Giving Tuesday - Supporting MCAS Taxidermy Collection

Taxidermy being used in a Birding Workshop [photo by Robbie Revel]

We are very thankful for the continued support of our members and the public, including the opportunities for directed giving on dedicated days like Giving Tuesday. Our last Giving Tuesday was a success providing everything we needed for 4 trail cameras now placed throughout Sweet Springs.

Photo from one of the trail cameras at Sweet Springs Nature Preserve

Our upcoming Giving Tuesday monies will be dedicated to Education and Outreach. We have several museum quality avian mounts utilized for both education and outreach, and we are looking to add to our collection.  Quality bird mounts are very expensive, and we would appreciate your donations on this Giving Tuesday to support our collection.

Taxidermy being used in Birds in Your Neighborhood class
[photo by Tami Livermore,  used with school's permission]

Last year, between the MCAS education programs in the schools and outreach to the community, we reached over 3,000 youth and adults. The collection includes great local birds that people can see up close, and are a great introduction to birding, conservation, and to our Chapter! Please consider a donation on Giving Tuesday, December 3, 2024.

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MCAS Field Trip - DEC 15 - Stop and Scope King Tide at Morro Bay State Park Marina Boardwalk

Birding the State Park Marina during King Tide

Morro Coast Audubon Society Presents  

FIELD TRIP:        Stop and Scope King Tide at Morro Bay State Park Marina Boardwalk  

DATE:                  Sunday, December 15, 2024  

TIME:                   8:30 am to 11:00 am  

LEADERS:          MCAS Field Trip Leaders 

Trip is not limited, but DOES require registration.

DESCRIPTION: Take a break from the stresses of the holidays! Grab the kids and grandkids and head to the Marina Boardwalk to view the bay at King Tide. This is not a regular field trip. We invite people to stop by for a view of the high tide and the shorebirds it will bring in close. This is a special high tide called the King Tide because it will be the highest of the year, 8.4 feet, at 9:11am on Sunday, December 15. We will set up scopes at the back platform, and along the first part of the boardwalk. Leaders will help you identify our winter shorebirds and migrants, as well as the land birds occupying the coastal sage scrub habitat. Drop by anytime between the hours of 9:30 and noon for the OH! AH! experience of the King Tide and to see what birds come in with the receding tide and take advantage of the scopes. Bring your own binoculars and cameras. Dress for cool and windy conditions. The complete loop is a short walk of about one mile on a boardwalk and dirt path and is ADA accessible. 

Restrooms are available in the parking lot beside Bayside Cafe and at the State Park Campgrounds. Rain cancels.

ADA Accessible: Yes

Experience Level: All Levels Welcome

Registration and RSVP to confirmation Required! 

Registration will open on the morning of DEC 5^th. On that date, MCAS members will automatically receive an ALERT with the LINK to the Field Trip’s Registration Form.

Non-members can receive ALERTS from MCAS regarding Field Trips, Community Programs, and other MCAS activities. You will need to fill out the MCAS ALERT EMAIL LIST sign up form in the footer of theMCAS website. You can also join the SLOCOBIRDING email list to get ALERTs via Groups.io. (Field Trip alerts only)

Please consider becoming a member of MCAS to support MCAS’s mission and activities, including Field Trips.

Questions? Email Robbie Revel robbie@morrocoastaudubon.org

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MCAS Field Trip - DEC 15 - Habitat: Sweet Springs

View of Morro Rock and Estuary from Sweet Springs

Morro Coast Audubon Society Presents  

FIELD TRIP:        Habitat: Sweet Springs  

DATE:                  Sunday, December 15, 2024  

TIME:                   2:00pm-4:00pm  

LEADER:             Faylla Chapman  

Trip is limited to 12 participants - Signups will be taken for 24 hours. Participants will be randomly selected. The remainder will be put on standby status in case of cancellations. Only registered people may attend.

Description: Join Faylla Chapman for a stroll through Sweet Springs Nature Preserve to hear some of the history and look at the plants used by the birds and other critters in the area.  We will walk to the viewing area and look for birds using the marshy area during the low tide. Bring binoculars and maybe your Cornell bird sounds app to recognize some of the local birds. Restroom is available at the East entrance.

ADA Accessible: No

Experience Level: All Levels Welcome

Registration and RSVP to confirmation Required! 

