Event Recap: Wildlife Jewels’ New Year Sweep for Wildlife at Corona del Mar State Beach
What a fabulous day at the coast! 💙 Thank you to everyone who joined Wildlife Jewels for our New Year Sweep for Wildlife at Corona del Mar State Beach. Together, our community made the shoreline safer for both people and wildlife—while learning about our local seabirds and marine life, the threats they face, and simple actions we can all take to protect them.
What a fabulous day at the coast! 💙 Thank you to everyone who joined Wildlife Jewels for our New Year Sweep for Wildlife at Corona del Mar State Beach.
Together, our community made the shoreline safer for both people and wildlife—while learning about our local seabirds and marine life, the threats they face, and simple actions we can all take to protect them.
Our Focus for the Day
Protecting Coastal Wildlife
We removed debris that can injure, entangle, or poison seabirds and marine animals—especially fishing line and small plastics that often go unnoticed.
Community Education
Along the way, we shared quick, engaging facts about the seabirds and marine life we observed, how to recognize signs of wildlife distress, and when and how to report injured coastal wildlife.
Threat Awareness
We highlighted common hazards found on our beaches—food waste, plastics, fishing gear, and hot coals—and discussed how everyday choices can help prevent harm.
What We Removed Together
Volunteers collected a wide range of debris, including:
Food & drink waste: soda and beer cans, bottle caps, plastic forks and knives, glass bottles, candy and chocolate wrappers, napkins, and straws
Beach fire debris: burnt wood, charcoal, and coal fragments found on the surface and buried beneath the sand, especially around fire pits
Plastics: fragments, packaging, balloon pieces, ribbons, wraps, and toys
Miscellaneous debris: rope pieces, foam, and other litter
Fishing line: numerous strands found near the seawall and shoreline edge, posing a serious entanglement risk for birds
A Close Call
One volunteer spotted a seabird attempting to reach food inside a plastic bag—an important reminder that feeding seabirds and leaving food unattended can be extremely dangerous. Wildlife can ingest plastic while trying to reach food, leading to serious injury or death.
Practical tip: Always pack out all food and wrappers, and never feed wildlife.
Wildlife We Observed
It’s always inspiring to learn from wildlife while we clean. Sightings included:
Heermann’s Gull
Western Gull
California Gull
Brown Pelican
Cormorants
Each sighting is a reminder of who we’re protecting with every piece of debris removed.
Learn & Help: Fast Tips
Spot & report distress: If you see an entangled or injured bird or marine mammal, keep a safe distance and immidiately contact the nearest wildlife rehabilitation or rescue centers. Refer to Wildlife Jewels’ wildlife rescue resources for information.
Pack it out: Take all food, wrappers, balloons, plastics, and gear with you.
Respect wildlife: Enjoy from a distance—never feed wildlife.
Fire-pit safety: Use only designated fire pits and fully cool and properly dispose of coals.
Thank you for starting the new year with purpose, care, and community. Every action—big or small—helps protect our coastal wildlife. 💙
Get Involved
Join our Sweep for Wildlife Group
Join our EYES (Engage Your Eyes for Sea Life) Collective Group— Help us spot, document, and report distressed wildlife and threats to wildlife as volunteer or as a community reporter on your regular beach walks.
Learn how to join the Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew— Help us rescue distressed coastal wildlife.
Volunteer with Wildlife Jewels — Outreach, Education & Arts Committees. Help with events, school programs, and creative projects that inspire our community to protect wildlife.
Some of the highlights from the day!
Meet Wildlife Jewels Selenite Crystal the Gull ✨
Selenite Crystal the Gull, April 2025 at CDM State Beach
One of our dedicated volunteers spotted a precious bird with one missing foot and the other entangled in fishing line.
December 15th 2024, Corona del Mar State Beach
Fishing Gear
Every day, countless seabirds, sea turtles, and marine mammals suffer injuries or lose their lives due to entanglement in fishing lines and hooks. This includes the tragic consequence of swallowing fishing hooks.
Hooks and lines caught in debris can lead to devastating entanglements for animals, causing injuries to legs, wings, and beaks of birds. A single hook caught in a beak or mouth can be devastating leading to starvation and death.
