Top,
Left:
Nearly worldwide in distribution, Cattails are also
extremely versatile. Almost all parts of the plant are edible
and the woven leaves have been used as thatch in houses, matting,
basketry, and clothing.
Center: The Blue-eyed Grass, a perennial
and a member of the Iris family, provides seeds eaten by grassland
birds.
Right: Looking across the West Mesa grasslands southeast
toward Santa Barbara harbor and Santa Cruz Island, Coldwater
Sandstone boulders provide perches for sparrows, meadowlarks,
doves, and kestrels, a variety of lichen, and offer sunning spots
for local lizards. Known as a fanglomerate, this stunning landscape
is the remnant of a once steep alluvial fan (deposited in the
Pleistocene epoch); the boulders, themselves are 37 to 57 million
years old.
Middle,
Center: Oak Savannah habitat occurs on drier
soils in grassland areas and provides resting sites for a variety
of birds and perches for birds of prey.
Right: Looking south along Cieneguitas Creek,
Coastal Sage Scrub, Oak Savannah, and Grassland habitats support
many species.
Bottom,
Left: Lichens are most abundant on the branches
of oaks, but also on the boulders and on the ground.
Right: Chaparral habitat is characterized
by plants such as Chamise, Toyon, Greenbark Ceanothus, and Lemonade
Berry. Associated animal species on SMF include Merriam’s
Chipmunk, Wrentit, Bushtit, and Bewick’s Wren.