Registration will open on the morning of DEC 4^th. On that date, MCAS members will automatically receive an ALERT with the LINK to the Field Trip’s Registration Form.

Non-members can receive ALERTS from MCAS regarding Field Trips, Community Programs, and other MCAS activities. You will need to fill out the MCAS ALERT EMAIL LIST sign up form in the footer of the MCAS website. You can also join the SLOCOBIRDING email list to get ALERTs via Groups.io. (Field Trip alerts only)

Please consider becoming a member of MCAS to support MCAS’s mission and activities, including Field Trips.

Questions? Email Freddy Howell freddy@morrocoastaudubon.org

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MCAS Field Trip - DEC 21 - Bay Birding Cruise

Birding the Bay [photo by Robbie Revel]

Morro Coast Audubon Society Presents  

FIELD TRIP:       Bay Birding Cruise  

DATE:                  Saturday, December 21st, 2024  

TIME:                   9:00 am - 11:00 AM 

LEADER:            Mike Bush  

CO-LEADER:     The Revel Team  

Trip is limited to 18 participants - Signups will be taken for 24 hours or until the trip fills. Participants will be randomly selected. Those 18 participants must remit payment ($35) within 6 days of registration to be completely confirmed for the trip. The remainder will be put on standby status in case of cancellations. Details will be provided to the 18 participants selected. Only registered people may attend.

Description: Join Mike and other leaders to enjoy a leisurely boating tour of the bay and estuary in the Dos Osos. Cruise the length of the bay to identify a variety of shorebirds, sea ducks, grebes and loons often at close range. The boat will move slowly enough for you to see details of many species that you normally see only through a scope from shore. Good photo opportunities, but no tripods.

Restrooms are available at the landing. Weather conditions may cancel.

ADA Accessible: No

Experience Level: All Levels Welcome

Registration and RSVP to confirmation Required! 

Registration will open on the morning of DEC 6^th. On that date, MCAS members will automatically receive an ALERT with the LINK to the Field Trip’s Registration Form.

Non-members can receive ALERTS from MCAS regarding Field Trips, Community Programs, and other MCAS activities. You will need to fill out the MCAS ALERT EMAIL LIST sign up form in the footer of theMCAS website. You can also join the SLOCOBIRDING email list to get ALERTs via Groups.io. (Field Trip alerts only)

Please consider becoming a member of MCAS to support MCAS’s mission and activities, including Field Trips.

Questions? Email Robbie Revel robbie@morrocoastaudubon.org

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MCAS Virtual Community Program - NOV 16 - Awards & MB CBC Compilation

[Image courtesy of National Audubon]

MCAS December Zoom Community Program

Date:           Monday, December 16th, 2024, 7:00 pm

 

Title:           The Morro Bay Christmas Bird Count Compilation Meeting, Led by Jay Carroll

 

Join Zoom Meeting Zoom Meeting ID: 934 7541 6735; Passcode: 646636

You can also find the link on the MCAS Events Calendar in our website’s header https://www.morrocoastaudubon.org/.

 

All MCAS Zoom Community Programs are free and open to the public. All ages are welcome. No signup/registration required to attend.

 

Description: This community program will begin with MCAS business including award announcements for the Libbie Agran Scholarships, Outstanding Service, and Volunteer of the Year. 

Next will be the Morro Bay CBC Compilation led by Jay Carroll. The compilation is the culmination of the 71st annual MB Christmas Bird Count, held on Dec 14^th. A count of all species seen will be tabulated. The total number of species in count years 2013 - 2023 have ranged from 187 to 204, with anywhere from 98 to 142 participants. What will the count be this year?

 

You’re invited to enjoy your dinner at home, put on some background music and wrap presents while you watch the announcements and see the bird count results.

 

If you have questions, email Wendy McKeown, Community Programs Chair: CommPrograms@morrocoastaudubon.org

 

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VIDEO now available for NOV 18th Community Program

South Africa's National Birds, Blue Cranes, on a carpet of native wildflowers
in Namaqualand, South Africa (Credit: Nishi Rajakaruna)

 Video available on the MCAS YouTube Channel.

Title:           Becoming a Birder in South Africa

 

Presenter:  Nishanta Rajakaruna

Description: Nishi Rajakaruna fell in love with birding and wildlife photography during his 2022-2023 visit as a Fulbright US Scholar to South Africa. During his travels, he took photos of 402 bird species in southern Africa and is looking forward to sharing some of his photos and stories.

