Gabriele Christa Drozdowski

Gabriele Drozdowski Walker passed away on May 28, 2026, at the age of 74 after a long struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. Born on March 17, 1952, in Hof, Germany, and raised in Schwarzenbach an der Saale, Gabriele developed a love of nature at an early age while exploring the forests and lakes of Bavaria.

As a young woman, she immigrated to the United States, eventually settling in California. Over the course of her life, Gabriele was many things: an actress, entertainer, clown, wildlife rehabilitator, educator, mother, and mentor. She is best known in Santa Barbara as the founder and longtime director of Eyes in the Sky, the Santa Barbara Audubon Society’s raptor education program. Through her work with rehabilitated birds of prey and an extraordinary network of volunteers, she helped thousands of schoolchildren and community members develop a deeper appreciation for wildlife and environmental stewardship.

Gabriele is survived by her sons, Markus Ward, Bright Walker, and John Walker, as well as the many friends, volunteers, educators, and wildlife enthusiasts whose lives she touched through her decades of service to the Santa Barbara community.

Please join us as we celebrate Gabi’s life in Fleischmann Auditorium at the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History on August 9th, 2026, from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm. Everyone who knew Gabi is warmly welcome to attend.