Channel Islands National Park - Santa Barbara Island Photo Gallery (U.S. National Park Service)

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Channel Islands National Park

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	Channel Islands National Park Santa Barbara Island Photo Gallery

Most of these images are legally protected by U.S. & International copyright laws and may NOT be downloaded or used for reproduction in any manner without the explicit authorization of the respective copyright holders.

If an image is not copyrighted, you will be given the option of downloading the image. These non-copyrighted images are royalty-free and their use is not limited. However, please credit the photograper and "National Park Service" where appropriate.

Santa Barbara Island Photo Gallery

Gallery Description:

Pinnipeds (seals and sea lions) commonly are sighted from the towering volcanic cliffs above Elephant Seal Cove.

Elephant Seal Cove

Photo by Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

The marine terraces and steep cliffs near Webster Point are results of the constant erosion of Santa Barbara's predominately volcanic rock.

Hiking near Webster Point

Photo by Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

In the spring, wildflowers and green grass blanket Signal Peak (635 feet), the highest of the island's two rounded peaks.

Signal Peak

Photo by Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

The lack of mammalian predators make the sea cliffs of Santa Barbara and Sutile Islands ideal nesting habitat for nine species of sea birds.

Sutile Island

Photo by Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

Santa Barbara Island hosts the largest breeding population of Xantus' murrelets in the United States. The tiny chicks leave their steep hillside nests when only 48 hours old and tumble down into the crashing surf.

Xantus Murrelet Chick

Photo by National Park Service

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The steep, rocky, cactus-covered cliffs have provided safe habitat for the endemic Santa Barbara Island live-forever, one of several plants unique to the island.

Live-Forever

Photo by Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

Soil disturbance by past ranching, farming, and non-native rabbits led to severe erosion and the creation of the badlands.

Erosion

Photo by Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

Soil disturbance also allowed for the spread of the non-native, saline crystalline iceplant. The Park Service is making great efforts to revegetate these disturbed areas.

Iceplant

Photo by Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

Although the Chumash and Gabrielino never permanently settled the island, the discovery of midden sites and specialized abalone and bone fishhooks indicates they visited to fish.

Artifacts

Photo by National Park Service

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Park Service marine biologists monitor 16 sites throughout the park to determine the health of one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world, the kelp forest.

Kelp Forest Monitoring

Photo by Dan Richards

Some of the best diving within the park can be found around Santa Barbara Island. Gorgonian coral and giant kelp are just some of the species encountered.

Marine Life

Photo by Brandon Cole

A short hike to the Sea Lion Rookery reveals the essence of the park--tremendous coastal views, dense sea bird and pinniped rookeries, distinctive island flora and fauna, and isolation.

Sea Lion Rookery

Photo by National Park Service

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Providing a refuge for California sea lions, harbor seals, and northern elephant seals, Santa Barbara Island ranks third among the Channel Islands in importance as a haul-out and breeding area for pinnipeds.

Elephant Seal Pups

Photo by Dan Richards

Close encounters with curious and friendly sea lions may occur while coming ashore or snorkeling in the landing cove area.

Sea Lions

Photo by Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

An old quonset hut served as the first ranger residence and visitor center until it was replaced in 1991 with the current facilities.

Ranger Station

Photo by Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

The park's scientists monitor the recovery of the endemic, threatened island night lizard which occurs only on Santa Barbara, San Nicholas and San Clemente Islands.

Island Night Lizard

Photo by Charles Drost

Remote, isolated, primitive, and set atop towering cliffs, Santa Barbara’s campground offers a dramatic island experience.

Campground

Photo by Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

For now, non native grasses, which appear dry and brown during the hot summer, dominate the landscape. But with protection and management, native vegetation is recovering slowly.

Vegetation

Photo by Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

The most conspicuous of the native plants, the giant coreopsis, is now thriving and recolonizing the island. Dry, brown, and seemingly lifeless during the summer and fall, the coreopsis may reach 10 feet tall in the island’s canyons.

Dormant Coreopsis

Photo by Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

With winter rains, the coreopsis emerges from summer's dormancy with light green foliage and bright yellow daisy-like flowers.

Flowering Coreopsis

Photo by Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

Dense vegetation found in the island’s six major canyons furnishes ideal habitat for a variety of land birds, including the endemic subspecies of orange crown warbler.

Orange Crowned Warbler

Photo by Brad Sillasen

The navigational light becomes surrounded with tiny, bright-yellow goldfield flowers during the late winter and spring.

Navigational Light

Photo by Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

Gray whales pass near the island on their annual 12,000-mile round-trip migration between breeding and calving grounds in Baja California and feeding grounds in

Gray Whale

Photo by Tim Hauf, timhaufphotography.com

webster point, santa barbara island timhaufphotography.com

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			Did You Know? The Channel Islands are often called the "North American Galapagos" because they are home to over 150 endemic or unique species. more...

Last Updated: September 02, 2011 at 17:33 MST