We used our local ASTC membership to visit both museums in Santa Barbara. First up, the Museum of Natural History, where the local wild bird rescue organization, Eyes in the Sky, houses its birds and introduces them to guests. We met a Red-tailed Hawk, a Barn Owl and a Western Screech Owl. Fun fact, our friend, Courtney, used to volunteer here and took care of the Screech Owl! We learned about their injuries and how they ended up at the center. Because they are non-releasable, they have been promoted to ambassador animals, giving the public a chance to see these magnificent creatures up close helps them learn about keeping them safe- like not using poisons, which not only kills pests, but birds that eat those pests!
Check out that camo! No wonder I struggle finding these owls!
When I walked into the rooms holding the museum's bird collection, I was floored! They have hundreds of excellently taxidermied birds arranged and grouped by family. This was the perfect opportunity to study similar species side by side and learn to tell them apart. I could have spent all day in this room! Put this place on your list!
I learned this began as the Museum of Comparative Oology (the study of bird eggs, nesting and breeding behavior). Started in 1916 by ornithologist, William Leon Dawson, the collection included many eggs, nests and skins. Unfortunately in 1962 a fire destroyed the skin collection. Today it is larger than ever and ranks in the top 10 for the whole country. Most of the birds in the collection are from the US, however there are some from a few other countries and a fantastic display of hummingbirds from Ecuador.
They have 12,000 sets of eggs from 1300 different species from around the world! Check out the size difference between a chicken, a hummingbird and an ostrich egg!
In the 60s, it was discovered the widespread use of the pesticide, DDT, was working its way up the food chain and preventing birds of prey from reproducing. The Bald Eagle population had dropped from 100,000 to just 487 nesting pairs in 1963! Here you can see the comparison of healthy eggs to those affected by DDT. It wasn't banned until 1972. Fortunately the Bald Eagle as well as falcons, hawks, osprey and pelicans have made a great comeback since then.
While researching this, I learned the largest producer of DDT dumped an estimated 1,700 tons of the pesticide into the Pacific Ocean from 1947 until 1961. To this day, there are signs warning residents of the Palo Verdes peninsula to not eat certain fish caught in their waters.
The woodpeckers of North America collection gives a great opportunity to study each species and even compare the differences between males and females of the same species.
I appreciated seeing the similar Royal and Caspian Terns side by side for comparison.
There are displays representing real locations featuring animals from that specific area. The taxidermy is seriously the best I've ever seen! Signage gives info including abundance, range and even how many miles you are from where each are found.
Seeing the spotted skunks was surprising. I've wanted to see one of these for a few years now, but I didn't realize they are much smaller than other skunks. They also can have stripes instead of spots.
While I spent nearly all of my time with the birds, there are many other types of collections and features at this museum, including realistic, animatronic dinosaurs, a gem and minerals room, space science exhibit with planetarium, and a butterfly pavilion to walk thru.
The next day we headed to the pier to visit the Sea Center, the perfect location for this science center.
As soon as we entered, we were greeted by volunteers who invited us to TOUCH sharks, sea stars, and more! The velcro-like arms of the anemone were so strange to feel, and totally harmless to humans.
The absolute best part was one section of the center with no floor. We could look over the barrier directly into the Pacific Ocean below. The volunteer offered to help us discover the creatures living on the ocean floor below us. He lowered a tool that scooped up a section of sand.
He emptied it on a screen and let Asher pour water to separate the creatures from the sand. Once a tiny movement was spotted, the volunteer put it in a tiny container then focused on it thru a high-powered microscope.
Trust me, these things were tiny. These photos are magnified.
Above is a Sea Spider and below are tiny clams, which we saw moving their foot and siphons.
There was more to see, but these were our favorite parts.
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