Peter Thompson coordinates our twice monthly bird walks which usually take place on the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month.
Contact Peter at by e-mail for additional information. If you are interested in volunteering to lead one or more of these walks, contact Peter, because he LOVES volunteers to lead BONUS walks to new and/or unusual areas.
Also be sure to check out our monthly Field Trips.
Bird Walks and Field Trips are BACK!
We will do everything we can for a safe experience, but covid is always a risk. Additionally, SBAS may decide to cancel events should pandemic conditions warrant it. For these reasons, we ask that:
- All attendees be vaccinated, each participant bring a mask to the event, and social distancing be practiced to the greatest extent practicable.
- Masks be worn in car pool situations.
- Prior to attending any bird walk or field trip, please go to santabarbaraaudubon.org/activities for directions and event updates.
The Goleta Beach / Goleta Slough / Atascadero Creek area is one of the go to hot spots in Goleta for birding. The eBird hotspot for the area boasts 232 species. Water fowl, shorebirds, waders, raptors, gulls and other species are not uncommon in their season. Goleta Slough is the main drainage for many of the Goleta valley / western Santa Barbara area creeks, providing waterways for birds to up to and down from the Santa Barbara mountains.
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 rich habitat for many of our avian friends. eBird reports 118 species for this area.
Location: Rocky Nook Park
610 Mission Canyon Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Rocky Nook Park is a lovely oak woodland studded with tall sycamores trees. Mission creek runs along the eastern edge making this park a great riparian habitat where vagrants often are found.
Location: Toro Canyon Park
576 Toro Canyon Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93108
Toro Canyon Park is an oak woodland with chaparral foothills. Opportunities abound for a varied assortment of birds in this area.
Location: Stevens Park
258 Canon Drive Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Stevens Park is nestled in the San Roque canyon. The route we will take follows the San Roque creek which provides nice riparian habitat. The trail goes under the Foothill Blvd bridge where there can often be sightings of White-throated Swifts.
Location: Elings Park
1298 Las Positas Rd, Santa Barbara, CA 93105
Elings park is a 250 acre private non-profit park open to the public. Known mostly for it’s athletic, cultural and natural environs, it hosts varied habitat and trails that can lead one to many places that birds call home.