MCAS Field Trip - MAY 8 - Stop & Scope-Heron and Egret Rookery Watch

Great Egret with Nestling at Rookery [photo by Bob Revel]

Morro Coast Audubon Society Presents 

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

DATE:                  Wednesday, May 8, 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 and RSVP to confirmation Required! 

Registration will open on the morning of APR 28^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 Zoom Community Program - MAY 20 - Beavers and Why They Matter

Salinas River Beaver Pond, Atascadero [photo by Emily Fairfax]

MCAS Zoom Community Program

Date:            Monday, May 20th, 2024, 7:00 pm

Program:     Beavers and Why They Matter

Presenter:   Audrey Taub, SLO Beaver Brigade

Join Zoom Meeting     ID: 967 1403 8276      Passcode: 068050

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

No signup/registration required to attend.

Description: If you walk along the Salinas River in California much of it is a dry, sandy wash. Imagine instead seeing large expanses of ponds surrounded by lush willows and cottonwoods, teaming with wildlife and birdsong. This difference leads to answering the question, ‘Why Do Beavers Matter?” In this presentation, Audrey Taub will explain how beavers can help make the Central Coast wetter, more resilient to floods, droughts, and fire, thus creating a more sustainable climate for birds and other wildlife. She will also explain how to get involved in promoting the creation of more wetlands in your area by supporting the beavers.

Bio: Audrey Taub grew up on the banks of the Hudson River in New York State. After graduating college with a master’s degree in Mathematics from SUNY Potsdam, she moved to Washington State and became immersed in nature education and mentoring at the Wilderness Awareness School in Duvall, WA. In 2005 she moved to San Luis Obispo County where she lives with her husband and 3 children, tracking animals, gathering wild edibles and swimming in the beaver ponds. She founded the SLO Beaver Brigade in 2019 after a discussion with friends about climate change. More specifically, they asked themselves, “How can we each contribute to climate regeneration?” Audrey’s answer was to focus on the work beavers do as nature’s best engineers to promote a healthy climate.

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

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

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MCAS Field Trip - MAY 12 - Falcon Watch at Morro Rock

Eyes on the Prize at Morro Rock!  [photo by The Revel Team]

Morro Coast Audubon Society Presents 

FIELD TRIP:       Falcon Watch at Morro Rock 

DATE:                  Sunday, May 12, 2024 (Bring Mom for a Mother’s Day Treat) 

TIME:                   10:00 am - 12:00 noon 

LEADER:            Claudia Frietas and the Revel Team 

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: The Peregrine Falcons on Morro Rock have been incubating eggs since March 20th. We will check in with Pacific Coast Peregrine Watch (Bob Isenberg) for the latest updates and hopefully observe the young Falcons being fed by the Adults. Our leisurely walk will include a visit to both sides of the rock to observe cormorants, pelicans and nesting gulls which may also have chicks in the nest. Breeding plumage will be on display. The walk will be about 1 mile along a flat dirt path and pavement.

ADA Accessible: Yes

Experience Level: All Levels Welcome

Registration and RSVP to confirmation Required! 

Registration will open on the morning of MAY 2^nd. 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 - May 10 - Birding Cerro Alto Campground

Road into Cerro Alto Campground [photo by Will Knowlton]  

Morro Coast Audubon Society Presents 

FIELD TRIP:       Birding Cerro Alto Campground 

DATE:                  Friday, May 10, 2024 

TIME:                   8:00am to 11:00am 

LEADER:            Will Knowlton 

Trip is limited to 10 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 leader Will Knowlton for this morning walk along the road at Cerro Alto Campground. Birds that may be encountered along the walk include: Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, Cassin's Vireo, Western Wood-Pewee, Western Flycatcher, Brown Creeper, Purple Finch, and Olive-sided Flycatcher. The terrain will mostly be a paved road with the possibility of a few short extrusions on well-maintained dirt trails. The total distance (out and back) should be about two miles.

There is a $10 day-use fee. Due to an agreement with the concessionaire, neither National Forest Adventure passes nor National Park public lands passes are accepted in lieu of paying the day-use fees.

ADA Accessible: No

Experience Level: All Levels Welcome

Registration and RSVP Required! 

Registration will open on the morning of APR 30^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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VIDEOS now available - APR 15 - Membership Meeting and Second Annual Birds of SLO and NSB Counties

Great Egret [photo by Alice Cahill]  

There are 2 videos for Birds of SLO and Northern SB Counties: Pt 1 and Pt 2  

Enjoy!  

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.

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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

REGISTRATION CLOSED: 

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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