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.
Dear SBAS Members and Supporters,
First, we hope this email finds you and your loved ones well. My heart goes to those impacted by the recent California fires and other events. Second, we thank you for your continued support of our chapter throughout these challenging times. At the 125th Christmas Bird Count, 187 volunteers counted 214 bird species in the Santa Barbara area. Thank you, CBC leaders and birders! At our 11th Winter Bird Count for Kids, 91 young birders and families led by 44 volunteers counted 66 bird species at Lake Los Carneros. Thank you to the City of Goleta for partnering with us to make this event possible. Coming together as a community is meaningful. We appreciate you.
Over the winter holiday, I reflected on how incredible and resilient people, animals, and plants are. I brought two of my children to Joshua Tree National Park for the first time. Did we want to see a Greater Roadrunner? Yes. Did we see one? No. We saw barren, beautiful protected open space, scampered over boulders, and took a breath to pause and appreciate the stillness and sunsets. I learned that Joshua trees grow after the freeze damages their branch tips; they rely on the Yucca Moth for pollination. The tree’s ability to thrive in frigid temperatures and its mutualistic relationship with the moth are a wonder and inspiration.
As we move into a new year, SBAS remains dedicated to protecting area birdlife and habitat and connecting people with birds through education, conservation, and science. Thank you to our community.
I wish all of you the best for 2025.
Katherine Emery, PhD
Executive Director
Santa Barbara Audubon Society
