MCAS Member Management System Upgrade


Morro Coast Audubon Society Member Management System Upgrade

 

System Upgrade Overview

The Morro Coast Audubon Society has implemented significant improvements to our member management system called Neon. This upgrade is designed to enhance your experience when interacting with us online.

 

Changes to Donation and Membership Forms

As part of this system upgrade, you will notice a refreshed appearance on the forms used for donations and membership payments. These updates aim to provide a more streamlined and user-friendly interface.

 

This change became effective on March 31, 2026. If you have any questions or difficulties, please contact us at MCAS@morrocoastaudubon.org.


To take full advantage of our new Neon member system—including member registration for field trips, programs, volunteer opportunities, and other MCAS activities—we encourage you, at any time, to activate your online member portal. You can view your donations and update personal information.


Use the Membership System Login link in the website's header to login to or create your account.

 

Thank you for your continued support.

Morro Coast Audubon Society


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Reporting Banded Birds

Photo by Gary O'Neill - Osprey #62
A recent question came in regarding a banded Osprey that someone saw in SLO County so this 2018 post is being reposted.  

Reporting a banded bird...  

Sometimes when taking photos of the birds we encounter, we might notice, at the time or later when reviewing our photos, that a bird has a band, or two.

If you notice the band at the time you are in the field, you can try to get a closeup photo of the banded leg(s).  That's not always possible, as some of you might well know.

This excellent photo of a juvenile Osprey was taken by Gary O'Neill at 9:30 am on July 10, 2018 at the Piedras Blancas Light Station. Gary is self-described as "a member of the Audubon Society and also volunteer at the Piedras Blancas Light Station and a guide."

The black band with a white 62 on the left leg is clearly visible.  The metal federal band on the right leg is visible but the stamped numbers are unreadable. Gary was still able to report this bird to USGS.

Another banded juvenile Osprey, #63, has been seen this July at various locations. The sighting of #63 at Oso Flaco was reported to USGS, and so it will be interesting to find out if #62 and #63 are related.

What you can do---

Any banded bird you see can be reported to USGS's Patuxent Wildlife Research Center Bird Banding Laboratory by going to their website at https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL/bblretrv/.

When on that website you will see the following horizontal tabs near the top of the screen:
Start / Who / What / About Band, Bird, and Date / etc.

When you get to the What tab, and you cannot read the metal federal band, select option 3:
* Color marker only (neck collar, wing tag, colored leg band, etc.)
The help message (blue ? icon) for that choice reads:
Please select this option if you observed or encountered a bird with a color marker, and there was no Federal band on the bird or it was unreadable [emphasis added].
From that point on you will be asked to enter various information about the bird you observed. You will need to be persistent and do your best to describe what you saw including any requested additional information. There is the ability along the way to add any photos you took, so have those available.

Photo by Joanne Aasen - Cooper's Hawk #226
It may take weeks, but Patuxent or the actual bander will eventually get back to you with information about "your" banded bird.  The Cooper's Hawk shown here, #226, was photographed on 10/3/2012 while perched on a utility line in Cambria. Since the bird was stationary the photographer was able to zoom in for a closeup. It turns out that this individual was captured at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and subsequently relocated to Cambria.

For those who are federally licensed to band birds it is useful to know where birds they have banded are found. You are doing a service by reporting them.
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MCAS Annual Picnic - JUN 29 - El Chorro Regional Park

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Birding at El Chorro Regional Park [photo by Wendy McKeown)

Morro Coast Audubon Society

Annual June Picnic and Birding Walk

Monday, June 29th, 2026 at 5:00 pm

El Chorro Regional Park, Mariposa Group Area


What:

  • Informal birding walk: 5:00-6:00 pm

  • Picnic: 6:00 - 7:15 pm


Where:

Mariposa Group Area, El Chorro Regional Park

2961 Dairy Creek Rd., San Luis Obispo


Location Details:

The Mariposa Group Area is on your left as you drive into the park, just across from the SLO Botanical Gardens main entrance and Oak Glen Pavilion. NOTE: This is different from the one we typically reserve. The closest restrooms are located near the entrance to the park. This is an ADA accessible group area.


