Those of us who are lucky enough to live in Santa Cruz are no strangers to natural beauty. However, our familiarity with this luxury can lead to a lack of appreciation and respect for the environment we get to be a part of. I wanted to take a closer look at the animals around the campus and city of Santa Cruz. Taking time to stop and admire the wildlife led to a greater respect for the beautiful area we live in. During this time, I took a trip down to southern California, where I found a big surprise! In the hills of Los Angeles, even exotic birds run wild. California truly is an amazing place.