Travis celebrates Earth Day all week

  • Published
  • By Merrie Schilter-Lowe
  • 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – Earth Day is April 22, but Travis Air Force Base will be celebrating all week with activities that include an equestrian demonstration, a bird watching tour and a raptor show presented by the California Raptor Center at the University of California in Davis.

“Earth Day is an annual worldwide event that has been celebrated since 1970 to highlight the importance and need for everyone to protect and conserve our natural resources,” said Penn Craig, 60th Civil Engineer Squadron natural and cultural resources manager.  “The activities we have planned this year focus on some of these resources so people can see for themselves their value.”

The week kicks off with a horse painting session April 22 at 3 p.m. at the equestrian center, located in Bldg. 1846 on Cordelia Ave. Children and their parents will use non-toxic washable paint to decorate a live horse. 

“We will be mixing art, science and the love of horses, said Maj. Deborah Klein, Air Force Legal Operations Agency, Judge Advocate General Corps deputy regional counsel for the western region. “While decorating the horse, we will talk about where the paint goes when we wash it off the horse and our hands.  We’ll also talk about how soil filtration, aquifers and drinking water are all related.” 

The annual Earth Day photo contest begins April 22 and ends April 27. 

“The intent is to encourage Travis personnel and families to discover or rediscover, natural habitats and exercise their artistic talents as well as document their journey,” said Jonathan Carlson, 60th CES environmental management system coordinator and the contest’s point of contact. 

Contestants may submit photos in one or all three categories: flora, fauna and people enjoying nature.   Winners will be announced April 30.

“This year, each category winner will receive bragging rights and a printed package of their photos,” said Carlson.  “For details on how to submit and vote on the winner, visit our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/TravisEnvironmental.”

Bird watching east of the duck pond near the North Gate is set for April 23 from 10 to 11 a.m. 

“It’s a fairly wooded area with lots of old roads to walk on,” said Christopher Reddin, 60th CES wildlife biologist who is hosting the tour.  “We could see barn owls, Swainson’s hawks, American kestrels, turkeys, pheasants or hummingbirds.”

Participants should meet on Turner Street, north of the blue running track, and bring binoculars.  Reddin will have two spotting scopes that everyone can share. 

Everyone with base access is invited to a raptor show at the Community Center in base housing from 10 to 11:30 a.m. 

“We will be bringing Sullivan the Golden Eagle as well as a Swainson's hawk and a great horned owl,” said Julie Cotton, California Raptor Center volunteer and outreach coordinator.  “The presentation will cover raptor basics, with an overview of the features that make a bird raptorial, a summary of general raptor biology and a broad survey of the diversity of raptors.”

The presentation also will cover the reasons raptors are a crucial part of the ecosystem, the threats they face and what people can do to help protect them.

“It is important to show these birds to really connect with people and ensure that the California Raptor Center's message resonates,” said Cotton.  “Some of the most valuable, memorable and enduring lessons about wildlife and conservation come from encountering the real thing.  It is one thing to read about owls … and another thing to meet the gaze of an owl that is standing on its handler's glove only feet away.  People remember such moments.”

 Although spectators will not be able to touch the live birds, they can take part in some hands-on activities. 

“We bring a discovery table of touchable specimens including feathers, wings, bones, taxidermy, pictures and puzzles intended exploration and learning,” said Cotton.

Wrapping up the week’s activities is a horse show April 27 at the equestrian center from 3 to 4:30 p.m.

Sam Noble of American Canyon, California, will demonstrate his horsemanship by showing spectators how to communicate with a horse and move it using body language and the animal’s natural instincts.

“Sam is an expert at how to make working with a horse look like a perfect dance,” said Klein. “When Sam isn’t out roping and riding, he’s a local police officer and certified mounted police officer.” 

For information on any of the events, contact Craig at 707-424-8354 or email penn.craig@us.af.mil.