Picnic Details:

Bring a dish to share (w/serving utensils), and your own reusable table setting (plate, cup, flatware, etc.), in addition to a picnic tablecloth if you have one. If you’d rather not share, bring your own meal. Assorted beverages and cookies will be provided by MCAS hospitality. 


Birding Walk:

Prior to the Picnic, an informal birding walk around El Chorro Regional Park, led by Eric Wier and Mark Mushkat, will be held from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Join Eric and Mark for a late afternoon walk through the varied habitats and surrounding environs of El Chorro Regional Park. 


This short birding walk will be over gentle terrain and will begin and end in the Mariposa Group Area in time for the Morro Coast Audubon Annual Picnic! People of all birding skills are welcome. Some of the species we might expect to see include White-tailed Kite, Red-shouldered Hawk, California Quail, Western Scrub-jay, Western Bluebird, Black-headed Grosbeak, and Bullock's Oriole. Bring your own binoculars and take a casual stroll with fellow birders. No signups are required for this birding walk. 


The event is open to all at no charge. Donations towards our programs are always welcome.


We’d love to have you join us!


Questions? Email mcas@morrocoastaudubon.org
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MCAS Field Trip - JUN 26 - Atascadero Lake Birding

View over Atascadero Lake to Pavilion [by courtesy of VisitAtascadero.com]  

     REGISTRATION CLOSED.                                          

    Morro Coast Audubon Society Presents  

Atascadero Lake Birding  

June 26, 2026  

8:00am to 11:00am  

Atascadero  

Leaders: Claudia Freitas & Karen Watts  


Description: Join Claudia & Karen for a guided bird walk around Atascadero Lake. This easy, one-mile walk will be taken at a slow to moderate pace, depending on bird activity and sightings along the way. The route follows gentle terrain over flat surfaces, making it accessible for most participants. We will look for nesting birds and chicks as well as raptors that frequent the lake.


Restroom facilities are available on site. This trip is ADA accessible.


Admission: This event is limited to 12 participants. Registrants selected for this event will be notified by email. Do not plan to attend this event until you have received confirmation that you were selected for the event.



Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/H3bh3nqxMyS4j81MA


Directions:  Meet at 9100 Morro Road (CA-41) in the parking lot next to the Central Coast Zoo, west of Atascadero.  


Questions? Send email to: fieldtrips@morrocoastaudubon.org


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MCAS Field Trip - JUN 20 - Harmony Headlands

Harmony Headlands
[by courtesy of State Parks Image Gallery]  

REGISTRATION CLOSED.  

 Morro Coast Audubon Society Presents  

Harmony Headlands  

June 20, 2026  

8:30am to 12pm  

Harmony Headlands, Cayucos  

Leaders: Eric Wier & Steve McMasters  


Description: Harmony Headlands is a place of pristine beauty and dramatic landscapes. Join leaders Eric & Steve 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. The trail is moderate with some hills.


Bring a hat, water, snacks, sunscreen, binoculars and field guides (if you have them) and dress in layers to accommodate wind and changing weather. Sturdy hiking shoes are recommended. Ticks and poison oak may be encountered, so prepare accordingly. A portable restroom is available along the trail. Because of its length and some up and down portions this is rated as moderate hike.This trip is not ADA accessible.

Admission: This event is limited to 12 participants. Registrants selected for this event will be notified by email. Do not plan to attend this event until you have received confirmation that you were selected for the event.



Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/tvrYR4ZPxB2jBPNr7


Directions:  Meet at the Harmony Headlands hiking only trailhead parking lot, on the west side of Hwy 1, 7 miles north of Cayucos and 7 miles south of Cambria. Look for Linn's billboard on the east side of Hwy 1. 


