[Noozhawk’s note: Third in a series sponsored by the Hutton Parker Foundation. Click here for the first article, and click here for the second article.]
If you’re not a natural birder, you may wonder why you should care about birds at all.
Yet, it may surprise you to learn that these feathered flyers are important in keeping our planet’s ecosystems in check.
“Protecting birds means protecting people and our planet,” explained Katherine Emery, executive director of the Santa Barbara Audubon Society.
“Birds serve as indicators of the health of our natural world, acting as living barometers of the environmental challenges we face, and safeguarding their well-being is linked to the ecosystems we all rely on.”
Alarming statistics reveal that, since 1970, the North American bird population has plummeted by 3 billion, primarily due to habitat loss and climate change, Emery told Noozhawk.
The Audubon Society works to protect iconic bird species in the Santa Barbara area, including, but not limited to:
- Golden eagles (protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act)
- California condors (listed as an endangered species under federal and California law)
- Western snowy plovers (listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act)
- Tricolored blackbirds (listed as threatened under the California Endangered Species Act)
- White-tailed kites and purple martins (Santa Barbara County Species of Special Concern)
“It is critical that we act now to reverse this trend,” Emery said.
The challenge, she explained, is balancing bird habitat protection with community recreational demands and state-imposed housing development mandates.
Fortunately for Santa Barbara residents, SBAS is making significant strides in driving change.
By addressing climate change, SBAS has opportunities to protect bird populations by supporting the development of alternative energy sources that prioritize the safety and preservation of bird habitats.
The SBAS Conservation/Science Committee represents the interests of birds by providing expert knowledge, thorough analysis and public comment, and by communicating with local and federal agencies on a range of topics, from the impact of SpaceX launches at Vandenberg Space Force Base to the Manzana Wind Farm’s threat to condors to effects of rezoning land for the county’s state-mandated Housing Element Update.
Behind the scenes are scientists, experts and advocates like former electronic aerospace engineer Steve Ferry, who has held various positions over his 40 years volunteering with SBAS, including serving as co-chairman and conservation chairman.
“I see the environment as going downhill and more and more species becoming extinct with less land available for nonhuman species to live,” he said.
“I’m just trying to do my part.”
Ferry’s “part” included a leadership role over the past two decades working to minimize the environmental impact of the Strauss Wind Energy Project and the Lompoc Wind Farm before it.
During the Strauss environmental review process, SBAS made a herculean effort to minimize the impact of the wind farm on birds, protecting eagles and other raptors from being killed by the project’s giant turbine blades (which are spinning at speeds well above 100 mph at the tips).
“We succeeded in getting the county to insert ‘identify,’ a device that detects eagles and other large birds and shuts down turbines to prevent collision,” Ferry told Noozhawk.
“We continue to be a strong voice.”
SBAS’ Conservation/Science Committee also participates in the Breeding Bird Study (BBS), documenting local breeding bird activity and providing data that helps inform decisions regarding the preservation of select open spaces and natural areas.
As of October 2024, 12,866 observations of 1,194 species in Santa Barbara County have been gathered through the BBS, contributed by more than 340 community members and scientists.
In addition to this work, SBAS participates in other research-based community science projects, including monitoring nest boxes and funding interns to conduct water quality and invertebrate research in local wetlands.
The committee also engages in “Communications with Decision Makers,” meeting with agencies, providing public comments and authoring local conservation letters to champion bird, habitat and biodiversity protections.
The committee convenes regularly with the City of Goleta to provide conservation-minded guidance on the Stow Grove Park, Ellwood and Lake Los Carneros master plans, and consulted on the Cuyama Solar Project.
Birding is intertwined with conservation, and the simple act of watching birds can create a ripple effect beyond our backyards.
This engagement can deepen our connection to nature and inspire meaningful action to safeguard the environment — our collective home.
The Santa Barbara Audubon Society’s Conservation/Science Committee welcomes new members. And SBAS welcomes any level of support to help the organization sustain its advocacy efforts.
The next large event is the Jan. 4 Christmas Bird Count. The more than century-old count is the nation’s longest-running community science project.
On Jan. 25, budding birders ages 8-16 are invited to participate in the 11th Annual Winter Bird Count for Kids at Lake Los Carneros.
Click here for more information about the Santa Barbara Audubon Society, or click here to make an online donation.
Click here to register for the annual winter bird count.
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