Newport Bay Conservancy celebrates Earth Day by the Bay with residents, visitors

Earth Day might’ve been on April 22, but the celebrations extended into Saturday for environmentalists at the Upper Newport Nature Reserve with Earth Day at the Bay.

The event returned this weekend after a two-year-long hiatus. Sponsored by OC Parks and the Newport Bay Conservancy, the free event included a number of environmentally-themed exhibits from community partners and arts and crafts activities for children. It also featured live music, a scavenger hunt and food trucks.

Organizations like the American Cetacean Society of Orange County, Orange County Bird of Prey Center, Sea & Sage Audubon Society, Environmental Nature Center and Shark Stewards were included among the exhibitors present at the free event Saturday.

Earth Day was first celebrated on April 22, 1970.

Visitors gaze at Luna, a full-grown female western screech owl, during Earth Day at the Bay on Saturday at the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center in Newport Beach.

(Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer)

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