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Joanne is a professional international photographer and journalist. Contact her at: artraks@yahoo.com Three Billion Birds Lost A most pivotal lecture of our time was presented at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History on January 29, titled, “Three Billion Birds Lost: The Disappearance of North American Birds and What We Can Do About It.” The standing room-only lecture was given by renowned scientist and author, Kenneth Rosenberg, who works at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The presentation was co-presented with Santa Barbara Audubon Society and the UCSB Arts & Lectures Thematic Learning Initiative sponsored by our town’s Lynda Weinman and Bruce Heavin. Roman Baratiak, Associate Director of A&L, acknowledged the co-presenters and Luke J. Swetland, President & CEO of Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, for its continuing support of their educational series. Katherine Emery, Executive Director of Santa Barbara Audubon Society, introduced Ken.

The lecture focused on the explanation of a landmark study recently published in the Journal Science that stated a loss of 1 in 4 North American birds since 1970. Rosenberg succinctly outlined, using a slide show, how the data was collected, what the loss of common birds signals for us all and suggestions on what we can do to reverse these trends and restore bird populations. Ken said, “Birds are sensitive indicators of environmental health. We have seen this issue prior documented in the book, Silent Spring by Rachel Carson (1962). When we decided to do the study, we had to ask if there was a decline in one location was it balanced by an increase in birds in another location, and are the shifts in bird population relative to human population. We gathered all data from four lead sources: Fish and Game, National Audubon Society’s BBS data, Shorebird Migration studies, and national Christmas Bird Counts. Later we added electronic Radar Ornithology based on weather radar. The results showed 2.9 billion birds lost from 2007 through 2017, the largest loss was in grasslands and the largest increase was in wetlands. Europe was also noting a decline in house sparrows, starlings, and pigeons. The geography shows the loss is concentrated from the Mississippi River east to northeast U.S. What causes the decline is primarily the loss of habitat, urban sprawl, and increase in serious storms that damage food and shelter supplies. The good news is there is hope; birds are resilient, as noted in the 50% increase in waterfowl when hunters asked for increased conservation of wetlands. There are many things people can do individually and collectively.”

Suggestions to help bird populations range from doing what the Federal Government did in changing out their building windows to safe bird windows, support bird-friendly coffee, plant native bird habitats, decrease plastic use and share your bird sightings to online resources like the “eBird” app, www.3billionbirds.org, and the Audubon Society.

Luke J. Swetland and Katherine Emery with Kenneth Rosenberg at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

There is also a shift in restoring habitats to using dynamic conservation, Ken explained, “California farmers were paid to flood their fields during the period that the migratory birds would be in their area. It worked out well for both the farmers and the birds.” Following the hour lecture, he fielded question from the audience.

Noted attendees were Montecito’s expert birder Joan Lentz, members of the SB Audubon Society, leader of the annual Christmas Bird Count Rebecca Coulter with her staff and citizen scientist members and UCSB science students. The SB Audubon Society gave out a free 51-page color booklet on California Birds at risk relative to climate change. •MJ

411: www.3billionbirds.org and www.ebird.org

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ing its performance of An American In Paris, the Granada cancelling all scheduled events, the State Street Ballet postponing its debut performance of Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty, CADA’s Motown at the Miramar Amethyst Ball switched to a date in the fall, and both galas for the Junior League at the Coral Casino and the Channel Keepers bash at Deckers being cancelled.

No physical ailments, but devastating for the charity and cultural communities.

MONTECITO JOURNAL32 “Try to be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud.” - Maya Angelou featuring Italian pianist Jacopo Giacopuzzi on the dynamic duo’s Bosendorfer grand piano, one of only seven of its type in the world.

The Music Academy of the West fundraiser, catered by Elena Wagner, featured Verona native Jacopo, who studied at USC Thornton School of Music, as well as in Italy, Germany and Belgium, playing works by Brahms, Rachmaninoff, Schumann, Liszt, Chopin, Debussy, Kapustin, Gershwin, and Titov.