Thanks to the dedication of our participants, we were able to locate and remove fishing lines and at least one fishing hook during our clean-up in Corona Del Mar. This debris poses a significant threat to seabirds and shorebirds, especially as lines and hooks become ensnared in branches and seaweed along the shoreline— where these birds search for food.
By picking up debris, even just one fishing hook, you are making a difference saving wildlife!
Wildlife Jewels New Year Sweep for Wildlife: Corona del Mar State Beach
Kick off the year by protecting California’s coastal wildlife—while learning about local seabirds, including iconic brown pelicans and the inspiring story of a resilient resident gull.
Wildlife Jewels New Year Sweep for Wildlife — Corona del Mar State Beach
Kick off the year by protecting California’s coastal wildlife—while learning about local seabirds, including iconic brown pelicans and the inspiring story of a resilient resident gull.
You’re invited to join Wildlife Jewels on Sunday, January 18 (2:00–4:00 PM) for our New Year “Sweep & Learn for Wildlife” community beach cleanup at Corona del Mar State Beach.
Start the year by helping clean up the beach and protecting wildlife. Together, we’ll remove marine debris and share stories of the incredible wildlife we’ve had the privilege of observing at CDM—including California Brown Pelicans and a resilient local California Gull we’ve been monitoring for over a year due to an entangled foot.
Presented by Wildlife Jewels®: Learn from Wildlife® • Sweep for Wildlife™ • EYES (Engage Your Eyes for Sea Life)™
Wildlife Jewels Sweep for Wildlife at Corona del Mar State Beach, September 21, 2025
Some of the majestic wildlife we observed!
Heermann’s Gll, Western & California Gull; Elegant Tern; Brown Pelican; Snowy Egret; Great Blue Heron; Rock Pigeon, and Cormorants — a reminder of who we’re protecting.
Close Call: Chocolate Save
During our Corona del Mar State Beach cleanup, we spotted a gull with a large piece of chocolate in his beak—seconds from swallowing it. We waited for the split-second drop and removed the chocolate immediately.
Why it matters: chocolate contains the methylxanthines theobromine and caffeine and is toxic to birds; even small amounts can cause serious cardiac and neurologic effects.
Please don’t share human snacks with wildlife. Human foods (chips, sweets, etc.) aren’t healthy for wild animals and can condition them to seek people for food, leading to poor nutrition and other risks.
Please pack out all food and wrappers, and do not feed wildlife.
Gull about to ingest chocolate—we observed and waited until he dropped it for a second, then removed it. September 21, 2025. © Wildlife Jewels® / Azi S.
Some of the highlights from the day!
Meet Wildlife Jewels Selenite Crystal the Gull ✨
Selenite Crystal the Gull, April 2025 at CDM State Beach
One of our dedicated volunteers spotted a precious bird with one missing foot and the other entangled in fishing line.
December 15th 2024, Corona del Mar State Beach
Fishing Gear
Every day, countless seabirds, sea turtles, and marine mammals suffer injuries or lose their lives due to entanglement in fishing lines and hooks. This includes the tragic consequence of swallowing fishing hooks.
Hooks and lines caught in debris can lead to devastating entanglements for animals, causing injuries to legs, wings, and beaks of birds. A single hook caught in a beak or mouth can be devastating leading to starvation and death.
Thanks to the dedication of our participants, we were able to locate and remove fishing lines and at least one fishing hook during our clean-up in Corona Del Mar. This debris poses a significant threat to seabirds and shorebirds, especially as lines and hooks become ensnared in branches and seaweed along the shoreline— where these birds search for food.
By picking up debris, even just one fishing hook, you are making a difference saving wildlife!
Wildlife Jewels Sweep for Wildlife: Corona del Mar State Beach— Event Recap
What a fabulous day! Thank you to everyone who joined Wildlife Jewels® for our Sweep for Wildlife cleanup at Corona del Mar State Beach. Together we made the shoreline safer for people and wildlife—while learning about our local seabirds and marine life, the threats they face, and simple actions we can all take to protect them.
