Brightly-hued scarlet macaws are among the many birds of the Amazon Basin. (Courtesy photo)
The spectacular birds and ecological biodiversity of the rainforests of the Amazon Basin will be the focus of an illustrated lecture Amazonia Untamed: Birds and Biodiversity by Benny Jacobs-Schwartz, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6 in Fleischmann Auditorium at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.
The talk is presented by the Santa Barbara Audubon Society and the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.
Spanning nine countries and some 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.
While the program is mostly about birds, it will exploring the rich lore woven into the Amazon’s history of exploration and discovery.
Jacobs-Schwartz will trace the path of epic expeditions and remarkable avian finds before honing in on Ecuador’s Rio Napo and Yasunà 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 will 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.
The talk will highlight the role of Indigenous-led ecotourism, including community-owned projects where conservation, culture, and world-class birding converge.
Jacobs-Schwartz has worked for more than 15 years as a naturalist guide, expedition trip leader, and international bird guide including tours to tropical locales like Costa Rica, Ecuador and Colombia.
General admission tickets are $5 and are available in advance on the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History’s website. Tickets also available for purchase at the door, if still available.
For more, call the Santa Barbara Audubon Society, 805-964-1468.Â