Among the musical mavens were Anne Towbes, David and Kay Willette, Hank and Nancy Schultz, Mary Hamtson, George and Peggy Ittner, Tony Merrill and Anne Rhett, Dev and Deb Phelps, Jock and Ellen Pillsbury, Priscilla Gaines, Roger Morrison, and Nancy Gregory. An enchanting afternoon... Something’s Fishy Almost 23 years after co-starring in the comedy classic A Fish Called Wanda, former Montecito funnyman John Cleese, 80, and Jamie Lee Curtis, 61, reunited over lunch in Los Angeles.

Taking to Instagram, the actress showed a photo of the tony twosome at a restaurant while re-enacting their famous cheek-to-cheek pose from the film’s promotional poster.

“Together again for the first time,” she gushed...

Cancellations Abound I was interviewed at Maison Mineards Montecito by KEYT-TV reporter Anikka Abbott on the impact of the coronavirus on cultural and entertainment events in our Eden by the Beach.

At the time of the taping most social events were still in place with no cancellations, but after California Governor Gavin Newsom banned gatherings of more than 250 people through the end of March, the social diary events toppled like ninepins, with UCSB Arts & Lectures cancelling all events through the end of April, including 85-year-old primate expert Jane Goodall’s much anticipated lecture at the Arlington, the Santa Barbara Symphony postponThe Shows Must Not Go On NBCUniversal has halted the production of 35 shows, including all of Montecito mega producer Dick Wolf’s Chicago franchise and Law & Order SVU because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Fortunately the Windy City dramas – Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D., and Chicago Med – were at the end of their run and will not be back until next season, according to Deadline. Law & Order SVU is now on its 21st record breaking season. Wuu-ing the Audience Despite coronavirus concerns, there were few cancellations when Elliot Wuu, winner of the Music Academy of the West’s solo piano competition, performed at Hahn Hall.

The 20-year-old, an undergraduate of New York’s Juilliard School showing great finesse, won the recital and a future one at the Chicago Cultural Center on April 1, based on his piano ability, musicianship, and creativity of performance and program. He was judged by Jonathan Feldman, MAW director of collaborative piano; Benjamin Salisbury, manager of concert artist services for Nancy Gregory, Peter Kavoian, Kaye Willette, and Dorinne Lee enjoy the afternoon recital (photo by Priscilla)

Elliot Wuu impresses Pianist Jacopo Giacopuzzi, with hosts Peter Kavoian and Ray Winn (photo by Priscilla)

Steinway & Sons; MAW vocal coach and pianist Tamara Sanikidze; and composer Amy Williams. Wuu kicked off the concert with works by Bach and Beethoven, followed by the world premiere of 51-year-old Williams’ Piano Portraits, with each of the five pieces referencing keyboardists she has worked with. The show wrapped with Schubert’s Wanderer Fantasy in C Major. A delightful evening...

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow As far as artists go, Andy Warhol was definitely a cut above.

For it’s not just his art that will be on display for a major Andy Warhol exhibition, but the op artist’s iconic silver wigs too.

Three of his 100 personally designed hairpieces will go on display for the first time in the U.K. at the Tate Modern in London.

The wigs, on loan from the Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, help chronicle his journey “from a shy, gay man” to an art icon.

When I lived in Manhattan, my apartment at 66th Street and Madison was just across the road from Warhol’s townhouse and on a number of occasions I was invited in and was always delighted to see a selection of 12 wigs in various shades of grey and white on wooden stands. Quite hair raising!

Long Live the Queen Queen Elizabeth, who celebrates her 94th birthday next month, has become the world’s fourth longest serving monarch, surpassing Mayan ruler Pakal the Great.

Her Majesty has been on the throne for more than 68 years and 34 days, while K’inich Janaab Pakal ruled the Mayan city of Palenque for 68 years and 33 days before his death in 683AD. The record joins the Queen’s many other accolades, including her title as the longest living reigning monarch. She also officially became the longest reigning British monarch in September, 2015, surpassing her great-great-great grandmother Queen Victoria.

Sightings: Oscar winner Kevin Costner noshing with friends at the Coral Casino... Natalie Portman checking out Oliver’s... Oprah Winfrey’s beau Stedman Graham at Pierre Lafond

Pip! Pip!

Readers with tips, sightings and amusing items for Richard’s column should e-mail him at richardmin eards@verizon.net or send invitations or other correspondence to the Journal. To reach Priscilla, e-mail her at pris cilla@santabarbaraseen.com or call 805-969-3301 •MJ