Wildlife Jewels Sweep for Wildlife at Corona del Mar State Beach, September 21, 2025
What a fabulous day! Thank you to everyone who joined Wildlife Jewels for our Sweep for Wildlife cleanup at Corona del Mar State Beach.
Together we made the shoreline safer for people and wildlife—while learning about our local seabirds and marine life, the threats they face, and simple actions we can all take to protect them.
Our Focus for the Day
Protecting Coastal Wildlife: Removing debris that can injure, entangle, or poison birds and marine animals.
Community Education: Sharing quick, engaging facts about the seabirds and marine life we observed—and how to detect and report injured coastal wildlife.
Threat Awareness: Highlighting common hazards on our beaches (food waste, plastics, fishing gear, and hot coals) and how to prevent them.
What We Removed Together
Food & drink waste: soda/beer cans, bottle caps, plastic forks/knives, glass bottles, candy & chocolate wrappers, napkins, straws/stirrers
Beach fire debris: burnt wood, charcoal, and coal fragments—on the surface, buried beneath the sand, and scattered around the fire pits
Plastics: fragments, utensils, packaging, balloon pieces & ribbon/wraps, toys
Miscellaneous: rope bits, foam pieces, and other litter
Close Call: Chocolate Save — Seconds Matter
Our founder spotted a gull gripping a ~3″ × 3″ slab of chocolate—large enough to block the throat in a single gulp. She waited at a safe distance and, the moment the gull dropped it and moved off, safely retrieved and disposed of the chocolate and any litter.
Why we intervened: Chocolate is toxic to birds due to theobromine and caffeine; even small amounts can cause serious neurologic and cardiac problems. We removed the chocolate to prevent poisoning or ingestion.
Practical tip: Please pack out all food and wrappers, and never feed wildlife.
Wildlife We Observed
It’s always inspiring to learn from our local wildlife while we clean. Sightings included:
Heermann’s Gull, Western Gull, California Gull, Elegant Tern, Brown Pelican, Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron, and Cormorants. Each sighting is a reminder of who we’re protecting with every piece of trash removed.
Learn & Help: Fast Tips
Spot & report distress: If you see an entangled or injured bird or marine mammal, keep a safe distance, see our Wildlife Rescue resources.
Pack it out: Take all food, wrappers, balloons, plastics, and gear with you.
Respect wildlife: Enjoy from a distance; never feed wildlife.
Fire-pit safety: Use only designated pits; cool and properly dispose of coals.
Get Involved
Join our Sweep for Wildlife Group
Join our EYES (Engage Your Eyes for Sea Life) Collective Group— Help us spot, document, and report distressed wildlife and threats to wildlife as volunteer or as a community reporter on your regular beach walks.
Learn how to join the Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew— Help us rescue distressed coastal wildlife.
Volunteer with Wildlife Jewels — Outreach, Education & Arts Committees. Help with events, school programs, and creative projects that inspire our community to protect wildlife.
Presented by Wildlife Jewels®: Learn from Wildlife® • Sweep for Wildlife™ • EYES (Engage Your Eyes for Sea Life)™
Wildlife Jewels Sweep for Wildlife at Corona del Mar State Beach, September 21, 2025
Some of the majestic wildlife we observed!
Heermann’s Gll, Western & California Gull; Elegant Tern; Brown Pelican; Snowy Egret; Great Blue Heron; Rock Pigeon, and Cormorants — a reminder of who we’re protecting.
Close Call: Chocolate Save
During our Corona del Mar State Beach cleanup, we spotted a gull with a large piece of chocolate in his beak—seconds from swallowing it. We waited for the split-second drop and removed the chocolate immediately.
Why it matters: chocolate contains the methylxanthines theobromine and caffeine and is toxic to birds; even small amounts can cause serious cardiac and neurologic effects.
Please don’t share human snacks with wildlife. Human foods (chips, sweets, etc.) aren’t healthy for wild animals and can condition them to seek people for food, leading to poor nutrition and other risks.
Please pack out all food and wrappers, and do not feed wildlife.
Gull about to ingest chocolate—we observed and waited until he dropped it for a second, then removed it. September 21, 2025. © Wildlife Jewels® / Azi S.
Some of the highlights from the day!
