Santa Barbara Audubon Society   A Chapter of the National Audubon Society Santa Barbara Audubon Society Field Trips Wanted: Field Trip Leaders! SBAS Sponsored Bird Walks and Field Trips Bird Walk - Friday February 10, 2012 - Lake Los Carneros Field Trip - Sunday February 12, 2012 - Ventura Duck Ponds Field Trip - Sunday February 18, 2012 - Sandhill Crane Overnight Bird Walk - Friday February 24, 2012 - San Jose Creek Bird Walk - Friday March 09, 2012 - Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Field Trip - Sunday February 18, 2012 - Rancho Santa Barbara Bird Walk - Friday March 23, 2012 - Elings Park Other Trips of Interest to our Members UCSB's Sedgwick Reserve in Santa Ynez: Public walk the second saturday of each month Los Padres Chapter of the Sierra Club Other So. California Birding Organization Field Trips

Clapper Rail, photo courtesy Morgan Ball

Friday Morning SBAS Bird Walks

UCSB's Sedgwick Reserve, Santa Ynez

February 11th, 2012 public walk flyer

The beautiful and rugged Santa Ynez Valley is the setting for a series of monthly hikes and nature activities open to the public each fall and spring on the 6,000-acre UCSB Sedgwick Reserve. On the second Saturday morning of each month, three interpretive hikes - ranging from easy to moderately strenuous - will be led by trained docents who will introduce you to the plant life, wildlife, landscape, and geology of this former private ranch. A fourth stroll for disabled wheelchair folks and children in strollers will be led by a wheelchair-enabled docent. Participants are welcome to bring their own lunch to enjoy under the oaks following the hikes' completions.

The hikes provide an opportunity to see and hike through this pristine property. Get up close to the Little Pine Fault, view wildflowers including the Yerba Mansa, Jewel Flower, Wild Onion, Bush Lupine, California Poppies, and many more, depending on the season and the winter rains. View all three Santa Barbara County Oaks - Valley Oak, Blue Oak and Coast Live Oak along the way.

In addition to the hikes, other activities such as a tour of the old barn, the new observatory, the pond, and the new Tipton House, as well as a set up for painters at the pond, and the use of a bocce ball court are all planned for those who don't want to hike and would like to just enjoy the Reserve attractions while the hikes are being conducted.

The next hike for the 2008/2009 season is set for Saturday, December 13. Hikers should wear long pants and sturdy shoes, bring a hat, water, sunscreen, and hike snacks. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m; the hikes start promptly at 9:00 and finish about noon.

The Reserve supports a large variety of birds, and you may be lucky enough to see many of these on your hikes, however, these are not your traditional "birdwalks". Possibilities include: California quail, Acorn woodpecker, Western meadowlark, Kestrel, Kingfisher, Great egret, Coot, Red-winged blackbird, Red-tailed hawk, Yellow-billed magpie, Western bluebird, Phainopepla, and Roadrunner.

Due to group size limitations, reservations for the hikes are required. Reservations can be made by e-mailing sedgwick@lifesci.ucsb.edu. For all other questions, please contact the Reserve at 805-686-1941. There is no charge for the hikes; donations, however, will be gratefully accepted and go to the operation of the Reserve.

For more information or to make reservations, contact Information, (805) 686-1941.

Directions to the Reserve

From Santa Barbara/South Coast/Lompoc

You can come to the Sedgwick Reserve via State Route 154/Cachuma Lake or via U.S. 101. If coming via 101, exit at the Buellton, State Route 246 exit and turn east. Come through Solvang and Santa Ynez to State Route 154. Turn left. Coming from Lompoc, follow State Route 246 until it intersects with State Route 154.

Going north on State Route 154, watch for Edison Rd (2.2 miles), turn right on Edison (landmark is gray Lutheran church), continue to Roblar (1.1 miles) and turn right. Go 1.2 miles to Brinkerhoff and turn left (landmark is row of evergreen trees). Follow Brinkerhoff 2.4 miles to the end of the road and enter through the open gate. Drive carefully to Studio near Reserve Office, where there is parking.

From Santa Maria Valley and North

Coming south on U.S. 101, exit at State Route 154, Los Olivos. Go south on 154 for approximately 5 miles, passing a store and Dunn School on the right. Turn left on Roblar Ave. (Carefully as this is a dangerous intersection), and go 2 miles on Roblar to Brinkerhoff Ave. (landmark is row of evergreen trees). Turn left and go 2.4 miles to end of road. Enter through open gate. Drive carefully to Studio area near Reserve Office, where there is parking.

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: January 30, 2012