, support next steps when needed, and connect animals with authorized care. Trained volunteers may also assist with the rescue and transport of birds.
Join us and together let’s work to ensure safety of our precious wildlife!
From Rescue to Flight: The Inspiring Journey of Two Precious Hummingbirds We Had the Delight of Meeting at Our Planting Event
During our December Plant for Hummingbirds & Butterflies event at Castaways Park, we had the honor of meeting two precious rescued hummingbirds.
Wildlife Jewels® Plant for Hummingbirds & Butterflies Celebration at the Newport Beach Castaways Park
On Sunday, December 8th, Wildlife Jewels hosted a community planting event at Newport Beach's Castaways Park, uniting nature enthusiasts to support local hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, and other vital pollinators. Our goal was to raise awareness about precious pollinators through the arts, enhance the city's natural beauty with vibrant blooms, and promote wildlife conservation. Thanks to the dedication and generosity of our supporters, we successfully planted approximately 135 pollinator-friendly plants!
Throughout the event, we planted native flowers that attract and sustain hummingbirds, shared educational information about the importance of native plants, and highlighted incredible facts about hummingbirds and the innovations inspired by them. Attendees learned about the threats these tiny birds face and ways they can help protect them. We also showcased artwork inspired by a special hummingbird and monarch butterfly we helped rescue, sharing their stories and recounting the tale of a hummingbird we had the privilege of caring for.
A highlight of the event was the visit from two precious rescued Hummingbirds, brought by Cindi, Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center of Orange County Wildlife rehabilitation. Everyone had the chance to learn about the hummingbird’s journey and recovery story, making the day even more memorable. It is such a delight to hear that both precious hummingbirds have been rehabilitated and successfully released back into the wild since our event!
Two precious rescued Hummingbirds by Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center of Orange County Wildlife Rehabilitation at Wildlife Jewels Plant for Butterflies and Hummingbirds at Castaways Park, December 8th 2024
Discover the story of these two precious hummingbirds provided by Cindi!
The Juvenile Anna's hummingbird was from Laguna Niguel on December 3. He was trapped in a house for many hours. He collapsed from exhaustion & the home owner scooped him up & brought him to me. He was completely depleted of all energy & had suffered a concussion as a result of hitting his head on the ceiling. He was om pain/ anti-inflammatory medication for 3 days. He was given a special diet to help him recover from exhaustion. He recovered well and was released back into the wild where he was found on December 17.
The adult male Allen's hummingbird was from Irvine & had hit a window. He suffered a head injury & a slight spinal injury as a result of hitting the window. He was near the Google building near John Wayne Airport. There are a lot of glass high risers around that area. This little hummingbird recovered nicely and was released back into the wild on December 17.
To learn more about ways you can help protect hummingbirds from window strikes see the links below.
CollidEscape.org,
Featherfriendly.com
Flap.org
To learn more about Hummingbirds visit ifoundahummingbird.com. To report an injured or distressed Hummingbird you can contact:
Cindi Galey: 714-580-1793
Anne Stratton: 714-454-7707
Image Courtesy of ifoundahummingbird.com | Anna's Male Dec 2024 Release Collage.
Wildlife Jewels “Peridot the Hummingbird Gem” Fine Art +
A lovely Hummingbird nest with two eggs ifoundahummingbird.com
Hibiscus Paraplu Pink at Wildlife Jewels Plant for Hummingbirds & Butterflies at Castaways Park
Photos from our Plant for Hummingbirds & Butterflies Event at Castaways Park, 8 December 2024
Inspiring Day! We planted flowers for hummingbirds & butterflies, learned about the native plants they love, explored fascinating facts about hummingbirds & butterflies, innovations inspired by them, the major threats they face, and how to protect them. We also had the chance to witness two precious rescued hummingbird in care, admired hummingbird & butterfly-inspired fine art, and enjoyed delicious cupcakes!
Lovely Plants by Roger’s Gardens & City of Newport Beach
Cupcakes by Sprinkles Cupcakes
Fine Art by Wildlife Jewels Arts “Peridot the Hummingbird” Canvas mixed media showcased + Wildlife Jewels Collections “Peridot the Hummingbird” ceramic ornament & Mandarin Garnet the Monarch Butterfly Art
Wildlife Jewels Plant for Hummingbirds at the Newport Beach Civic Center | Sprinkles Cupcakes, Roger's Gardens Plants, Wildlife Jewels Collections Peridot the Hummingbird Fine Art & Ornament
Meet Wildlife Jewels Peridot the Hummingbird: Discover her story and her fine arts collection.
📷 📹 © Wildlife Jewels Plant for Hummingbirds & Butterflies at Castaways Park
Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew rescued a Brandt’s Cormorant entangled in fishing gear at La Jolla Cove and transported the bird to wildlife rehabilitation for care.