Eyes In The Sky

Education Program
Connecting People With Nature

Eyes in the Sky (EITS) is a key education program with the Santa Barbara Audubon Society. Since 2000, EITS has brought a variety of programs to children and adults in the Santa Barbara area. EITS features wildlife messengers-—birds of prey native to our area that are no longer capable of surviving in the wild. The birds’ physical presence and their unique individual stories of survival following conflict with human activities educate about the impacts of human actions—both good and bad. They inspire respect and understanding for local wildlife species and their habitats.

While available to all students, EITS has focused on reaching students in low-income area elementary schools, where few opportunities exist for wilderness experiences or field trips. Children have much to gain from connecting with nature.

Meet Your Wild Neighbor

“Meet Your Wild Neighbor” is the corner-stone EITS program. In this acclaimed five-week science program, tailored to California Science Education Curriculum Standards, children learn about local species, how each is adapted to the environment in which it lives, and how each is impacted by human activity.

First Graders are introduced to a dozen neighborhood birds, second graders learn about Santa Barbara raptors, and third graders study local seabirds. Each program ends with a field trip where the students get the chance to find and identify the birds they had been studying.

EITS also offers one-time educational programs in classrooms, provides presentations to community groups and participates in local events such as Earth Day.

View & download the Meet Your Wild Neighbor Flyer.

The Santa Barbara Audubon Aviary

EITS has been providing regular informal programs at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History (SBMNH) as part of its outreach efforts. In 2004, SBMNH’s Executive Director, Dr. Karl Hutterer, brought up the possibility of permanently housing the birds at the Museum. SBMNH and the Santa Barbara Audubon Society (SBAS) have been working together towards this goal. SBAS raised $250,000 to build the physical housing structure and continues to run the education program. Both organizations are benefitting; SBMNH has gained an enhanced educational experience to offer its visitors, and SBAS has gained permanent and secure housing for the birds in a beautiful setting with enhanced public exposure.

How Can I Help?

We need your monetary or in-kind support. You could:

• Help sponsor classroom programs. A donation of $150 pays for a single classroom visit, $200 pays for one MYWN classroom session. $1,000 pays for a full five-week series including colorful curriculum materials for all students.


• Fully or partially sponsor individual birds through our Adopt-A-Bird Program. $250 pays for food for our four adult birds for one month. $120 feeds one orphaned owl chick for one month.


• Provide or discount printing services for classroom aids and promotional material.


• Order an EITS product for yourself or as a gift. We offer note cards, a CD featuring Max and his foster chicks, and t-shirts.

Make checks payable to: Santa Barbara Audubon Society Memo: EITS Note how to use your donation. Mail To: Santa Barbara Audubon Society 5679 Hollister Ave. Suite 5B Goleta, CA 93117 Thank you for your support!

Or you can donate right here and now on line with your credit securely throught Paypal.

Our birds are rescued raptors that have permanent disabilities and cannot be released back into the wild. Each bird brings to life its species’ natural history and has its own personal story of survival to tell.

Max – Great Horned Owl

Photo by Dianna Ricky

Ivan – Red-tailed Hawk

Photo by Gabriele Drozdowski

Puku – Western Screech Owl

Photo by Madison Chase

Kachina – American Kestrel

Photo by Adam Lewis

Kisa (Keesa) – Peregrine Falcon

Photo by Gabriele Drozdowski

Athena – Barn Owl

Photo by Darryl Metzger

Santa Barbara Audubon Society Contact Information:
Chapter office address:
5679 Hollister Ave., Suite 5b
Goleta, CA 93117
805-964-1468
Chapter email: Info at SantaBarbaraAudubon.org
Webmaster
Updated: November 25, 2012