World Seabird Day: Celebrating and Protecting California's Incredible Seabirds
Elegant Terns © Wildlife Jewels® / Azi Sharif, 2026 La Jolla, California
Happy World Seabird Day!💙
Seabirds are magical, intelligent, and resilient — enchanting ocean travelers who connect land, sea, and sky 💜 💎
Here along the beautiful California coast, we have the privilege of sharing their home, observing them, learning from them, and helping protect them.
But sadly, seabirds are facing an escalating conservation crisis. Warming oceans, shifting fish availability, overfishing, starvation events, fishing gear entanglement, toxic algal blooms, sewage spills, oil spills, plastic pollution, wildlife feeding, harassment, cruelty, and other human-caused disturbances are making survival increasingly difficult.
Through the Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew and EYES field monitoring, we spend hours along the coast documenting seabirds, learning from them, supporting rescues, and helping protect them and the places they need to rest, nest, and survive.
These challenges are not just statistics to us—they are realities we witness firsthand. Through countless hours of routine seabird observation surveys along the California coast, Wildlife Jewels has documented the growing threats facing local seabirds, from starvation events and fishing gear entanglement to habitat disturbance and other human-caused impacts.
Our time in the field has reinforced the importance of early reporting, long-term monitoring, and community education. In 2026, Wildlife Jewels expanded this commitment by launching the Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew to support the search for, documentation of, reporting of, and authorized transport support for seabirds and other coastal wildlife in need.
Every observation contributes to a better understanding of the challenges seabirds face, and every timely report has the potential to help save a life. Together, through science, education, and community action, we can help ensure these extraordinary birds continue to thrive along California's coast.
This World Seabird Day, we celebrate these extraordinary birds — and stand stronger than ever for their protection.
Take action with us
📍 Report distressed seabirds: WildlifeJewels.org/report-wildlife
🛟 Join the Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew to save seabirds: Apply Here
Join the Wildlife Jewels® EYES Collective to spot • document • report hazards and distressed seabirds.
Seabirds © Wildlife Jewels® / Azi Sharif, 2026 La Jolla and Solana Beach, California
Migratory and coastal birds along the Southern California coast — 2026 © Wildlife Jewels / Azi Sharif
Celebrate World Shorebirds Day with Wildlife Jewels at Crystal Cove State Park and discover Willets, Whimbrels, Black Turnstones, Marbled Godwits, and the coastal habitats shorebirds depend on.
Celebrate California Wildlife Day, National Hummingbird Day, and California Biodiversity Day while raising awareness of the urgent need to protect every individual wild animal and the habitats they depend on.
Discover why Antarctic krill are vital to the Southern Ocean food web and how protecting krill helps penguins, whales, seals, seabirds, and other wildlife.
Celebrate World Seabird Day with Wildlife Jewels and learn how field monitoring, rescue support, and conservation help protect California's remarkable seabirds.
Celebrate World Seabird Day with Wildlife Jewels and learn how field monitoring, rescue support, and conservation help protect California's remarkable seabirds.
Today is World Albatross Day.
Last year, during Southern California’s seabird crisis, Wildlife Jewels had the opportunity to document a precious Laysan Albatross receiving expert care at Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center after potentially suffering from domoic acid poisoning.
Happy World Migratory Bird Day 🕊️💙
This year’s theme, “Every Bird Counts – Your Observations Matter,” reminds us that community observations can play a powerful role in protecting migratory birds.
Wildlife Jewels continues to document seabird entanglements in La Jolla, particularly at Point La Jolla, as birds face fishing gear and other pressures.
Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew rescues a distressed cormorant from below the wall at Point La Jolla and transports the bird for emergency wildlife veterinary care.
💔 We’re devastated to see another Western Gull fledgling entangled in fishing gear in La Jolla. On August 10, we documented Beryl, a young Western Gull entangled in fishing line and a large lure. Despite days of searching, we were unable to find her again
Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew found and responded to a Pelagic Cormorant in distress during a Search Scout survey in La Jolla, helping the bird reach emergency veterinary care.
Follow the remarkable rescue of an entangled Brown Pelican at Crystal Cove, from fishing-gear injuries through rehabilitation to his return to the wild.
After weeks of documenting entangled seabirds at Point La Jolla, a precious Brandt’s Cormorant finally became reachable. Meet Azurite and follow her journey from fishing gear entanglement to rescue and a second chance.
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.
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.
Wildlife Jewels continues monitoring injured harbor seal pup Kyanite at La Jolla's Children's Pool. Giving her space to haul out could provide a chance for rescue.
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.
Wildlife Jewels® documented Blue-Banded Brown Pelican 429 during a Point La Jolla Search Scout survey, helping track the bird's recovery after rehabilitation.
During our EYES field surveys at Children’s Pool, we have continued observing the same injured harbor seal pup since June 28. She has a deep wound near her left shoulder/front flipper and appears to have difficulty moving.
During our EYES Children’s Pool survey yesterday, Wildlife Jewels documented a precious seal pup with a concerning open wound on the left neck/shoulder area.
Wildlife Jewels documented a yearling sea lion badly entangled in fishing line in La Jolla before SeaWorld Rescue successfully rescued her. Learn how discarded fishing gear threatens marine wildlife.
A California Brown Pelican in distress at San Marcos High School was safely rescued through coordinated efforts between Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew, San Diego Humane Society, and SeaWorld Rescue.
Thank you to everyone who attended a recent Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew training session at La Jolla Shores.
🚨 California Brown Pelicans need your help
California Brown Pelicans need your help. A concerning number have recently been found distressed along our coast, and other seabirds, including cormorants, are affected as well.
🚨 ENTANGLED WILDLIFE ALERT — La Jolla Cove 🚨
During our recent EYES wildlife monitoring at La Jolla Cove, we documented two entangled Brandt’s cormorants within ~2 feet of each other—including clearly visible rope/line. 💔
We’ve launched a neighborhood group for the La Jolla community to share local wildlife rescue resources and guidance specific to our coastline.
Last week, Wildlife Jewels hosted a hands-on Rescue Crew training in La Jolla focused on coastal birds. Using props, we practiced responsible response skills—how to recognize signs of distress, coordinate safely, and support bird rescue when professional help is needed.
Introducing the Wildlife Jewels Rescue Crew (Pilot Program) for Birds | La Jolla Cove and North County San Diego.
Wildlife Jewels® is launching the Rescue Crew (Pilot Program) in La Jolla to support responsible wildlife observation, reporting, and coordination with authorized responders along the Southern California coast.
Meet Jade — a beautiful sea lion who we recently spotted during our EYES La Jolla monitoring, with a severe entanglement around her neck. Thanks to the quick action of San Diego marine mammal responders, the lines were successfully removed, and she’s now healing beautifully.
We encountered this precious sea lion at La Jolla Cove on July 5th. If you see her—or any other entangled sea lions, seals, or seabirds—please report the sighting immediately using our Entangled Wildlife Form and the rescue hotline numbers provided in the link below.
✨ This gull family, lovingly named The Cliffside Crystals, has been monitored by Wildlife Jewels 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.
Wildlife Jewels Shine Spotlight of the week!
Meet Opal, a precious Greater Roadrunner we recently had the delight of observing at the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve.
Wildlife Jewels World Wetlands Day Walk: A precious California Brown Pelican at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve
Wildlife Jewels’s Explore Wildlife Days: Discovering the Majesty of the Yellow-crowned Night Heron
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