National Richter Scale Day

National Richter Scale Day, observed on 26th April each year, commemorates the groundbreaking work of Charles F. Richter, who developed the Richter magnitude scale, a tool used to measure the magnitude of earthquakes. Whether you’re a seismologist, a science enthusiast, or simply someone interested in the forces that shape our planet, this day offers an opportunity to learn about the Richter scale’s impact on understanding earthquakes and promoting earthquake safety.

The Richter magnitude scale, devised by Charles F. Richter in collaboration with Beno Gutenberg in 1935, revolutionized the way scientists measure and communicate the size and strength of earthquakes. By assigning a numerical value to the energy released by an earthquake, the Richter scale provides a standardized method for comparing the intensity of seismic events, from minor tremors to major earthquakes.

On National Richter Scale Day, we celebrate the legacy of Charles F. Richter and his contributions to the field of seismology. It’s a day to recognize the importance of earthquake monitoring and research in mitigating the impact of earthquakes on communities, infrastructure, and ecosystems.

International Flamingo Day

 

Flamingos are global. They occur in the wild on every continent except for Antarctica and Australia. And birds kept under human care are found in zoological collections across many, many countries. Flamingos have awed and inspired humans and our culture for generations, appearing in stories, art, and other media. To celebrate the global appeal of flamingos, International Flamingo Day occurs each year on 26th April. This is a day to celebrate and advocate for the pink birds and their fantastic wetland habitats.

It falls on the birthday of John James Audubon, an American painter and ornithologist who produced a picture of the American (Caribbean) flamingo for the book "The Birds of America". The holiday was started in 2020 by the Flamingo Specialist Group of the IUCN to draw attention to the difference between the six flamingo species. Four of them are of conservation concern, as they inhabit specific wetlands.

World Pilots' Day

 

World Pilots’ Day is celebrated each year on April 26. This Day recognizes the many contributions of pilots who safely connect millions of passengers around the world every year. It can trace its origins back to 1912 when a young Turkish pilot named Fesa Evrensev took to the skies for the first time. According to Turkish sources, Evrensev flew missions during the 1912-1913 First Balkan War when the combined armies of Bulgaria, Serbia, Greece, and Montenegro took back 82% of their occupied lands from the Ottoman Turks. Twenty years later, in 1933, Evrensev became the first president of the Turkish national flag carrier, Turkish Airlines.

In 2013, prompted by the Turkish Airlines Pilots Association, the International Federation of Air Line Pilots Associations (IFALPA) concluded it was high time that a day was set aside to celebrate pilots Because Turkish pilots initiated this idea, the anniversary of Fesa Evrensev's first flight was chosen.