Santa Ynez Valley Natural History Society

Dedicated to the study, exploration, and appreciation of natural history in the Santa Ynez Valley region.

PREVIOUS PROGRAMS

Wednesday, March 6: Central California’s Amphibians and Reptiles: Diversity and Beauty

Free Zoom presentation with Dr. Rayna Bell
Reptiles and amphibians are often overlooked as part of our local wildlife, but they are a diverse and fascinating group important to their habitats and vulnerable to climate change. Dr. Rayna Bell of the California Academy of Sciences is an evolutionary biologist whose research on amphibians and reptiles seeks to understand the evolution of their diversity as a key to understanding their vulnerabilities and potential strengths as our natural

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Wednesday, March 13: Wild New World: The Epic Story of Animals and People in North America

Free Zoom presentation and book promotion with Dr. Dan Flores
This Zoom webinar by acclaimed historian and author, Dr. Dan Flores, will focus on his most recent book, Wild New World: The Epic Story of Animals and People in North America.  Dr. Flores spoke in-person to the SYVNHS in 2017 after publication of his book, Coyote America. This time, his upcoming Zoom talk will be from his home in New Mexico. Flores will present an overview of Wild New World, explaining what he learned in researching and writing about the big picture of humans and animals

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Saturday, March 16 Pop-Up: Birding Sedgwick Reserve

Members-Only Field trip with Tim Matthews and Peter Schneekloth
UC Sedgwick Reserve is one of Santa Barbara County’s birding hotspots, with nearly 200 species on record and a consistently high bird diversity. This outing will focus on birding around the Field Station area of the Reserve. Plant habitats such as oak savanna, oak woodland, and coastal sage scrub converge here to support a rich variety of resident and migratory birds, ranging from warblers and woodpeckers to meadowlarks and magpies

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Sunday, April 21: Figueroa Mountain Spring Wildflowers

Field trip with John Evarts and Margie Popper
Figueroa Mountain is a celebrated spring wildflower destination known for poppies, lupines, chocolate lilies, mariposa lilies, and many other showy species of annuals and perennials. Naturalists Margie Popper and John Evarts will lead a hike on the mountain to take in some of this botanical diversity. The trailhead will be located on the upper portion of the mountain and will be picked from a number of possibilities based on where the blooms and trail conditions are best

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Saturday, May 11: Burton Mesa ~  Maritime Chaparral and Birding Exploration

Field Trip with Tim Matthews
Burton Mesa Ecological Reserve is a unique area that consists of 5,368 acres between Purisima Hills and Santa Ynez Mountains and encompasses one of the last significant stands of maritime chaparral in California. The Central Maritime Chaparral community is dominated by ceanothus, manzanita, chamise, California coffee berry, black sage, coast live oak, and coastal scrub species. Typical birds

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Friday, May 17: The Secret Lives of Snakes

Free lecture and book promotion with Dr. Emily Taylor
Co-sponsored and hosted by UC Sedgwick Reserve, Tipton House
This live and Zoom presentation took place Friday, May 17, 2024. View the recording: The Secret Lives of Snakes
Join us at the Sedgwick Reserve for a fun evening celebrating the snakes of California! Dr. Emily Taylor and her students will greet you with the friendly Cal Poly ambassador snakes as you arrive. Emily will give a presentation entitled, “The Secret Lives of Snakes,” with stories of snake encounters from her 25 years of studying these scaly

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Saturday, June 1 Pop-up: Exploring Gregersen Ranch: Its Plant Life and History

Pop-up Field trip with Larry Ballard
Join naturalist Larry Ballard for a botany-focused field trip amid the rolling terrain of the historic Gregersen Ranch on Saturday, June 1, from 9:00 a.m. to noon. He’ll take us on a leisurely hike of 2 to 3 miles, with modest elevation gain and loss. Although relatively close to Solvang, this Ballard Canyon ranch feels like a world apart. The property is sometimes referred to by its former name of

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Thursday, June 20: Summer Solstice Mindful Yoga / Nature Walk

Field trip with Laurie Burnaby and Marion Schlinger
Join Laurie and Marion for a gentle three-mile walk along a paved road in a quiet, mostly wooded area near Santa Ynez.  Laurie will incorporate yoga into our walk at strategic stops along the way to enhance the physical and mental experience of nature.  Marion will focus your attention and appreciation of the various scents, sounds, and textures we find along the way. The hope is that this

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Santa Ynez Valley Natural History Society logo showing a black and white line drawing of a magpie and oak leaf with mountains and a river in the background

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Santa Ynez Valley

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The Santa Ynez Valley Natural History Society is almost entirely funded by membership dues. By joining, you help support natural history education and awareness of the Santa Ynez Valley.

The Santa Ynez Valley Natural History Society is a 501 (c)(3) organization. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law. Tax ID # 77-0573674

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