Amazonia Untamed: Birds & Biodiversity
Schedule
Tue Jan 06 2026 at 07:00 pm to 08:30 pm
UTC-08:00Location
2559 Puesta del Sol, Santa Barbara, CA, United States, California 93105 | Santa Barbara, CA
Advertisement
Presented by the Santa Barbara Audubon Society and the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural HistorySpanning nine countries and over 2.7 million square miles, the Amazon Basin is the largest and most biodiverse rainforest on Earth. Fed by thousands of rivers, it forms a living mosaic of flooded forests, shifting islands, and towering canopy—home to jaguars, harpy eagles, and river dolphins. Join the passionate educator, photographer, and bird guide Benny Isaac Jacobs-Schwartz for an illustrated talk about Amazonian birds—and the rich lore woven into the Amazon’s history of exploration and discovery.
Benny will trace the path of epic expeditions and remarkable avian finds before honing in on Ecuador’s Rio Napo and Yasuní National Park, where an astounding 600 species of birds have been identified, each playing a crucial role in the immense web of life. Along the way, he’ll follow the trail of rare species as they were first described, meet the naturalists who brought them to light, and explore the mysteries still hidden in this extraordinary ecosystem. Benny will also highlight the role of Indigenous-led ecotourism, including community-owned projects where conservation, culture, and world-class birding converge. Step inside the Amazon’s world of birds, biodiversity, and the remarkable stories that connect them.
Tickets $5, reserve yours online today: https://tickets.sbnature.org/events/019aad2a-59b6-ebc8-bf22-7fdbc1abda0d
More About the Speaker
Benny Isaac Jacobs-Schwartz owns and operates a bird-guiding business and lifestyle brand called BIRDS by BIJS (pronounced Bee-jus). With a background in biology, ecology, and outdoor education, Benny has worked for over 15 years as a naturalist guide, expedition trip leader, and international bird guide. Benny offers guided birding outings in Southern California and premier birding tours to top tropical locales like Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Colombia. Benny is active on social media, where he creates fun, educational videos and posts to inspire others about the natural world with the goal of getting folks to put down their phone and pick up their binoculars.
For more information, contact [email protected].
Scarlet Macaw photo by Benny Isaac Jacobs-Schwartz
Advertisement
Where is it happening?
2559 Puesta del Sol, Santa Barbara, CA, United States, California 93105Event Location & Nearby Stays:
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
