Santa Barbara Zoo Has Taken Snowy Plovers Under Its Wing
Noozhawk
September 23, 2026
Some good news from the hill above the harbor: the Santa Barbara Zoo just hit a big milestone in its work with western snowy plovers. After a decade of raising and caring for these tiny, threatened shorebirds, the zoo has now released more than 200 of them back into the wild.
If you've walked the sand at Coal Oil Point or watched the roped-off dunes along our beaches, you've seen how much these birds need a hand. Their nesting spots get trampled, and predators and disturbance keep their numbers low. The zoo's program gives chicks a safe start before they head back to the shoreline we all share.
Noozhawk reported the milestone, and it's worth a moment of local pride. Next time you're near the dunes, give those little birds some room — the zoo did the hard part, but we can help finish the job.
This summary was written by AI based on the original article from Noozhawk.
City
Santa BarbaraSource
NoozhawkPublished
September 23, 2026
AI-curated summary from local news sources
Explore Santa BarbaraAll Santa Barbara NewsMore News from Santa Barbara
Santa BarbaraNicole Steiner Gets the Jump on her Old Coach in UCSB’s 92-48 basketball rout over Seattle
How fun is this? UCSB women's basketball absolutely demolished Seattle 92-48 at the Thunderdome on Monday, and the storyline couldn't be better. Sophomore transfer Nicole Steiner faced her old coach and teamed up with senior Zoe Borter — the same player she helped beat twice last year — to put on a show for the home crowd. The two combined for 37 points, and the Gauchos faithful got to witness a little friendly revenge play out on the court. The Thunderdome is one of those special spots here in the 805 where you can catch high-level basketball without fighting traffic down to LA. Nights like this remind us why college sports are such a big part of the Santa Barbara community — you never know when you'll see a personal storyline unfold alongside a blowout win. Big thanks to Noozhawk for the coverage. If you haven't caught a Gauchos game yet this season, this is your sign. Go Gauchos!
Santa BarbaraGauchos Ride Fast Start and Balanced Scoring to 92-48 Rout of Seattle
Gauchos fans, take note: UCSB put on a show with a 92-48 blowout of Seattle, and the balanced scoring is exactly what you want to see before a big weekend. The Thunderdome was rocking, and it's clear this team has depth and chemistry early in the season. Now the real test comes Saturday at noon when Cal visits. There's nothing like a packed house on a weekend afternoon to give our guys a home-court advantage. Whether you're a longtime season ticket holder or just looking for a fun family outing, this is the kind of game that makes Santa Barbara special. As the Santa Barbara Independent reported, the fast start set the tone. Let's show up and support the Gauchos—wear your blue and gold, grab a friend, and enjoy some great college hoops right here in our backyard.
Santa BarbaraLocal Girls Tennis Teams Continue to Dominate, Five Advance to CIF Semifinals
How about those local tennis teams? Five Santa Barbara-area squads — Cate, Dos Pueblos, Santa Barbara High, Laguna Blanca and Carpinteria — all won their quarterfinal matches Monday and are headed to the CIF-SS semifinals. That's a clean sweep for our corner of the 805, and it's worth celebrating. What makes this special is the range: from Division 2 powerhouse Cate to small-school Laguna Blanca, our region's depth in girls tennis is genuinely impressive. These athletes have been grinding all season, and to have every surviving team advance on the same day says a lot about the coaching and talent in our backyard. As Noozhawk reported, the Rams opened with an 11-7 win over Agoura. Keep an eye on the semifinal matchups — and maybe swing out to cheer on the hometown teams. Let's show them the 805 is behind them.