Become a Member of the Sweet Springs Circle Of Friends

Sweet Springs Circle of Friends 2023-2024  

Deadline April 30, 2024 

When you donate to Sweet Springs Circle of Friends, a plaque with the name or dedication of your choice, will be placed on a kiosk near the central entrance to the Preserve. Minimum donation is $500.

To have your plaque placed in time for the Celebration of Sweet Springs Circle of Friends on Sunday, June 9, 2024, be sure to have your plaque donation and text to us BEFORE April 30! >Text is limited to 2 lines, 25 letters & spaces/line.

Simply click DONATE, then scroll down to Sweet Springs Circle of Friends.

As always, thank you for supporting MCAS and Sweet Springs Nature Preserve.

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MCAS Field Trip - MAY 2 - MEMBERS ONLY - Breeding Birds of Sweet Springs

View From Sweet Springs to Morro Rock

Morro Coast Audubon Society Presents  **MEMBERS ONLY** 

FIELD TRIP:        Breeding Birds of Sweet Springs 

DATE:                  Thursday, May 2, 2024 

TIME:                   8:00AM - 10:00AM 

LEADER:             Jay Carroll 

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: Spring is a busy time for the breeding birds of Sweet Springs Nature Preserve. Join us to observe and learn about the behaviors of many species of birds as they go about their spring breeding activities. Hawks and owls, sparrows, flycatchers, hummingbirds, ducks and more all find Sweet Springs Preserve the perfect place to spend their Spring breeding season. We’ll also be practicing our “birding by ear” skills by identifying birds by their songs and calls, and identifying all birds that we see. 

Conditions: Easy, level walking paths, binoculars useful, layer clothing for morning temperatures. Restroom Port-a-Potty is at the North entrance.

ADA Accessible: No

Experience Level:  All levels 

Registration and RSVP to confirmation Required! 

Registration will open on the morning of APR 22^nd. On that date, MCAS members will automatically receive an ALERT with the LINK to the Field Trip’s Registration Form.

Our Member-Only field trips are a bonus for members. So you don’t miss out, JOIN MCAS NOW!

Questions? Email Robbie Revel robbie@morrocoastaudubon.org

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MCAS Field Trip - APR 26 - Birds & Wine: Harmony Headlands and Harmony Cellars Wine Tasting

Bluffs Along Harmony Headlands [photo by Freddy Howell] 

REGISTRATION CLOSED.

Morro Coast Audubon Society Presents 

FIELD TRIP:       Birds & Wine: Harmony Headlands and 

Harmony Cellars Wine Tasting 

DATE:                  Friday, April 26, 2024 

TIME:                   8:30am-11:30am - Field Trip 

12:00pm-1:00pm - Wine Tasting & Cheese at Harmony Cellars 

LEADER:            Bob Keally and the Revel Team 

COST:                  $50 

Trip is limited to 20 participants - Signups will be taken for 24 hours. Participants will be randomly selected. Those participants must remit payment of $50 dollars within 5 days of registration to be completely confirmed for the trip. The remainder will be put on standby status in case of cancellations. Payment details will be provided to the 20 participants selected. A portion of the fee goes back to MCAS.

Photo by Harmony Cellars

DESCRIPTION:

Harmony Headlands is a place of pristine beauty and dramatic landscapes. Join Mike Bush and the Revel Team for a morning of birding along a 4 mile trail (round trip) to bird various habitats beginning in a riparian zone, through coastal sage scrub and grasslands, past vernal pools, and down to the rocky coast. We will look for sparrows, raptors and other birds associated with coastal grassland and chaparral communities. At the shore we will look for turnstones, oystercatchers, scoters, and loons. Wildflowers should be abundant along the way. The trail is moderate with some hills.

After the field trip, we will meet at Harmony Cellars for more bird watching and a delicious wine experience. Harmony Cellars will provide delicious cheese/charcuterie plates to compliment a guided wine tasting flight!

ADA Accessible: No

Experience Level: All Levels Welcome

Registration and RSVP to confirmation Required!

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

Non-members will receive an ALERT with the LINK ONLY if they have joined the MCAS ALERT or the SLOCOBIRDING email list. You can join MCAS ALERT via JOIN MCAS ALERT EMAIL LIST in the Footer of the MCAS website or SLOCOBIRDING via Groups.io.

