Santa Barbara County Birding

"Field birding, as many of us engage in it, is a game - a most absorbing game"

- Roger Tory Peterson

07.14.09
Current Total: 483

Most recent addition: Eastern Yellow Wagtail

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References

THE BIRDS OF SBA COUNTY- By Paul Lehman: this is the definitive resource to the birds of Santa Barbara County, CA (UCSB 1994). It is no longer in print but can occasionally be found through used book dealers or online.

Corrigenda and addenda HERE

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SBA COUNTY CHECKLIST-Available from the Santa Barbara Audubon Society is the recently updated Checklist to the Birds of Santa Barbara County: LINK

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SO CA BIRDERS GUIDE-Available from ABA sales is the recently revised Birder's Guide to Southern California by Brad Schram. Many of the most popular birding sites in Santa Barbara County are included: LINK

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RARE BIRDS OF CA- The recently published Rare Birds of California by the Western Field Ornithologists contains information on many documented and reviewed rare birds found in SBA county: LINK

Search for book updates HERE

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Mapping

Locate map coordinates quickly and easily with this mapping application:

ACME MAPPER

HOW TO USE

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PDF files require Adobe Reader

Snowy Plover, Callie Bowdish

Santa Barbara County Bird List

From the link below you will find the complete list of all bird species recorded in Santa Barbara County to date. This list is updated when taxonomic changes are published by the American Ornithologists Union (LINK), or in Annual Reports by the California Bird Records Committee (LINK) supporting any additions to the county list.

: : COUNTY BIRD LIST (html)

Field List of Birds

This list in Excel spreadsheet or PDF file can be used in the field for recording bird sightings during hikes or field trips. It has room for up to three separate locations on three different dates. Included are the most likely species you might encounter when birding locally throughout the year. To use as a 8.5" X 11" tri-fold checklist, print side one then turn over and print side two.

: : FIELD LIST

(xls)

: : FIELD LIST

(pdf)

County Breeding Birds Template

You can contribute to the ongoing effort to document breeding birds in Santa Barbara County. Information gathered is stored in a database housed at the Center for Biodiversity and Ecological Restoration at UCSB. Download this Breeding Birds spreadsheet (.XLS file) which can be easily modified to enter your observations throughout the nesting season.

: : BREEDING BIRDS TEMPLATE (xls)

Forms can be sent to Mark Holmgren at any time during the breeding season:

holmgren (at) lifesci.ucsb.edu

e-Listing Websites

eBird

eBird is a real-time, online checklist program that has revolutionized the way birders report and access information about birds. It is not just a warehouse of observational data, it's an online tool that allows you to record and archive your data down to the county level, all while making your efforts available to scientists. Visit eBird at the link below and begin creating your lists.

: : California eBird

BIRDPOST

Birdpost is an online listing program where you can upload, update and maintain a Lifelist of your own personal bird sightings. Build your personal bird sighting distribution map and upload photos to create a visual Lifelist. Other features include a bird search engine, regional checklists, Rare Bird Alert and friend connector. Take the tour to see all the features:

: : BIRDPOST

More County Bird Lists

: : Channel Islands National Park	: : SBA County Birds by Calendar Year
: : Birds of the Channel Islands	: : SBA County Endangered Species List
: : Bird Lists for Santa Maria Parks	: : Birds of San Marcos Foothills
: : La Purisima Audubon Checklist (pdf)	: : Vandenberg Air Force Base
: : SBA County eBird Data

California Bird Lists

The California Bird Records Committee (LINK) maintains the official list of all California birds as well as a "Review List" of rare birds requiring observer documentation and review by the Committee. If you find a bird on the Review List in Santa Barbara County, please report it to the RBA or SBCOBIRDING discussion group. You can use the Rare Bird Form link below to document. Please provide a copy to the Santa Barbara County bird records compiler.

: : STATE LIST (html)

: : REVIEW LIST (html)

Form for reporting rare birds:

: : RARE BIRD FORM

(doc)

SBA County records compiler:

David Compton

736 Cieneguitas Rd., #F

Santa Barbara, CA 93110

davcompton (at) verizon.net

ABA Checklist

The American Birding Association (LINK) offers their complete ABA area checklist to the birds of North America. More than 900 birds make up the ABA list which includes native species, regular visitors, casual and accidental strays, and introduced species that are well-established within the ABA area. You can print out the ABA checklist at the following link:

: : ABA CHECKLIST (pdf)

AOU Checklist

The American Ornithologists Union is the official source on the taxonomy of birds found in North America. Their Checklist of North American Birds as well as more than 2000 bird species known from the AOU Checklist Area can be found at their website:

: : AOU CHECKLIST (html)