For years, the wreckage of an abandoned oil platform off Goleta (near Santa Barbara) provided valuable nesting habitat for Brandt’s Cormorants and Brown Pelicans. When the decaying structure was removed in 2005, it was replaced by four artificial platforms made specifically for the birds. Would the birds still use the new structures? Experts from the Santa Barbara Audubon Society monitored the site through 2010 to find out, and last summer they released their findings (see the newsletter article here). Turns out the site has been a real attraction for breeding Brandt's Cormorants, although the Brown Pelicans have been less attracted to the new site. This is a very interesting project and Santa Barbara Audubon's full report is fascinating. There's also a great slide show of the photos of both the old and new platforms here. (Top photo of new platforms by A. Lewis; photo of old platform by E. Muraoka)