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 In-Person Community Program - APR 15 - Annual Members Meeting and Birds of SLO & NSB Counties

Great Egret [photo by Alice Cahill]

MCAS April In-Person Annual Members Meeting and Community Program

Date:               Monday, April 15th, 2024, 7:00pm

Program:         Second Annual Birds of SLO and Northern Santa Barbara Counties

Presenter:       Curated and Presented by Al King; Music by Al King

Location: Unitarian Universalists Church of San Luis Obispo, 2201 Lawton Ave., SLO. 

See directions below. 

All MCAS Community Programs are free and open to the public. All ages are welcome.

No signup/registration is required to attend. 

Description: At Morro Coast Audubon Society’s Annual Members’ Meeting, we will present an all new program that, as in the October 2023 program, will showcase the splendor of birds that live in the varied habitats found in San Luis Obispo and Northern Santa Barbara Counties, from sandy beaches to oak woodlands, savannahs and alkali flats. The wide range of birds that live in or pass through these landscapes is truly amazing. Join us as we get a close-up look at these birds as they live their lives, in photos taken by some of the Central Coast’s finest nature photographers. The program will be set to original music created and recorded by the curator and presenter of the program, Al King.

Bio: Al King has had a lifelong interest in the natural world. He received his BA in Environmental Biology with a special interest in plant ecology from UCSB. He developed an interest in photography at a young age, and has enjoyed photographing plants, animals and landscapes throughout his life. Another passion of Al’s is playing and composing music which you will have the opportunity to hear as an accompaniment to this program.

MCAS is excited to offer this program as an in-person event. If you are unable to attend in person, you will be able to view the program just a few days later on our YouTube Channel.

Please consider helping out with setting out cookies, coffee, and tea before the program and cleaning up afterwards. We especially need a kitchen clean-up crew to help this go smoothly. If you can help, please contact Wendy at wendy@morrocoastaudubon.org. 

If your are not already, please consider becoming a member of MCAS to support MCAS’s mission and activities, including Community Programs.

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

Directions to 2201 Lawton Ave., SLO:

From South St. near Broad St., turn onto Meadow St. next to Meadow Park. You will see the church parking lot on your left. Turn at the second entrance into the parking lot and park. Next, walk through the gate (there is a disabled ramp there). Our room is the second door on the left. We will be meeting in the Social Hall.  Map

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MCAS Field Trip - APR 28 - MEMBERS ONLY - Santa Margarita Lake & Dancing Grebes

Rushing Grebes at Santa Margarita Lake [photo by Derek Wong]

Morro Coast Audubon Society Presents **MEMBERS ONLY** 

FIELD TRIP:        Santa Margarita Lake & Dancing Grebes 

DATE:                  Sunday, April 28, 2024 

TIME:                   9:30AM to 12:30PM 

LEADER:            Jeanette Stone 

CO-LEADER:      Freddy Howell 

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 us for a special Members Only trip! This is an orientation to Santa Margarita Lake, its birds, and where to bird. We hope to see the courtship necking and dancing of Western and Clark's Grebes. We will carpool to three lakeshore stops to observe waterfowl and learn about grebes. Terrain: flat blacktop and gravel. Distance: We stand mostly. Walking is optional from our third and last stop.

There is a SLO County Parks Fee of $10 per car. We will set up carpools from the 101/58 park and ride.

ADA Accessible: This trip is ADA Accessible, although bring a chair because we stand for 20-plus minutes.

Experience Level: Birders and non-birding nature lovers.

Registration and RSVP to confirmation Required! 

Registration will open on the morning of APR 18^th. On that date, MCAS members will automatically receive an ALERT with the LINK to the Field Trip’s Registration Form.

Our Member-Only field trips are a bonus for members. So you don’t miss out, JOIN MCAS NOW!

Questions? Email freddy@morrocoastaudubon.org

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MCAS Field Trip - APR 21 - Bird Life at The Lakes of Atascadero

The Lakes of Atascadero [photo by Norm Pillsbury] 

REGISTRATION CLOSED. 

Morro Coast Audubon Society Presents 

FIELD TRIP:       Bird Life at The Lakes of Atascadero 

DATE:                  Sunday, April 21, 2024 

TIME:                   9:00 to 11:30 am 

LEADER:            Dale Ball 

CO-LEADERS:  Steve Tillman, Janny Tillman, Freddy Howell 

Trip is limited to 15 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:  Enjoy a birding walk through the private development known as The Lakes of Atascadero (not to be confused with Atascadero Lake) marked by two small lakes, valley oak woodland, riparian strips, and ornamental plantings. Often, up to 40 species can be seen in a morning. Restrooms are not available. Rain cancels. 