Meet Wildlife Jewels Selenite Crystal the Gull ✨
Selenite Crystal the Gull, April 2025 at CDM State Beach
One of our dedicated volunteers spotted a precious bird with one missing foot and the other entangled in fishing line.
December 15th 2024, Corona del Mar State Beach
Fishing Gear
Every day, countless seabirds, sea turtles, and marine mammals suffer injuries or lose their lives due to entanglement in fishing lines and hooks. This includes the tragic consequence of swallowing fishing hooks.
Hooks and lines caught in debris can lead to devastating entanglements for animals, causing injuries to legs, wings, and beaks of birds. A single hook caught in a beak or mouth can be devastating leading to starvation and death.
Thanks to the dedication of our participants, we were able to locate and remove fishing lines and at least one fishing hook during our clean-up in Corona Del Mar. This debris poses a significant threat to seabirds and shorebirds, especially as lines and hooks become ensnared in branches and seaweed along the shoreline— where these birds search for food.
By picking up debris, even just one fishing hook, you are making a difference saving wildlife!
Sweep for Wildlife: A Recap from the Wildlife Jewels Coastal Cleanup Day Beach Cleanup & Wildlife Walk in Corona Del Mar!
Wildlife Jewels organized and hosted a community beach clean-up in celebration of Coastal Cleanup Day 2024 at the charming Corona Del Mar State Beach on the 21st of September 2024. This event was part of our Sweep for Wildlife™ program from our Oceans Conservation initiative aimed at cleaning the beach and educating the community about our native wildlife, the threats debris poses to their lives, and ways they can contribute to protecting them.
Wildlife Jewels Coastal Cleanup Day Sweep and Learn for Wildlife walk in Corona Del Mar
Wildlife Jewels organized and hosted a community beach clean-up in celebration of Coastal Cleanup Day 2024 at the charming Corona Del Mar State Beach on the 21st of September 2024. This event was part of our Sweep for Wildlife™ program from our Ocean Conservation initiative aimed at cleaning the beach and educating the community about our native wildlife, the threats debris poses to their lives, and ways they can contribute to protecting them.
We would like to Thank everyone who joined us at the Wildlife Jewels Coastal Cleanup Day Sweep and Learn for Wildlife walk in Corona Del Mar!
Your participation has made a significant impact in protecting our invaluable wildlife. Together, we’ve helped prevent them from ingesting tiny plastic fragments, thin plastic wraps, Styrofoam, chocolate, charcoal, bottle caps, chips & candy wrappers, plastic utensils, and from getting entangled in fishing lines or trapped in plastic wrap. We've also removed glass pieces from the sand that could cause injuries.
During our walk, we had the pleasure of observing beautiful birds like the Western Gull, California Gull, Snowy Egret, and the precious California Brown Pelican. We also noticed potential hazards to seabirds, such as beach visitors feeding gulls bread and nuts.
Your contribution in removing these items from the beach is invaluable, as every piece of debris poses a threat to wildlife.
We're excited to share that we have several wildlife exploration walks and clean-ups planned in the upcoming months! If you're interested in learning more about and participating in our Sweep for Wildlife program activities, sign up through the link provided below!
Learn more about our Sweep for Wildlife initiative and get involved! Help us protect wildlife!
Wildlife Jewels Coastal Cleanup Day Sweep and Learn for Wildlife walk in Corona Del Mar! September 21st, 2024
Fishing Gear
Every day, countless seabirds, sea turtles, and marine mammals suffer injuries or lose their lives due to entanglement in fishing lines and hooks. This includes the tragic consequence of swallowing fishing hooks.
Hooks and lines caught in debris can lead to devastating entanglements for animals, causing injuries to legs, wings, and beaks of birds. A single hook caught in a beak or mouth can be devastating leading to starvation and death.
Thanks to the dedication of our participants, we were able to locate and remove fishing lines and at least one fishing hook during our clean-up in Corona Del Mar. This debris poses a significant threat to seabirds and shorebirds, especially as lines and hooks become ensnared in branches and seaweed along the shoreline— where these birds search for food.
By picking up debris, even just one fishing hook, you are making a difference saving wildlife!