Archive

  • Remembering Two Naturalists Who Inspired Us

    We lost two of our region’s most esteemed and beloved naturalists when Fred Emerson and Joan Easton Lentz died within weeks of each other this summer.  Over the past four decades, Joan and Fred enriched the lives of thousands of local natural history enthusiasts, students, …

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  • Bird Migration Secrets: Lecture recording

    Free Zoom lecture with book author Rebecca Heisman This event occurred Thursday, September 21, 2023 It was live-streamed via Zoom. View the lecture recording at the following link: Bird Migration Secrets Join the Santa Ynez Valley Natural History Society for the first program of the …

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  • Sunday, October 22: Why Keep a Nature Journal? Or, ‘Things I Learned Today’

    Workshop with Jim Farnum Sunday, October 22, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. USCB Sedgwick Reserve in Santa Ynez Participation is limited to 20. Registration opens at 9 a.m. on September 22 for members and on September 30 for nonmembers at syvnhs@syvnature.org or 805/ 693-5683. Members $10 …

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  • Saturday, November 4: Trees of Figueroa Mountain: A Hike Down Fir Canyon

    Field trip with John Evarts and Margie Popper Saturday, November 4, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Participation is limited to 20. Good physical condition and good balance are essential for this trip. Registration opens at 9 a.m. on October 5 for members and on October …

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  • Wednesday, November 29: Birds of a Different Feather: Ostriches and Other Ratites

    Free Lecture with Dennis and Jess Beebe This live presentation occurred Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at Stacey Hall, St. Mark’s in-the-Valley Episcopal Church. It was live-streamed via Zoom. View the lecture recording at the following link: Ostriches and Other Ratites The Santa Ynez Valley Natural …

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  • Sunday, December 17: The Magnificent Trees of UCSB

    Field trip with Larry Ballard Sunday, December 17, 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. UCSB campus Participation is limited to 20. Advance registration is required for this field trip and will open at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, November 17 for members and on November 27 for nonmembers at syvnhs@syvnature.org or 805/693-5683. …

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  • Saturday, January 13, 2024: Birding in a Rare Restored Wetland — Rescheduled from Fall

    Field trip with Peter Thompson Saturday, January 13, 2024, 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Rescheduled from Fall UCSB North Campus Open Space Participation is limited to 20. Advance registration is required. Participants who registered in fall still hold their registrations. Newcomers are welcome to inquire about …

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  • The Accidental Ecosystem: People and Wildlife in American Cities – Zoom recording

    Free in-person and live-streamed lecture with Dr. Peter Alagona This event occurred March 2, 2023 Please follow this link to view the Zoom lecture recording: The Accidental Ecosystem: Zoom recording Since WW II, cities in North America, South America, Europe, Australia, and parts of East …

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  • Saturday, April 1: Arroyo Hondo Preserve:  A Cross-section Through Our Local Rock Formations

    Field Trip with Sabina Thomas Saturday, April 1, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Participation is limited to 20.  Advance registration begins at 9:00 a.m. on March 1 for members and on March 22 for nonmembers at syvnhs@syvnature.org or 805/ 693-5683. Members $15 / Nonmembers $30 …

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  • Wednesday, April 19: Bristlecone Forest Wildflowers

    Free lecture with Cathy Rose, Karen Ferrell-Ingram, and Stephen Ingram Wednesday, April 19, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Co-sponsored by Solvang Library Solvang Library, 1745 Mission Drive This in-person talk was live-streamed,  however, we regret that due to technical challenges, we do not have a recording …

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  • Wednesday, April 26 Pop-Up: Wildflowers of the Blueschist Trail at UC Sedgwick Reserve

    “Pop-up” Field Trip with Margie Popper, John Evarts, and other special guests Wednesday April 26, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Good physical condition and good balance are essential for this trip. Participation is limited to 18. Registration opens for members and nonmembers on Friday, April 21 at …

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  • Figueroa Mountain Game Preserve: Zoom lecture recording

    Free illustrated lecture with Ken Doud This event occurred on Thursday, May 11, 2023 Co-sponsored by Solvang Library Solvang Library, 1745 Mission Drive This in-person talk was live-streamed via Zoom. To access the Zoom lecture, please follow this link: Figueroa Mountain Game Preserve. As recently …

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  • Sunday, June 11: Trees of Alameda Park

