Un Viaje por los Humedales: Celebrating Latino Conservation Week with San Diego Bird Alliance

Posted Tue, 10/15/2024 - 17:49

Guest blog by: Rebecca Kennedy, Karina Ornelas, and Andrew Meyer 

San Diego Bird Alliance is a local leader that shares the value and restoration potential for tidal wetland ecosystems. In South San Diego Bay, our remnant tidal wetlands are fragmented, heavily impacted by the development around them, and changing as sea levels rise. San Diego Bird Alliance brings the community to these natural habitats to share and learn about the species that live there and how they need protection and space to live and thrive.

A view of a bay.
A beautiful morning for the event! (Credit: San Diego Bird Alliance).

In celebration of their work and the local community, San Diego Bird Alliance (SDBA) hosted "Un Viaje por los Humedales,” or “Journey through the Wetlands,” as part of their 5th annual Latino Conservation Week (LCW). The event, held on September 21, 2024, celebrated nature and culture, showcased San Diego’s rich biodiversity and the importance of coastal wetlands, and emphasized the importance of collaboration to protect our environment. 

The celebration was held at the Chula Vista Bayfront Park next to the J Street Marsh, and attendees included families, nature enthusiasts, and community members from all walks of life. Everyone was welcomed by the sounds of chirping birds, lapping bay waters, and mariachi music, enjoying activities for all ages in both English and Spanish.

Funding for this event was provided through a partnership between the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Debris Program. This event was also made possible with additional funding from the U.S. Bank.

Exploring the Wetlands

People on kayaks on the water.
The kayak cleanups removed 72.5 pounds of marine debris (Credit: Victor Santos).

Participants embarked on guided tours of the wetlands and park by foot and kayak. 31 different bird species were spotted on bird walks held throughout the day. This event started as a zero-waste, plastic-free event, but actually turned out to be a negative-waste event! Kayak clean-up participants saw a lot of trash in the J Street Marsh. Even with a late start and a breeze kicking up at 11am, the participants removed 72.5 pounds of marine debris from the marsh - 15 pounds were recycled and 57.5 were properly disposed!

Empowering the Community

A set of colorful block letters that spell out LCW.
A fantastic and successful event (Credit: San Diego Bird Alliance). 

Attendees learned about sustainable practices, native plants, and more. This celebration served as a platform for environmental awareness and individual action. Visitors to the ReWild Mission Bay booth wrote postcards describing what wetlands mean to them. 

This event also demonstrated that there is a place for everyone in conservation. Partner organizations showcased the variety of careers available in conservation to those in the Latino Community. This is something near and dear to SDBA Conservation Outreach Coordinator Karina Ornelas, who has planned LCW events for the last five years. “Holding this position gives me a sense of strength because I can be an example for others that conservation is for everyone,” she said. “I really want them to take [away] that there are ways that they can recreate and feel connected to nature and that we need to protect them and that there are careers over there for everyone.”

Cultural Connections

Musicians play their instruments.
Musicians shared their talents and cultural and conservation connections throughout the day (Credit: Victor Santos).

Un Viaje por los Humedales was more than just an educational experience; it was also a cultural celebration. Throughout the day, artists and musicians shared their talents, weaving together the themes of conservation and cultural heritage. Multiple booths offered art activities like painting birds and landscapes, drawing, and crafts. Mariachi Internacional San Diego performed, demonstrating how traditional practices are intertwined with the environment and fostering a spirit of community, which is pivotal to the success of conservation efforts. Visitors played traditional games, such as Loteria, but with a twist focused on birds found in the South Bay.  

Looking Ahead

Participants left with a renewed sense of purpose and connection to the natural world. With over 120 people in attendance, Un Viaje por los Humedales successfully highlighted the significance of wetlands while celebrating the vibrant culture of the Latino community in San Diego.