[Noozhawk’s note: Second in a series sponsored by the Hutton Parker Foundation. Click here for the first article.]
Education serves as a vital cornerstone of the Santa Barbara Audubon Society, connecting individuals with the avian world while cultivating a deep understanding of the critical need to protect birdlife through its comprehensive conservation and science programs.
The Audubon Society is so committed to this cause that many of its programs are offered at little to no cost, making them accessible to as many locals as possible.
In fact, every day from 2-4 p.m., visitors to the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History can get up close with birds of prey, falcons and Max the Great Horned Owl, at the Audubon Aviary, which is located on the museum’s campus but owned and operated by SBAS.
The on-site program offers touchable specimens, knowledgeable volunteers and the chance to observe birds in detail.
Hannah Atkinson, a master falconer, directs the SBAS Eyes in the Sky program, which has been the flagship educational program for the nonprofit organization for more than two decades.
It was conceived in 2000 by Gabriele Drozdowski, who shared her vision of creating a nature education program featuring live rehabilitated birds of prey trained to interact with the public as ambassador animals.
Each bird has been adopted from a licensed wildlife rescue center; they are considered nonreleasable and would be unlikely to survive outside of human care.
At 29, Atkinson leads the Audubon Society educational program, a role she admits she fell into unexpectedly. Her journey began as an undergraduate literature major at UC Santa Barbara, editing the SBAS newsletter, an experience that sparked her passion for birds.
“I feel like a lot of people in my generation are looking for ways to feel more connected to the land and the world, and to find something meaningful and fulfilling,” she said.
“Many are concerned about the environment and this is a great way to help.”
The Santa Barbara Audubon Society’s Meet Your Wild Neighbor program is an extension of Eyes in the Sky, taking the lessons and birds into local elementary schools.
The program is now in 16 kindergarten through third-grade classrooms in mainly Title I schools, with a revamped curriculum that aligns with next-generation science standards.
The visits take place over three weeks and include take home activities for students.
“Meet Your Wild Neighbor has grown significantly from when it first started 24 years ago,” said Ann Steinmetz, who hosted the very first classroom as a second-grade teacher at McKinley School in Santa Barbara.
“Gabriele brought Max the Owl to our class and hearing her story of caring for Max and watching my students become mesmerized really drew me in,” said Steinmetz, who went on to become education chairwoman at SBAS, where she helped expand the program.
Both she and her husband have been actively involved with the Audubon Society and strong supporters for nearly 40 years.
Atkinson said plans are underway to develop a program with the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History to reach local high school students, likely through AP Environmental Studies classes.
SBAS also sponsors the Aquatic Invertebrate Monitoring Program at UCSB.
The Audubon Society’s educational programs have broad reach, with more than 100 initiatives annually throughout the community, in addition to the daily Eyes in the Sky at the museum.
These include Friday bird walks, monthly bird-themed presentations, field trips and free events open to the public, along with visits to parks, libraries and retirement communities.
Recently, SBAS co-hosted a sold-out event with UCSB Arts & Lectures featuring author Amy Tan.
The next large event is the Jan. 4 Christmas Bird Count, at more than 100 years the nation’s longest-running community science project.
Santa Barbara’s rich biodiverse environment often helps land our city in top place; the count for species last year was 194. Counts are tallied and combined with national data that help track changing trends in bird species.
Young naturalists will discover the thrill of birding at the 11th Annual Winter Bird Count for Kids on Jan. 25 at Lake Los Carneros in Goleta. This fun, free event invites budding birders, ages 8-16 to join expert guides on an adventure to spot, identify and count local bird species.
“It takes a community to protect birds and their habitats,” said Katherine Emery, SBAS executive director.
“I continue to be amazed by the caliber and commitment of our volunteers, staff and partner organizations who all work together to connect people with birds through education, conservation and science.”
The Audubon Society has enjoyed a longstanding, generous partnership with the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History for decades, and also collaborates with the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden, recently celebrating the third annual Bird Month event.
SBAS also collaborates with the Santa Barbara Zoo and UCSB’s Vernon and Mary Cheadle Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration, and is open to new partnerships opportunities that encourage environmental stewardship.
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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