    Field trip with Larry Ballard Sunday, June 11,  9:00 to 11:30 a.m.* Alameda Park in Santa Barbara Participation is limited to 20. Advance registration is required and opens at 9:00 a.m. on May 15 for members and on May 29 for nonmembers at syvnhs@syvnature.org or …

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  • Saving Sedgwick: A Citizens’ Success Story — Lecture recording

    Free Lecture with Lansing Duncan This live lecture occurred Thursday, June 29, 2023 Tipton House, UC Sedgwick Reserve This event was co-sponsored by the Santa Ynez Valley Natural History Society, UC Sedgwick Reserve, and Wildling Museum of Art and Nature. This in-person talk was live-streamed …

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  • The Secret Perfume of Birds, a book promotion with the author: — Lecture recording

    Free Zoom lecture and book promotion with Danielle Whittaker Click here for the recording of the presentation: The Secret Perfume of Birds. This Zoom lecture occurred on November 9, 2022 and included a live presentation followed by a Q & A. Event description: Join Danielle …

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  • Saturday, November 12: The Legendary Black Smoker of Figueroa Mountain: Exploring Old Mines and Marvelous Rocks

    Field trip with Susie Bartz Saturday, November 12, 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Participation is limited to 15. Good physical condition and good balance are essential for this trip. Registration is now open for members and on November 2 at 9:00 a.m. for nonmembers at …

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  • Acorn Boom or Bust: What makes a good or bad acorn year in California? Zoom Lecture Recording

    Free in-person and live-streamed lecture with Dr. Walt Koenig Click here for the recording of the presentation: Acorn Boom or Bust Please note: The presentation Q&A ends a few minutes prematurely because of a technical problem. This program took place Wednesday, December 7, 2022,  7:00 …

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  • Saturday, December 10: Winter Birding at Las Cruzitas Ranch

    Field Trip with Cruz Phillips Saturday, December 10, 9 a.m. to noon. Participation is limited to 20. Advance registration opens at 9:00 a.m. on November 10 for members and on November 30 for nonmembers at syvnhs@syvnature.org or 805/ 693-5683. Members $10 / Nonmembers $25 / Children $5 This trip …

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  • Thursday, September 29: Going Batty at the Nature Center: Pop-Up Event

    Field Trip at the Neal Taylor Nature Center Thursday, 29 September 2022, 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Participation is limited to 30 Register by email at syvnhs@syvnature.org or call 805-693-5683. Free to all participants but a donation to the Neal Taylor Nature Center is encouraged. Directions …

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  • Tuesday, September 13: Back-of-the-House Tour: Mollusk Collection at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

    Field Trip with Dr. Daniel Geiger Tuesday, September 13, 2:00 to 4:00 PM Participation is limited to 15 SYVNHS members.   Registration opens at 9:00 AM on Thursday, September 1 at syvnhs@syvnature.org or call 805/693-5683. Members $10 / Children over ten $5 Mask requirement will …

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  • Saturday, March 5: Oak-Planting Workshop at Sedgwick Reserve

    Oak-Planting Workshop at Sedgwick Reserve: How to propagate, plant and identify native oaks Free workshop with John Evarts and Brenda Juarez Saturday, March 5, 10 a.m to 12:00 p.m. Co-hosted by UC Sedgwick Reserve UC Sedgwick Reserve, 3566 Brinkerhoff Avenue, Santa Ynez Participation is limited to 15. Advance registration is …

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  • Wednesday, March 9: Members meeting of the SYVNHS before the Zoom lecture

    Please join us for our brief annual Members Meeting. This very brief meeting will precede the lecture by Dr. Fraser Shilling, “Wildlife Crossings in California.”  The meeting and Dr. Shilling’s lecture will be presented via Zoom’s webinar format. Our short meeting agenda includes an announcement …

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  • Wildlife Crossings in California: Barriers and Opportunities: Zoom Lecture Recording

    Free Zoom lecture with Dr. Fraser Shilling Click here for the recording of the presentation: Wildlife Crossings Zoom Lecture with Dr. Fraser Shilling This Zoom lecture occurred on March 9, 2022, and included a live presentation followed by a Q & A. Wildlife-Vehicle-Collisions (WVC) or …

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  • Thursday, March 17: Birding at Las Cruzitas Ranch

    Field Trip with Cruz Phillips Thursday, March 17, 9 a.m. to noon Participation is limited to 15; the limit will be increased to 20 pending up-to-date covid protocols. Advance registration opens at 9:00 a.m. for Members on March 3 and on March 10 for Nonmembers …

