Distressed California Brown Pelican Rescued by Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew, October 13, 2026. / Azi Sharif
💙 A Brown Pelican in Distress. Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew Responds!
On October 12, a beautiful Brown Pelican was found disoriented at a machine shop in National City, California, after reportedly colliding with a fence. Concerned community members immediately contacted wildlife rescue services seeking help for the distressed bird.
💔 Unfortunately, the following day, October 13, the precious pelican was still in the same location, barely moving and in urgent need of help.
The concerned individuals then found Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew and called us, sharing a photograph of the distressed pelican.
💙 We immediately prioritized her rescue, traveling nearly an hour to reach her and arriving within approximately two hours of receiving the call!
When we arrived, it was heartbreaking to see this beautiful pelican still stranded, disoriented, and in urgent need of help.
Our Rescue Crew safely contained her and transported her to a wildlife rehabilitation facility for professional care.
A huge thank you to the compassionate people who found her and continued seeking help! Your care and persistence made a difference, giving this precious pelican the opportunity to receive the care she urgently needed.
Every moment matters when wildlife is in distress! Injured birds can deteriorate quickly, and timely reporting and rescue can make a critical difference in their chances of survival.
🚨 Found an injured or distressed bird in San Diego or Orange County? Please submit a Wildlife Jewels Emergency Wildlife Report as soon as possible and continue observing the bird from a safe distance. Your report helps our Rescue Crew assess the situation and coordinate a response.
👉 Report Wildlife: WildlifeJewels.org
💎 Every bird matters. Every life is precious.
💙 Support Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew: WildlifeJewels.org/donate
Watch Ruby's Magical Rescue and Family Reunion
From a tiny egg to an extraordinary family reunion, experience Ruby's remarkable journey in our Wildlife Jewels rescue film.
📸🎥 Photo & Video Credits:
Photography: Azi Sharif, Ben Johnson & Janis Jones
Videography: The Ocean Alchemist, Azi Sharif, Alesia ONeil, and Community contributors
💙 A special thank-you to everyone who contributed to Ruby’s journey—from our community wildlife observers and Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew to the wonderful team at Shalom Wildlife Hospital. Together, we helped give Ruby a second chance in the wild! 💎
Help Us Protect More Precious Lives Like Ruby’s
Wildlife Jewels® is a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting wildlife from human-caused threats through art, science, technology, education, observation, rescue, and community collaboration.
Along the Southern California coast, seabirds face serious challenges, including fishing-gear entanglements, injuries, illness, habitat disturbances, and other threats.
Through our EYES® and Rescue Crew programs, we work to identify wildlife in distress, respond within our authorized scope, and help vulnerable birds receive the care they need.
Your support helps us continue wildlife monitoring, search and rescue operations, and community education to protect our precious coastal wildlife.
Together, we can protect more precious lives and create more stories of hope.
Our wildlife rescue efforts rely on generous donations from supporters like you. Help us save more birds in need!
💙 Support Wildlife Jewels Rescue: https://wildlifejewels.org/donate
🪽 Report Wildlife in Distress: https://wildlifejewels.org/report-wildlife
Why Search Scout Surveys Matter
Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew Search Scouts help identify wildlife in distress through regular field observations along Southern California's coastline.
These surveys are an important part of our early detection and rescue response efforts, allowing us to:
Identify injured, sick, entangled, or distressed wildlife.
Document observations and monitor animals requiring follow-up.
Coordinate appropriate rescue responses with authorized personnel and wildlife rehabilitation partners.
Help wildlife in need reach professional care when rescue is possible.
Through our EYES® wildlife observation program and Rescue Crew, Wildlife Jewels connects field monitoring with coordinated action to protect wildlife from threats along our coast.
Learn about Wildlife Jewels EYES and ways you can get involved!
Learn about Wildlife Jewels Rescue and ways you can help!
Wildlife Jewels continues to document seabird entanglements in La Jolla, particularly at Point La Jolla, as birds face fishing gear and other pressures.