Friday Bird Walks

Ennisbrook Openspace/preserve/trail, known to the locals as the “100 acre wood” is located along the San Ysidro Creek between East Valley Road to the north and San Leandro Lane  to the south. It is a riparian area rich in Oak woodland with many tall sycamore trees which provide habitat for many of our avian friends. eBird reports 118 species for this area.

Santa Barbara Harbor is a busy place during the day, but one can find many species of shorebirds, gulls, terns and water birds which take advantage of the quiet hours of the early morning.

San Marcos Foothills Preserve is an open space encompassing 200 acres. It offers exceptional views of the channel Islands and the Santa Ynez mountains. It provides habitat for Roadrunners, White-tailed Kites, American Kestrels and several species of Hawks. It is also home to many grassland and chaparral  bird species.

Sand Point road is in a private gated community. Once a year SBAS is given permission to have a bird walk along the length of this otherwise inaccessible road to view the Carpinteria Salt Marsh from the southern side of the marsh. Don’t miss out, reservations are required for the limited 20 spots.

The Andree Clark Bird Refuge is a 42-acre open space which includes a 29-acre brackish lake and wetlands. The lake includes three islands which are sanctuary for many species of birds. One of Santa Barbara’s birding hot spots which includes three platforms for wildlife observations.

Lake Los Carneros (LLC) is one of Goleta’s premier birding hot spots.  Its 25 acre lake and varied wooded and grass land habitats make LLC a wonderful place to visit in the middle of Goleta. Once a part of Rancho La Patera it is now a Mecca for anyone wanting to get in touch with nature.

North Campus Open Space (formerly Ocean Meadows Golf Course) has been restored back to a natural environment more like what existed on this property prior to creation of the golf course in 1965. There are trails for public access and passive recreation. This open space is a great addition to Santa Barbara’s natural heritage which makes our community so special. It will be preserved for the enjoyment of the local community in perpetuity. Come with us to explore how this site is recovering back to it’s natural state.

The Carpinteria Salt Marsh Nature Park is located on the southern (eastern) end of the salt marsh. It provides views into some of the tidal wetlands in that area as well as the area where Franklin creek enters the marshland. A good area for a wide range of avian species.