From the desk of
Katherine Emery, Executive Director
Through our Education and Conservation/Science committees, Santa Barbara Audubon Society (SBAS) is actively working on several initiatives. This update provides an overview of selected current projects, goals, and opportunities for member engagement.
April 21, 2026
Dear Birders,
This spring, I birded on Kinevan Road. We saw an American Robin. I learned why people trek to low altitude mountain areas during bird migration. I appreciated expert birders’ wealth of knowledge, humor, and company.
American Robins can be a sign of spring to come, joy, resilience, good fortune, and positive personal growth. Whether or not that’s all true, I don’t know. I do know two things: with their orange breast, plush belly, and cheery song, robins on a wire or digging for worms in dirt are delightful to watch; second, I always learn something new in the field with Audubon birders.
I learned that during migration, some birds select low peaks to fly over to save energy. For raptors, such as eagles and hawks, soaring with low-altitude ridge uplift also conserves energy. For birders, in theory, locations such as Kinevan Road are more accessible than higher mountain peaks to see unique migrating birds. The trees were full of leaves. We heard many but saw few birds. Regardless, connecting with people curious about nature was rewarding.
Today, Santa Barbara Audubon Society is working hard preparing for spring outreach at Nojoqui Falls Park (celebrating exciting SBAS Purple Martin education signs), Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, Community Environmental Council Earth Day, SBAS – Santa Barbara Botanic Garden Bird Month, MOXI, and Cachuma Lake, among other places. We encourage young science students by selecting recipients for the Joy Parkinson Award at the Santa Barbara County Science Fair and supporting bird-related research by UC Santa Barbara undergraduates at North Campus Open Space. We also prepare for summer education programs.
Thank you, community partners, SBAS Board, committees, donors, members, and outstanding staff, for your commitment and support to do this vital work. Thank you also to fellow leaders and hosts, Nonprofit Resource Network, and Leading from Within, for sparking discussion about organization growth and Leading High-performing Nonprofit Teams at the Executive Director Roundtable. I am honored and grateful for the many colleagues I have met through SBAS.
Collaborating with other organizations and growing awareness about nature and birdlife fill me with optimism and hope for the future. I invite you to join me on an Audubon bird walk and take a moment to observe the robins around us. We also have fun new early/mid-career social birding opportunities and open Board leadership positions. Contact me to learn more.
Happy birding. Wishing you a wonderful summer!
Katherine Emery, PhD
Executive Director
Santa Barbara Audubon Society
