The Cliffside Crystals: Resilience of a Gull Family Facing Plastic and Feeding Hazards
Image Title: Wildlife Jewels’ “The Cliffside Crystals”
Species: Western Gull (Larus occidentalis)
Location: La Jolla, California
Date of Observation: August 15, 2025
Source: Wildlife Jewels® EYES Monitoring Program | by Azi S. / © Wildlife Jewels®
Description: ✨ This gull family, lovingly named The Cliffside Crystals, has been monitored by Wildlife Jewels EYES since nest building at La Jolla Children’s Pool. Despite ongoing challenges from human disturbance, both parents and fledglings continue to persevere—shining as a symbol of hope along our coastline.
We’re happy to share that one of the precious gull families we’ve been monitoring since nest building — whom we’ve named The Cliffside Crystals — are doing well.
On July 30, we witnessed a troubling incident: an adult gull was fed a plastic-covered sauce packet (about 3x2 inches) by a beachgoer. The mother swallowed it, spit it out, and then fed it to her two fledglings — one of whom swallowed it. We’ve been monitoring them closely ever since.
As of our August 15 monitoring, we’re happy to see the fledgling is still doing okay — two weeks after the incident.
🚫 Please DO NOT FEED FULLS. Human food is harmful to their health and can cause malnutrition, dependence, and unsafe behaviors. Even more concerning, adults often pass these items directly to their young.
♻️ Please DO NOT LEAVE TRASH ON THE BEACH. Plastics and food packaging — like chip bags, candy wrappers, and sauce packets — can easily be mistaken for food and cause serious harm to wildlife. Even small items left behind put birds and marine animals at risk.
Let’s keep our coastline safe and our wildlife wild. 🌿💙
Join the Wildlife Jewels EYES Collective to HELP US MONITOR GULLS AND OTHER PRECIOUS WILDLIFE.
Video: Western Gull family at La Jolla © 2025 Wildlife Jewels® | Filmed by: Azi S. | During Wildlife Jewels’ EYES Monitoring
Description: ✨ This gull family, lovingly named The Cliffside Crystals, has been monitored by Wildlife Jewels EYES since nest building at La Jolla Children’s Pool. Despite ongoing challenges from human disturbance, both parents and fledglings continue to persevere—shining as a symbol of hope along our coastline.
Our Post From July 30, 2025
💔This precious 7-week-old fledgling gull chick whom we’ve named Labradorite the Gull— and her devoted parents — have been part of our EYES wildlife monitoring program since the day she hatched.
We’ve watched her grow from a tiny egg into a strong precious Gull, just weeks away from independence. But recently, her family was harassed — chased, hit with objects, and left with plastic waste. Tragically, she ingested one of the pieces of plastic coated in potentially toxic sauce. It was beyond heartbreaking to watch, as the chicks were below the cliff, we were unable to intervene before they ingested the plastic.
⚠️ Gulls are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. It is illegal to harm, harass, or disturb them.
These birds — like all wildlife — deserve respect, space, and a clean home.
Please:
🚫 Don’t chase or throw objects at wildlife
🚯 Don’t leave food or plastic behind
💬Report when you see harassment
📢 Share this to raise awareness
❤️🩹 They deserve to grow up safe and free.
Want to help us monitor these precious gulls and other coastal wildlife? Support Wildlife Jewels’ EYES program.
How You Can Help:
Report Gulls: If you encounter a distressed Gull contact San Diego Humane Society or SeaWorld Rescue.
Keep your Distance: Maintain at least 12 feet distance from the gulls nest area and stay quiet around the nest.
Ensure Public Awareness: Help keep beachgoers and dogs away from the Gulls to minimize stress and potential harm until rescuers arrive.
To REPORT A VIOLATION or Harrassment of Wildife
1- Submit Report to the California Department of Fish & Wildlife CALTIP (Californians Turn In Poachers and Polluters)
2- Submit Report to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).
Join the Wildlife Jewels EYES Collective to HELP US MONITOR GULLS AND OTHER PRECIOUS WILDLIFE.
Wildlife Jewels EYES: Western Gull Family, July 30 2025, © Wildlife Jewels
"Every single wildife is precious. Every single wildlife counts. We must come together to protect and save our magnificent wildlife." ~ Azi Sharif, Executive Director at Wildlife Jewels
Nesting Western Gulls, May 9 2025, and May 17, 2025 at La Jolla
Photo: Pelican with injured foot (May 2025), Nesting. Western Gull (May 2025), Distressed Sea Lion Pup (June 2024), Seal Pup (May 2025) at La Jolla Azi S./ © Wildlife Jewels
Join us and together let’s work to ensure safety of our precious wildlife!