Questions? Send email to: fieldtrips@morrocoastaudubon.org


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MCAS Field Trip - JUN 19 - Habitat-Windy Cove

Mud Flats at Windy Cove by Faylla Chapman  

REGISTRATION CLOSED.

Morro Coast Audubon Society Presents  

Habitat - Windy Cove  

June 19, 2026  

9am to 11am  

Windy Cove - Morro Bay  

Leaders: Faylla Chapman & Sharon Iranpour  


Description: Take a walk down to Windy Cove, located below the Morro Bay State Park Natural History Museum, where we’ll explore the plants, mud, and the fascinating organisms that inhabit this unique environment. We’ll also search for creatures living in the upper intertidal zone on the rocks around the base of the Museum and into the Marina. Restroom facilities are available at the Museum. This trip is not ADA accessible.


Admission: This event is limited to 12 participants. Registrants selected for this event will be notified by email. Do not plan to attend this event until you have received confirmation that you were selected for the event. 



Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/GNXajGvPErXvVR1x6


Directions:  Meet at the Nature Walk sign below the Morro Bay Natural History Museum entrance. The Museum is at 20 Main Street, Morro Bay. There is parking at the lower lot at the Museum and at Windy Cove. If you park at Windy Cove, please walk up to the trail head below the Museum to meet the leader. Restrooms are available at the Museum.


Questions? Send email to: fieldtrips@morrocoastaudubon.org
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MCAS Field Trip - JUN 13 - MEMBERS ONLY - El Chorro Birding by Ear

 

Birding by Ear with Jessica Griffiths by Bob Revel  

REGISTRATION CLOSED.


Morro Coast Audubon Society Presents a Members-Only Event  


El Chorro Birding by Ear 

June 13, 2026  

8:30am to 12:00pm  

El Chorro Regional Park, SLO  

Leader: Jessica Griffiths


Description: It’s nesting season and the birds are in full song—perfect timing for the return of “Birding by Ear.” Join Jessica Griffiths for a guided walk along the trails of El Chorro Regional Park, with a focus on identifying birds by their songs and calls. Jessica will help participants recognize each bird heard, offering useful tips and mnemonic devices to aid in remembering their vocalizations. The walk will cover approximately one mile at a slow to moderate pace over gentle terrain and a variety of surfaces.


Wear a hat, sturdy walking shoes and dress in layers as it can be cool and windy. Bring binoculars and a spotting scope if you wish, sunscreen, water and snacks as needed. Restrooms are available at the trail head. This trip is ADA accessible.


Admission: This event is for MCAS Members only and is limited to 15 participants. Registrants selected for this event will be notified by email. Do not plan to attend this event until you have received confirmation that you were selected for the event.



Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/BKG3giFFquJ1J8526


Directions: El Chorro Regional Park -State Hwy 1, Dairy Creek Rd, San Luis Obispo. Meet at the parking lot across from the Botanical Gardens. There is a 3:00 fee for parking at certain times of the year.  


Questions? Send email to: fieldtrips@morrocoastaudubon.org
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MCAS Field Trip - JUN 12 - Western Snowy Plovers & Fellow Shorebirds

 Snowy Plover by Bob Revel  

REGISTRATION CLOSED

Morro Coast Audubon Society Presents  


Western Snowy Plovers & Fellow Shorebirds  

June 12, 2026  

10am to 12pm  

Villa Creek - Estero Bluffs State Park  

Leader: Sharon Iranpour  


Description: The western snowy plover lives and breeds on the sand on a few of our local natural beaches.  A small federally threatened shorebird, this grey/brown and white bird with darker breeding plumage blends in well on the sandy beach, often making it difficult to locate. There will be a short talk to examine a replica nest and learn about their habits and habitat. We’ll walk across the grassland to the bluff and down onto the beach to look for the snowy plovers and other shorebirds. Once on the beach, we’ll linger as we go and walk to the cove at the beach end to look for birds in Villa Creek. If there is time, we can check out beach drift and some interesting rock formations. This walk is approximately 1-1.5 miles, easy walk, partly on soft sand.Bring binoculars, wear sturdy shoes and layer up. This trip is not ADA accessible. No restrooms are available.


