Santa Barbara Island 
April A-5, 1968 
Brownell, Church and Kleen landed on Santa Barbara. All three made 
separate diurnal surveys which covered the entire island and Kleen made a 
nocturnal survey which covered most of it. The vegetation appeared to be 
fairly lush with grass covering most areas. There were dry areas where 
ground cover was a dense mat of dried runners and faded bloom from a six- 
inch high broad-leafed succulent. Yarrow and giant coreopsis were in bloom. 
There were a few "plateau” areas where the sandy soil was bare. Whether 
this is a natural condition or a result of utilization by roosting Western 
Gulls is unknown. 
The island has high cliffs around almost the entire perimeter. The 
only easy landing area is on the northeast side where there is a loading 
platform and the remains of a rail line leading up a steep incline to two 
abandoned quonset huts where the field party slept. No collections were 
made except for one rodent skull. 
On the approach to Santa Barbara on k April, after observations for 
ADP were closed because of proximity to the island, the following birds 
were observed: 4-0 Brown Pelicans sitting on the rocky slope of the south¬ 
east end of the island; 6 cormorant sp. plus 1 Pelagic Cormorant; 1 female 
Bufflehead; 2 male Surf Scoters; 3 Black Oystercatchers; 4- Western Gulls, 2 
Pigeon Guillemots flying north. On 5 April 3 Xantus Murrelets, 4 Sooty 
Shearwaters and 1 Royal Tern were observed from the ship. 
SPECIES ACCOUNTS 
Podiceps caspicus (5) Eared Grebe 
Pelecanus occidentalis (37) 
Kleen found 4 adults and 33 immatures and counted 17 old nests. No 
new nests were found nor was any breeding activity noted. 
Phalacrocorax penicillatus (4-) Brandt T s Cormorant 
Kleen identified 4- Brandt’s. 
Phalacrocorax sp. (127) Cormorant sp. 
One hundred and twenty-seven unidentified cormorants were seen resting 
in two areas. 
Bucephala albeola (l) Bufflehead 
One female seen in water. 
Melanitta perspicillata ( 30 ) Surf Sector 
Kleen saw 30* 
