Conservation

The Conservation Committee acts locally to advocate for strong protections for birds and bird habitat, with an emphasis on riparian areas and regional open spaces. We do this through a variety of means, including providing expert knowledge, thorough analysis and public comment, meetings with local officials, and outreach through our supporters. We welcome your interest and involvement.

The Conservation and Science Committees meet jointly on the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30 PM via Zoom.

For further information contact Conservation@SantaBarbaraAudubon.org


Strauss Update: Room for Improvement

Conservation and Science Committee … Our Conservation & Science committee has submitted a public comment letter to the Santa Barbara County Planning Commission for their hearing on Wednesday, December 11, 2024. This highly researched and insightful letter addresses the Adaptive Management Plan for the Strauss Wind Energy Project and recommends changes to the plan that… Read more »

SpaceX launches at Vandenberg Space Force Base

Santa Barbara Audubon Society  joined several environmental organizations to express concern about an increase of SpaceX launches at Vandenberg Space Force Base – from the historic average of 6.2, to 50 launches per year. The Proposed Action is “likely to adversely affect” threatened and endangered species including Western snowy plover, and California least tern. Click here… Read more »

Conservation / Science

The Conservation/Science Committee (ConSci) acts locally to advocate for strong protections for birds and bird habitat, with an emphasis on riparian areas and regional open spaces. We do this through a variety of means, including providing expert knowledge, thorough analysis and public comment, meetings with local officials, and outreach through our supporters. We welcome your… Read more »

Strauss Wind Farm project – Update

Conservation and Science Committee Update Members of our Conservation/Science Committee continue their determined advocacy for local birds and habitat.  Within the last month, Committee members have written three SBAS comment letters to local and federal agencies. Topics included re-zoning land for the state-mandated Housing Element Update, proposed development plans for Naples, and a detailed critique… Read more »

SBAS Comments on Manzana Wind Farm

By Steve Ferry, Project Leader [Editor’s note: This is the full article referred to on page 8 of El Tecolote March-May 2021.]  SBAS is tilting at windmills again!  After a years-long effort to make the Strauss Wind Energy Project near Lompoc safer for birds (article here), SBAS has tackled the Manzana Wind Power Project. The… Read more »