 

Bio: Nishi Rajakaruna was born and raised in Sri Lanka. He pursued his undergraduate education in human ecology at College of the Atlantic, Maine, and his MS and Ph.D. in botany at the University of British Columbia, Canada. He conducted postdoctoral research in plant ecology at Stanford University. He has taught at predominantly undergraduate teaching-focused universities for 20 years and is currently a professor in plant biology at California Polytechnic State University where he teaches general botany, ethnobotany, biogeography and geoecology. Nishi is currently a Fulbright US Scholar Alumni Ambassador, promoting opportunities for educational and cultural exchange among faculty and students across the United States.

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MCAS Field Trip - DEC 7 - San Simeon

San Simeon Day Use Area [photo by Bob Keally]

REGISTRATION CLOSED.

Morro Coast Audubon Society Presents 

FIELD TRIP:       San Simeon  

DATE:                 Saturday, December 7, 2024  

TIME:                  8:30am to 11:30am  

LEADER:            Bob Keally and the Revel Team  

Trip is limited to 12 participants - Signups will be taken for 24 hours. Participants will be randomly selected. The remainder will be put on standby status in case of cancellations. Only registered people may attend.

DESCRIPTION: Join Bob Keally for a moderate 2-3 mile walk to identify the birds of San Simeon State Park. The group will walk through riparian areas by creek, wetlands, shoreline, then into the chaparral and pine forest habitats to discover a variety of land, shore and ocean birds. We hope to see Snowy Plovers, Pygmy Nuthatches, terns and a variety of raptors. Terrain: Flat on boardwalk and meadow trail, becoming moderately strenuous as the trail climbs into the pine forest. 

Restrooms are available at the trailhead.

ADA Accessible: No

Experience Level: All Levels Welcome

Registration and RSVP to confirmation Required! 

Registration will open on the morning of NOV 27^th. On that date, MCAS members will automatically receive an ALERT with the LINK to the Field Trip’s Registration Form.

Non-members can receive ALERTS from MCAS regarding Field Trips, Community Programs, and other MCAS activities. You will need to fill out the MCAS ALERT EMAIL LIST sign up form in the footer of theMCAS website. You can also join the SLOCOBIRDING email list to get ALERTs via Groups.io. (Field Trip alerts only)

Please consider becoming a member of MCAS to support MCAS’s mission and activities, including Field Trips.

Questions? Email Robbie Revel robbie@morrocoastaudubon.org 

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MCAS Virtual Community Program - NOV 18 - Becoming a Birder in South Africa

South Africa's National Birds, Blue Cranes, on a carpet of native wildflowers in Namaqualand, South Africa [photo by Nishi Rajakaruna]

MCAS November Zoom Community Program

 

Date:           Monday, November 18th, 2024, 7:00 pm

 

Title:           Becoming a Birder in South Africa

 

Presenter:  Nishanta Rajakaruna

 

Join Zoom Meeting Zoom Meeting ID: 918 9942 4958; Passcode: 615341

You can also find the link on the MCAS Events Calendar in our website’s header https://www.morrocoastaudubon.org/.

 

All MCAS Zoom Community Programs are free and open to the public. All ages are welcome. No signup/registration required to attend.

 

Description: Nishi Rajakaruna fell in love with birding and wildlife photography during his 2022-2023 visit as a Fulbright US Scholar to South Africa. During his travels, he took photos of 402 bird species in southern Africa and is looking forward to sharing some of his photos and stories.

 

Bio: Nishi Rajakaruna was born and raised in Sri Lanka. He pursued his undergraduate education in human ecology at College of the Atlantic, Maine, and his MS and Ph.D. in botany at the University of British Columbia, Canada. He conducted postdoctoral research in plant ecology at Stanford University. He has taught at predominantly undergraduate teaching-focused universities for 20 years and is currently a professor in plant biology at California Polytechnic State University where he teaches general botany, ethnobotany, biogeography and geoecology. Nishi is currently a Fulbright US Scholar Alumni Ambassador, promoting opportunities for educational and cultural exchange among faculty and students across the United States.

If you are not already an MCAS member, please consider becoming a member to support our mission and activities, including Community Programs.

 

If you have questions, email Wendy McKeown, Community Programs Chair: CommPrograms@morrocoastaudubon.org

 

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