The Santa Barbara Bird Refuge

The Bird Refuge was one of those places set asideas a nature preserve long before someone coined the term ecology. A large part of what is now the city of Santa Barbara was once wetlands, previouly called swamps, but that was seen as waste and filled in. I recently learned that such environments not only provide habitat for birds and other animals, but they actually help purify the water.

This is down on the Carpentera Bluffs, recently preserved as public open space by the hard work and generous contributions of many local individuals.

Same place, different view. Foggy Mountains in background.