Spring is finally here! As the rain showers come and go and greenery erupts across our hills, we look forward with excitement to the sunny season ahead. Spring is the season when many of our animals begin to nest or give birth. The number of animals on property blossoms in time with the scenery and the number of visitors grow as well. Appropriately, we celebrate Earth Day during this season of growth and birth and this year, Safari West is the place to be as we welcome both the season and the holiday.
But what is this season exactly? What are we talking about when we talk about spring? In this country, on this coast, in particular, the coming of spring marks a transition from cold and dry to warm and wet. It means the days are getting longer and the world is coming to life. Not everywhere on this planet experiences seasonal cold and heat the way we do, but nearly everywhere (except directly on the equator) experiences wet and dry. So this then is the best way to describe spring; the season when what was dry and dormant becomes wet and thriving. This season takes place in different ways and at different times depending on where you’re standing on the globe, but the results are essentially the same; plants bloom and blossom, birds court and nest, many mammals give birth. It’s a season of life and growing.
Many organisms, both animal and vegetable, have evolved to capitalize on the seasonal bounty brought about by the wet season. For plants, this means timing the appearance of flowers and fruit to coincide with maximum rainfall. For herbivorous animals this means timing births to coincide with all that readily available vegetable matter. Carnivores will also take advantage, timing the arrival of their own young to coincide with the sudden appearance of all those vulnerable new babies.
For migrating creatures, springtime also marks the conclusion of one leg of their ongoing travels. Take birds for instance; in this country, we lose many of our birds in the fall as they head toward warmer southern climes. As spring comes around, the birds return, hopefully timing their trip so that they arrive just as the food supply (whether animal or vegetable) is reaching its seasonal maximum. As humans, we tend to notice that as the cold fades and the warmth increases, so too do the flies and mosquitos. Convenient isn’t it, that so many winged insect-eaters reappear at the same time?
Many of the mechanisms driving springtime changes take place unnoticed. Animals like turtles, bats, and bears come out of hibernation and begin to impact their surroundings, for the most part, sight unseen. Likewise, as deciduous forests once again adorn themselves in leaves, the photosynthetic process steps up and all those new leaves get to work sequestering carbon and releasing precious oxygen into the atmosphere. The season of bounty is critically important to the well-being of the natural world and should be protected and honored. That is one of the many reasons why in 1970, we began to celebrate Earth Day.
Earth Day is an important event for every inhabitant of this planet, but resonates even more critically with Safari West and its staff and supporters. This is a day to quite literally stop and smell the roses; to take just a moment to think about the complex web of systems that allow our species to continue to thrive on this dynamic and ever-changing globe. This year, we are doubling down on Earth Day and turning it into a proper holiday here at Safari West.
Come join us on April 22nd and experience Earth Day from the perspective of a conservation breeding facility and African safari park. You’re invited to attend our Earth Day event and wander our lower grounds, taking in our carnivores, primates, and many birds. We’ll have our specially outfitted Nairobi bus up and running, offering forty-five-minute trek loops through some of the larger enclosures as well. Just climb aboard and tour through our collection of rhinos and giraffes. Experience the Sonoma Serengeti and learn about the magical season of spring, both here at home and in the world at large, all while celebrating Earth Day. We can’t wait to see you there!
