February 3rd | More Mesa Nature Walk with Larry Ballard
Friday, February 3rd, 9 - 11 a.m.
Meeting Off-site
Join us for a guided nature walk through Goleta's More Mesa with naturalist Larry Ballard on Friday, February 3rd, 9 - 11 a.m. Enjoy looking for short-eared owls, white-tailed kites, northern harriers, and other local birds among the flora and fauna.
More Mesa is the inspiration behind Artist-in-Residence Kerrie Smith's Portals & Pathways installation, which has transformed the Wildling's Michele Kuelbs Tower Gallery into an exploration of the region's changing seasons.
Registration is $10.00. Member rate is $5.00. Limited to 15 participants. Advance registration required.
What to Expect
More Mesa provides unobstructed views of the Channel Islands to the south and the unbroken crest of the Santa Ynez Mountains to the north. A marine terrace, the area was elevated nearly 100 feet in the past 40,000 years, bordered to the south by the ocean and to the north by the More Ranch fault and Atascadero Creek. Pockets of oak woodland and riparian vegetation are found along the trail. Some of the uncommon birds attendees may see include the White-tailed Kite, Northern Harrier, and an unlikely Short-eared Owl. This is turning out to be a great season for mushrooms so we'll keep an eye out!
Take the Patterson Avenue offramp in Goleta and drive south for about a mile. After crossing Atascadero Creek, Patterson Avenue turns left and becomes Shoreline Drive. In another quarter mile, just before the road turns right and heads uphill, look for parking areas on the left side of Shoreline Drive, which is where we will meet at 8:45 a.m. The easy hike will cover a loop of about 1.5 miles on mostly level trails.
Additional details will be provided upon registration with your host’s contact details as the date nears.