Every great day deserves a great scribe. did a fantastic job,
Leave it to beavers: Fest of ‘misunderstood’ critters attracts celebrants from near and far
NINA KHAN SAYS beavers are “very isunderstood.” Khan arrived at the 16th annual Martinez Beaver Festival with her suitcase in hand after a flight from Chicago to celebrate the largest rodents in North America.
“Beavers are so undervalued and misunderstood,” said Khan, sustainability leader with the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum near the Lincoln Park Zoo.
The California Department of Fish and Wildlife describes the beaver as an ecosystem engineer because of its dam-building work. Beavers also play an important role in maintaining a diverse habitat for other species.
The Saturday festival at Susana Park featured live musicians, wildlife trading card games, birds, and artists including Amy Gallaher Hall who made a chalk street painting of beavers wading down a river to their den.
The young reporter was so enthusiastic about the event it was fun to chat with her. We were all impressed that Nina arrived with her suitcase!
Khan said her interest in beavers began when she was assigned by the Chicago nature center to conduct a public education session about beavers.
“I didn’t know anything about beavers,” Khan said. “So later on, I did some more research on beavers, and I was just blown away by all the stuff they do.”
Khan hosted a beaver event with John Muir Laws on April 7, International Beaver Day. Laws later introduced Khan to Heidi Perryman, founder of Worth a Dam to support beavers in Martinez.
I never get tired of parade photos. Those picket signs were a great idea. They look great!
The nonprofit organization helps shoulder responsibility for habitat replacement and community education on the beavers.
“Martinez was a pilot project for beaver conservation in California,” Perryman said. “The San Luis Obispo County Beaver Festival had its third annual gathering in April and Colorado had its first beaver festival this year.”
Perryman said the Martinez festival has been a way to teach community members about the value of beavers and prove that beavers can coexist with humans. The annual event brings people together to educate, create, and enjoy the outdoor spaces of Martinez.
I am so glad the multi-faceted day get recorded. I love seeing photos like these,
“When you are passionate about something, it shows and is reflected in the work that is done,” said Leslie Risbrough, a longtime volunteer with Worth a Dam.
This event became a tradition in honor of a family of beavers that made Alhambra Creek their home in 2006. Every year, the festival consists of conservation education, interactive activities, and community engagement with local wildlife organizations.
“I realized the beaver would be safer if we threw a party for them every year,” Perryman said.
Well that makes me sound like a hostage. (Which I might be,) I said that’s how we decided to throw the first festival.
The others were obviously just an addiction.
