Chabot Spectator

Issue date: 4/5/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Bruce Faught The three winners (from left) Alice Wong, Ken Yiem, and Christine Peterson, proudly show their works of art and awards.

Media Credit: Bruce Faught In the hand of Joe Zermeno sits a leaf-like insect known as the Australian walking stick.

On Tuesday, April 3, Chabot hosted the Fifth Annual Return of the Swallows Festival. This event has worked hard to educate the people in the community and at the schools about the necessity for certain animals and insects in our present day society. The swallows are not any different.

The day was warm and sunny, which only added to this environmental experience. A small flock of swallows graced the presence of the festival, flying above the heads of spectators awaiting their arrival, but were scared off by the sound of Francisco Zermeño on the loud speakers.

However, many swallows continued to fly above the festival looking for food or materials to rebuild their nests with.

Swallows are tiny and have an average body mass of .8 of an ounce and grow to a length of 5 ½ inches. However, they have a wingspan of up to 12 inches. These little creatures aid humans in ridding some of the insects that carry life-threatening diseases.

Erika Castillo, a vector biologist, displayed a booth promoting the awareness of the West Nile Virus. Castillo said, "We are trying to educate people about mosquitoes, and what to look for around your house where mosquitoes might possibly live.

After the rainy season, people should check around their yards for wet patches where mosquitoes might be living." At her booth, she had a display of mosquitoes and the different types Californians are exposed to.

How do swallows help in the elimination the threat of West Nile Virus? Next to her table was an insect awareness table displaying a diverse group of bugs presented by Joe Zermeño.

Zermeño, a biology teacher at Ohlone College, offered the answer to the pertinence of swallows when he said, "Swallows eat and feed off insects carrying diseases, such as West Nile. That is why they are important to our environment."

The festival also had contests for students to participate in. The first was a pre-entry art contest. The students were to draw, paint or watercolor some type of aviary.

Alice Wong won first place with her watercolor of a parrot, which skillfully proved her abilities.

Christine Peterson won second for her unique scratchwork drawing of an owl. Ken Yiem won third for his ink drawing of the Connecticut Warbler.

There was also a questionnaire contest for students who attended the event, and the winners were Robert Rimando and Don Emery. Each won $20 for their intellectual prowess about the environment.

The event was called a success and anyone interested to learn more about how to get involved with the Swallows Festival, can contact instructor J. Francisco Zermeño at machetez@sbcglobal.net.

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