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  • Sea Turtles to Sidewinders: A Tour of the Reptiles and Amphibians of the American West: Zoom recording

    Free Zoom Lecture with Charles Hood, Erin Westeen, and Jose Gabriel Martinez Fonseca This Zoom webinar included a live presentation followed by Q & A.  Click the link for a recording of the presentation: Sea Turtles to Sidewinders The live Zoom lecture took place on …

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  • Where Snow Isn’t White: Zoom lecture recording

    Free Zoom lecture with Dr. Ned Bair This Zoom lecture event occurred April 5, 2022. The webinar included a live presentation followed by a Q & A. For the link to the recording, click the title: Where Snow Isn’t White Clean snow/ice is only white …

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  • Friday, April 22: Earth Day Exploration: Hike the Live Oak Trail

    Field trip with Society and area naturalists Friday, April 22, 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Participation is limited to 15. Advance registration opens at 9:00 a.m. for Members on March 22 and for Nonmembers on April 12 at syvnhs@syvnature.org or 805/ 693-5683. Members $10 / …

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  • Monday, May 2: Arroyo Hondo After the Alisal Fire

    Field trip with John Warner and Sally Isaacson Monday, May 2, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Trip from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., followed by (optional) picnic 12 to 1 p.m. Participation is limited to 15. Advance registration opens for Members on Saturday, April 9, …

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  • Friday, May 20: The San Rafael Mountains Mélange: Live and Zoom Lecture Recording

    Free live presentation and Zoom lecture with Art Wahl This presentation was offered live at St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church and as a Zoom lecture on May 20, 2022. View the Zoom lecture recording at this link: The San Rafael Mountains Mélange. This lecture preceded an …

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  • Saturday, May 21: A Visit to the San Rafael Mountains Mélange

    Auto caravan field trip with Art Wahl Saturday, May 21, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Participation is limited to 15; the limit will be increased to 20 pending up-to-date covid protocols. Advance registration opens at 9:00 a.m. for Members on April 21 and on May …

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  • Effects of Wildfire on Stream and Riparian Ecosystems: Webinar recording

    Free Zoom Lecture with Dr. Breeanne Jackson This Zoom lecture took place Wednesday, Feb 23, 2022 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. It included a live presentation followed by a Q & A. Click here for the link to the lecture recording: Effects of Wildfire on Stream and …

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  • Saturday, 2 October: A Visit to the “Possum Lady”

    Field trip with Dawn Summerlin Saturday, 2 October,  4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Participation limit to 12. Registration for Members only opens at 9:00 a.m. on September 18 at syvnhs@syvnature.org or 805/ 693-5683. There is no regular fee, but you are requested to bring bedding materials like …

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  • Cosponsorship: Sedgwick Reserve Walking Ecology Series Webinars

    Webinar presentation with Sandy DeSimone This Zoom lecture occured on November 4, 2021. The Santa Ynez Valley Natural History Society cosponsored the webinar (below) in the Sedgwick Walking Ecology Series 2021-22: “What’s Special About Coastal Sage Scrub” This Zoom webinar included a live presentation followed …

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  • Sunday, November 7: Trees of Solvang’s Urban Forest

    Field Trip with Larry Ballard Sunday, November 7, 9:00 to 11:30 a.m. Participation is limited to 15. Advance registration opens at 9:00 a.m. on October 7 for Members and on October 28 for Nonmembers at syvnhs@syvnature.org or 805/ 693-5683. Members $10 / Nonmembers $25 / Children $5 …

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  • Smokey the Beaver: Can Beavers Prevent Wildfires? — Lecture recording

    Webinar Recording of an Online presentation with Dr. Emily Fairfax This event occured over Zoom on November 17,  2021. This Zoom webinar included a live presentation followed by a Q & A. For the link to the recording, click the title: Smokey the Beaver presentation …

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  • Saturday, December 4: Gullies, the “Taco-cline,” and other Geologic features of Gaviota Beach West

    Field Trip with Susie Bartz Saturday, December 4, 1:30 to 5:00 p.m. Participation is limited to 15. Advance registration opens at 9:00 a.m. on November 4 for Members and on November 24 for Nonmembers at syvnhs@syvnature.org or 805/ 693-5683. Members $10 / Nonmembers $25 / Children $5 …

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  • Postponed to January 29, 2022: The Monterey Formation at Gaviota Beach East

    Field trip with Sabina Thomas This field trip has been postponed due to the Alisal Fire. New date: Saturday, January 29, 1:30 to 4:00 p.m. Participation is limited to 18. Advance registration opened based on the previously scheduled date in October. The trip filled, however, …