We will walk on flat, gravel paths with some grass walking for about 1-1.5 miles

ADA Accessible: No

Experience Level: All Levels Welcome

Registration and RSVP to confirmation Required! 

Registration will open on the morning of APR 11^th. On that date, MCAS members will automatically receive an ALERT with the LINK to the Field Trip’s Registration Form.

Non-members will receive an ALERT with the LINK ONLY if they have joined the MCAS ALERT or the SLOCOBIRDING email list. You can join MCAS ALERT via JOIN MCAS ALERT EMAIL LIST in the Footer of the MCAS website or SLOCOBIRDING via Groups.io.

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 - APR 20 - Stop & Scope-Heron and Egret Rookery Watch

Great Egret - Rookery Watch [photo by Bob Revel]

Morro Coast Audubon Society Presents 

FIELD TRIP:       Stop & Scope-Heron and Egret Rookery Watch 

DATE:                  Saturday, April 20, 2024 

TIME:                   8:30 am - 10:30am 

LEADER:            The Field Trip Team 

Trip is not limited but does require registration so we can plan accordingly. You will not receive a confirmation as all are welcome. Directions are below.

Description: Drop by the Heron Rookery in Morro Bay State Park to view the cutest babies in Morro Bay. Egrets, Herons and Cormorants are in various stages of their nesting cycle. Adults are in their magnificent breeding plumage and nestlings are visible and active. This is not a walking tour, so you may drop by anytime between the hours of 8:30am - 10:30am. Scopes will be set up in a fixed location for viewing. Bring your own binoculars, scopes and cameras. You may also bring a folding chair.  Restrooms are available at the State Park Museum. Rain cancels. 

Location & Directions- For those not familiar with the area, the Rookery is located between Windy Cove and The Inn at Morro Bay (60 State Park Road). Windy Cove is located just north of the State Park Museum. There is a hiking path that goes between Windy Cove and The Inn at Morro Bay.  We will be set up about halfway between these two points.

Parking – you can park in the State Park Museum parking lot, at Windy Cove, or in the small parking area at the Rookery Signs. There is also parking just off the Morro Bay Golf Course along State Park Road. If you park in the Rookery parking area, walk south down the trail about 20 yards toward Windy Cove and the Museum.

ADA Accessible: No

Experience Level: All Levels Welcome

Registration Required! 

Registration will open on the morning of APR 10^th. On that date, MCAS members will automatically receive an ALERT with the LINK to the Field Trip’s Registration Form.

Non-members will receive an ALERT with the LINK ONLY if they have joined the MCAS ALERT or the SLOCOBIRDING email list. You can join MCAS ALERT via JOIN MCAS ALERT EMAIL LIST in the Footer of the MCAS website or SLOCOBIRDING via Groups.io.

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 - APR 19 - Breeding Birds of Sweet Springs

View from Sweet Springs to Morro Rock

REGISTRATION CLOSED.

Morro Coast Audubon Society Presents 

FIELD TRIP:       Breeding Birds of Sweet Springs 

DATE:                  Friday, April 19, 2024 

TIME:                   8:00AM - 10:00AM 

LEADER:            Kaaren Perry 

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: Spring is a busy time for the breeding birds of Sweet Springs Nature Preserve. Join us to observe and learn about the behaviors of many species of birds as they go about their spring breeding activities. Hawks and owls, sparrows, flycatchers, hummingbirds, ducks and more all find Sweet Springs Preserve the perfect place to spend their Spring breeding season. Learn about the scientific protocols used by the Sweet Springs Breeding Bird Survey Team during 10 years of surveys. The research was completed in June, 2023. During this last survey period, 1,254 birds were tallied representing 57 species, with 21 of those species confirmed as breeding in the preserve. Conditions: Easy, level walking paths, binoculars useful, layer clothing for morning temperatures. Restroom: Port-a-Potty is at the North entrance.

ADA Accessible: No

Experience Level:  Advanced Beginner and Intermediate 

Registration and RSVP to confirmation Required! 

Registration will open on the morning of APR 9^th. On that date, MCAS members will automatically receive an ALERT with the LINK to the Field Trip’s Registration Form.

Non-members will receive an ALERT with the LINK ONLY if they have joined the MCAS ALERT or the SLOCOBIRDING email list. You can join MCAS ALERT via JOIN MCAS ALERT EMAIL LIST in the Footer of the MCAS website or SLOCOBIRDING via Groups.io.

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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