Migration Celebration at Ballona Discovery Park

Kids swarmed Ballona Discovery Park on Saturday, May 18th for the 7th annual Migration Celebration. Hosted by Friends of Ballona Wetlands, the event provided hands-on activities about birds and other wildlife in our region. Tours of the Freshwater Marsh were also offered as well as live programs in the park amphitheater.

Above: Tongva Nation representative Robert Dorame led a chorus of traditional songs. Below, a eurasian falcon from Raptor Events eyes visitors.

Amphitheater events included indigenous Tongva music and live raptor demonstrations. Food trucks provided tasty eats, with the snow-cone truck drawing the biggest little crowd.

Above: The tide pool touch tank. Below: Marvin the Owl makes friends.

Ballona Discovery Park is owned and operated by a partnership of Friends of Ballona Wetlands, Loyola Marymount University and Playa Vista. The park land and partnership arose from a decades-old settlement agreement related to the Playa Vista development.

Enjoy your Ballona Wetlands!

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Author’s disclosure of affiliations:

Dr. David W. Kay served on the Board of Directors of the non-profit Friends of Ballona Wetlands from 2007 until 2015, and served as Board President in 2012-13. He presently serves on the Board of Ballona Discovery Park in Playa Vista. Dr. Kay is a staunch advocate for the state of California's plans to restore the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve.

From 1984 until 2022, Dr. Kay was employed by Southern California Edison Company, exclusively in the company's environmental services organizations. His many responsibilities included restoration of the 440-acre San Dieguito Wetlands near Del Mar. He retired in 2022 as Senior Manager for Major Project Environmental Management at the company, after 38 years of service.

Dr. Kay earned bachelor and masters degrees in biology and a doctorate in environmental science.

See Dr. Kay’s Patch Community Contributor profile here.