A Recap of Wildlife Jewels' World Wildlife Day Celebration in Newport Beach
A Recap from Wildlife Jewels World Wildlife Day Celebration Newport Beach at the Newport Beach Civic Center Community Room & Park, March 1, 2025 | Event Photographs by Troy Michael Photography, Artwork & Fashion Exhibit by Wildlife Jewels Collections
🌿✨ We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who joined us for our World Wildlife Day Celebration in Newport Beach! 🦏🐋🎨
On Saturday, March 1, Wildlife Jewels hosted a vibrant community event at the Newport Beach Civic Center Community Room & Park, bringing together nature enthusiasts, community members, and wildlife conservation and rescue organizations. Our mission was to raise awareness about precious wildlife through inspiring presentations, community engagement, and the arts—while also enhancing the city's natural beauty with vibrant blooms for pollinators and promoting wildlife conservation.
It was an unforgettable day filled with art, fashion, education, and conservation—featuring the Wildlife Jewels’ Collections art exhibit and incredible guest speakers who shared their expertise and efforts to protect wildlife and their habitats.
We explored and discovered wildlife, including Sea Lions, Hummingbirds, Butterflies, Pelicans, Rhinos, and Antarctic Krill, while learning about the threats they face. We planted for hummingbirds and butterflies and brought Wildlife Jewels’ featured wildlife drawings to life through our collective community painting. Plus, we had the joy of welcoming two precious rescued hummingbirds!
We hope this event inspired and empowered our community to take action in protecting wildlife. Thank you to everyone who joined us, contributed to the collective art, planted for pollinators, and supported our conservation efforts.
Amazing to bring together incredible organizations on this special day, all sharing the same mission of protecting and preserving wildlife and their habitats—from California to South Africa and Antarctica! Together, we are empowered to create transformative impact for our precious wildlife!🌍💚
Thank you so much to Supervisor Foley's Monarch Butterfly Committee for joining us and distributing milkweed seed packets!
Event Highlights
🎨 Wildlife Jewels Collections Art & Fashion Exhibitions – A stunning display of original fine art pieces from the Arts of Wildlife™ and fashion designs from the Dress for Wildlife® inspired by wildlife. Each work of art, created by Wildlife Jewels’ artist and executive director, showcased precious wildlife we’ve observed and cherished over the years.
🖌️ Paint for Wildlife powered by Wildlife Jewels Arts– Participants joined in creating a collective painting featuring Wildlife Jewels’ Meet Our Jewels wildlife drawings. Some of the wildlife featured were Wildlife Jewels’ Pink Tourmaline the Pelican, Gray Sapphire the Gull, Sapphire the Antarctic Krill, Mandarin Garnet the Monarch Butterfly, Smoky Quartz the Elephant Seal, Peridot the Hummingbird, Amethyst Thandi & Zolani the Rhinos, and our newest Jewel to be revealed soon, a precious Adélie penguin!
It was so inspiring to see the community contribute to this artwork while learning about each wildlife’ story!
🌱 Planting for Hummingbirds & Butterflies powered by Wildlife Jewels Plant for Wildlife
We planted native plants at Civic Center Park, carefully selecting species to support Monarch Butterflies and Hummingbirds, including Narrowleaf Milkweed, Salvia, and Hummingbird Sage!
A Magical Moment
One of the most touching highlights of the day was welcoming two rescued hummingbirds! Thanks to Cindi Galey from the Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center Hummingbird Rehabilitation, we met two precious hummingbirds—one with an injured foot and another with an injured wing—receiving the care they need.
Inspiring Guest Speakers & Exhibiting Organizations
A special thank you to our guest speakers and partner organizations for sharing your invaluable work!
Featured Speakers
Debbie McGuire, Executive Director at the Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center
Cindi Galey, Hummingbird Rehabilitation Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center
Mariah Sabo, Education Specialist at the Newport Bay Conservancy
Mary Liesegang, Program Manager at Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition
Lindsey Koch, Public Education & Outreach Coordinator at Pacific Marine Mammal Center
Staci Cash, Animal Control Officer at the City of Newport Beach
Mike Veale, CEO Global Conservation Force
Host: Azi Sharif, Executive Director at Wildlife Jewels
Topics Covered:
🔹 Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation – Insights into native wildlife, seabirds, marine mammal rescue and care, including the threats they face from fishing gear entanglement and ingestion.🔹 Habitat Preservation – The importance of protecting wetlands and natural habitats for biodiversity.🔹 Anti-Poaching Initiatives – Efforts to save rhinos, pangolins, and other majestic wildlife from poachers.🔹 Antarctic & Southern Ocean Wildlife Inhabitants – The magical wildlife of these regions including the Antarctic Krill and Penguins, and why their conservation is crucial.🔹 Hummingbirds – Fascinating facts about hummingbirds, ways you can protect them, and the threats they face.
Exhibiting Community Partners
Wetlands & Wildlife Care Center, Newport Bay Conservancy, Pacific Marine Mammal Center, City of Newport Beach Animal Control, Global Conservation Force, Bolsa Chica Reserve Watch, Ocean Animal Response and Research Alliance, Bolsa Chica Land Trust
Inspiring Day! We planted flowers for hummingbirds & butterflies, learned about the native plants they love, explored fascinating facts about hummingbirds & butterflies, innovations inspired by them, the major threats they face, and how to protect them. We also had the chance to witness two precious rescued hummingbird in care, admired hummingbird & butterfly-inspired fine art, and enjoyed delicious cupcakes!
Lovely Plants by Roger’s Gardens & Wildlife Jewels
Cupcakes by Sprinkles Cupcakes
Original Fine Art and Fashion Designs by Wildlife Jewels Arts of Wildlife™ and Wildlife Jewels Dress for Wildlife®
Wildlife Jewels World Wildlife Day Celebration Plant for Hummingbirds & Butterflies at the Newport Beach Civic Center Park
Meet Wildlife Jewels Peridot the Hummingbird: Discover her story and her fine arts collection.
Past Wildlife Jewels Plant for Wildlife Events
📷 📹 © Wildlife Jewels Plant for Hummingbirds & Butterflies at Castaways Park
