Wildlife Jewels’ World Wildlife Day Celebration in Newport Beach + Exhibitor Spotlights Coming Soon
2 Weeks to Go: Wildlife Jewels’ World Wildlife Day Celebration in Newport Beach + Exhibitor Spotlights Coming Soon
With just two weeks remaining, excitement is building for Wildlife Jewels’ 2nd Annual World Wildlife Day Community Celebration in Newport Beach. This special event brings together art, conservation, and community to honor wildlife and inspire action to protect the species and habitats that make Southern California so extraordinary.
Taking place on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at the Newport Beach Civic Center, the celebration invites the community to participate in hands-on activities, explore wildlife exhibits, and connect directly with organizations dedicated to protecting wildlife.
Meet the Organizations Exhibiting at World Wildlife Day
This year’s celebration will feature a remarkable group of organizations working at the forefront of wildlife rescue, habitat conservation, and environmental education.
Wildlife Jewels® is honored to welcome the following exhibiting organizations:
Crystal Cove State Park
Pacific Marine Mammal Center
Newport Bay Conservancy
Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center
Laguna Ocean Foundation
Ocean Animal Response and Research Alliance
These organizations play a critical role in protecting marine life, coastal birds, wetlands, and native ecosystems throughout Southern California.
Exhibitor Spotlights Coming Soon
As the event approaches, Wildlife Jewels® will begin sharing individual exhibitor spotlights, highlighting each organization’s mission, conservation work, and how community members can get involved.
These spotlights will offer a closer look at the people and organizations working every day to protect wildlife and strengthen conservation efforts in our region.
A Celebration of Wildlife, Art, and Community
The World Wildlife Day Community Celebration will feature:
Native pollinator planting activities
Community wildlife painting experiences
Wildlife Jewels® art exhibits and conservation stories
Educational exhibits from conservation organizations
Opportunities to learn how to help protect wildlife locally
This annual event reflects Wildlife Jewels’ mission to protect wildlife from human-caused threats through art, science, education, and community action.
Join Us for World Wildlife Day in Newport Beach
Wildlife Jewels® invites the community to be part of this meaningful celebration and connect with organizations working to protect wildlife and our shared environment.
📅 Saturday, February 28, 2026
📍 Newport Beach Civic Center
🎟 Free and open to the public
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.
💔 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.
🆘 Our Precious Gulls Need Your Help!
A devastating illness is suddenly impacting gulls across Southern California, leaving many sick and dying. Every moment counts — we need your help to spot and report distressed gulls before it’s too late.
💔This precious 7-week-old fledgling gull chick— and her devoted parents — have been part of our EYES wildlife monitoring program since the day she hatched.
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
Rhinos have walked our planet for millions of years, playing a vital role in the wild landscapes they inhabit. Yet today, three of the world’s five rhino species are Critically Endangered.