Saturday, April 11: Santa Ynez River – Urban Oasis

Field trip with Tim Matthews

Saturday, April 11, 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon.
Advance registration required at synature@west.net or 693-5683.
Participation is limited to 20.
Members free/ nonmembers $20.

The Santa Ynez River is the lifeblood of Santa Barbara County. It is the largest and most important drainage in the area, as it supplies most of the water to South Coast cities. In some spots it is quite accessible, such as below Buellton’s Avenue of the Flags. Here it is a designated State Important Bird Area, home to a number of birds that are of special concern to scientists. Although rarely seen, it is also home to a number of beavers.

This trip will be a 2+ mile leisurely stroll along the river, from Avenue of the Flags west to the point where Zaca Creek enters the river. Along the way, we will see beaver dams and other sign of Nature’s master engineers as well as a number of interesting plant and animal species. This trip is part of the SYVNHS series based on Joan Lentz’s book “A Naturalist’s Guide to the Santa Barbara Region,” as described in Chapter 9, “Freshwater Wetlands.”

Tim Matthews, a lifelong naturalist, sportsman, and conservationist will be leading this trip. He is a long-time Valley resident with a strong interest in natural history and has led many trips in the past for the Society and other organizations.

Photos courtesy John Evarts.