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  • A Field Trip to the Vineyard

    Field trip with vintner Tim Gorham Saturday, August 28, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Participation limited to 20. Advance registration opened for members at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 21. Registration will open to non-members at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, August 24, at syvnhs@syvnature.org or …

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  • Bobcats: the Wildcats Next Door ~ Webinar recording

    Free online webinar with Amy Zuckerwise Co-sponsored by UCSB This presentation aired on Thursday July 22, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. Access the Webinar presentation recording by clicking this link: Bobcats: The Wildcats Next Door To catch a glimpse of a bobcat (Lynx rufus) is a …

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  • How Are Groundwater Issues Being Addressed in the Santa Ynez Valley? ~ Webinar recording

    Free online webinar recording with Bill Buelow Co-sponsored by WE Watch This Zoom webinar event occurred live on Thursday, July 8, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Please click the link below to view the recording: Addressing Groundwater Issues in SYV Click this link to view: Bill …

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  • “V” is for Vulture: Webinar Recording

    Free online webinar recording with Dennis and Jess Beebe This Zoom webinar event occurred live on Thursday, May 13, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Please click the link below to view the recording: “V” is for Vulture We see them circling overhead almost every day; sometimes …

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  • Rooted: Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature, and Spirit: Zoom lecture recording

    Free online lecture with Lyanda Lynn Haupt This event occurred live on Thursday, April 22, 2021. Please click the link below to view the recording: Rooted: Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature, and Spirit This Zoom webinar included a live presentation followed by a …

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  • Pisaster Disaster: Sea Star Wasting Disease along the Pacific Coast: Webinar Recording

    Free online lecture recording with Melissa Miner This Zoom webinar event occurred live on April 1, 2021. Please click the link below to view the recording: Pisaster Disaster: Sea Star Wasting Disease First noticed in 2013, a mysterious disease has crippled sea star populations along …

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  • Thursday, March 18: 2021 Members Meeting of the SYVNHS

    Members Meeting 7:00 p.m. prior to the evening’s live lecture Please join us for our annual Members Meeting on Thursday, March 18, at 7:00.p.m. This very brief meeting will precede the lecture by Dr. Jay Reti, “The Evolution of Stone Tools.” The meeting and Dr. …

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  • The Evolution of Stone Tools based on Lithic Artifact Analysis: Webinar Recording

    Online lecture with Dr. Jay Reti This live Zoom webinar event occurred on March 21, 2021. Click the title below for the lecture recording. The Evolution of Stone Tools based on Lithic Artifact Analysis This event included a live presentation followed by a Q & …

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  • Tiger Salamanders in Santa Barbara County: What we’ve learned and future prospects: Webinar Recording

    Free online lecture with Brad Shaffer This presentation occurred live on Thursday, February 25, 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. Click the title below for the lecture recording. Tiger Salamanders in Santa Barbara County     The Santa Barbara Distinct Population Segment of the California tiger salamander …

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  • A Conversation with Naturalist Joan Lentz: Webinar recording

    Interview with Joan Lentz, author of Story of a Santa Barbara Birder This Zoom webinar recording includes a 30-minute recorded interview with Joan, followed by a Q & A. The live event occurred on February 18, 2021. Click the title below for the lecture recording. …

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  • Chaparral Plant Adaptations and Patterns of Recovery from Wildfire: Lecture Recording

    Recording of online lecture with Dr. Matt Kay Dr. Kay presented live on December 15, 2020. Click the title below for the lecture recording. Chaparral Plant Adaptations and Patterns of Recovery from Wildfire: Lecture Recording We are excited to offer this program, which was originally …

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  • Friday, October 16: Geology and Beach Ecology Field Trip: Haskell’s Beach to Ellwood

    Field trip with Susie Bartz and Larry Ballard Friday, Oct. 16, 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Participation limited to 12 Advance registration opens at 9:00 am on Saturday, Oct. 3 at synature@west.net or 805/ 693-5683 This is a Members Only field trip, $10 per person Face masks will …

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  • The Ancient Comet Strike that Changed Earth and Human History: Lecture Recording

    Free online lecture with author James L. Powell Co-hosted by the Santa Ynez Valley Natural History Society and the Solvang Library This lecture was presented Thursday, September 24, at 7:00 pm. James L. Powell’s Deadly Voyager presentation link HERE. Some 13,000 years ago, Earth’s nearness to …

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