The Earth Day celebration included visits with animals such as this tarantula. Photo by Katharine Schroeder
Group for the East End held its annual Earth Day celebration at Downs Farm Preserve in Cutchogue under soggy skies this afternoon.
Despite the weather, dozens of kids and their families enjoyed nature crafts, visits with an American kestrel falcon, a long-eared owl and other critters, presentations by various environmental groups and a display of marine debris sculptures by artist Pamela Heidtmann.
At one of the craft tables, 10-year-old Owen Searl of Mattituck was busy creating a fish sculpture from bits of plastic found on local beaches.
“It’s insane how much plastic is on the beach,” said Owen. “But making this sculpture is inspiring because when someone sees it, they might pick up plastic from the beach too.”
Earth Day has been celebrated since 1970 and marks the beginning of the movement to protect the environment in countries around the world.