Admission: This event is limited to 12 participants. Registrants selected for this event will be notified by email. Do not plan to attend this event until you have received confirmation that you were selected for the event.



Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/1vyndkHLzm7EWZFy7?g_st=ic 


Directions:  Meet at the Villa Creek pullout at Estero Bluffs State Park. The Villa Creek pullout is the last, most northern parking pull out at Estero Bluffs State Park.  If all else fails, look for Sharon’s bright orange Jeep. Use the Google map pin above for the exact location.

Questions? Send email to: fieldtrips@morrocoastaudubon.org 

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MCAS Field Trip - JUNE 6 - MEMBERS ONLY - Cerro Alto Birding

Walking Path at Cerro Alto by Will Knowlton  

REGISTRATION CLOSED.

Morro Coast Audubon Society Presents a Members-Only Event  

Cerro Alto Birding  

June 6, 2026  

8am - 11am  

Cerro Alto - Atascadero  

Leaders: Morgan Bing & Will Knowlton  


Description: Join MCAS leaders Morgan & Will for a morning bird walk along the road at Cerro Alto Campground. Along the way, we may encounter a variety of species, including Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak, Cassin's Vireo, Western Wood-Pewee, Western Flycatcher, Brown Creeper, Purple Finch, and Olive-sided Flycatcher. The walk will primarily follow a paved road, with the possibility of a few short detours onto well-maintained dirt trails. The total distance (out and back) is approximately two miles.Note: 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. This trip is not ADA accessible.


Admission: This event is for MCAS Members only and is limited to 12 participants. Registrants selected for this event will be notified by email. Do not plan to attend this event until you have received confirmation that you were selected for the event.



Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/XvWQC9wp5G8ApG149


Directions: Meet at Cerro Alto Campground, just off CA- 41, 8 miles east of CA-1 in Morro Bay. Other Information: Wear a hat, sturdy walking shoes and dress in layers as it can be cool and windy. Bring binoculars, sunscreen, water and snacks as needed.Restrooms are available in the campground.


Questions? Send email to: fieldtrips@morrocoastaudubon.org
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MCAS Field Trip - JUN 4 - Santa Margarita Lake Pontoon Boat

Birders on Pontoon Boat, by Bob Revel  

REGISTRATION CLOSED.  

 Morro Coast Audubon Society Presents 

Santa Margarita Lake Pontoon Boat  

June 4, 2026  

8:00am to 1:00pm  

Santa Margarita  

Leaders: Scott Stellar and the Revel Team  


Description: Join Morro Coast Audubon on a pontoon boat ride adventure birding Santa Margarita Lake. We'll cruise most of the entire lake taking in all the migratory and resident birds as well as shoreline wildlife that abound. The registration fee for this trip is $40. Note that there is a $12 per vehicle entry fee at the campground kiosk. Participants selected for this trip will be sent information on the method of payment for the event. This event is not ADA accessible and the trip is open to all levels of experience.


Admission: This event is limited to 15 participants. Registrants selected for this event will be notified by email. Do not plan to attend this event until you have received confirmation that you were selected for the event.



Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/GsjyXDzJAD2LCvS76


Directions: Meets at the Marina store at Santa Margarita Lake Marina, 4695 Santa Margarita Lake Road, Santa Margarita. After checking in at the campground kiosk, drive down to the boat dock and Marina store parking area.


Bring a hat, water, snacks, sunscreen, binoculars and dress in layers to accommodate wind and changing weather. Cameras are welcomed. Restrooms are available at the Marina store. We will also stop at a campground restroom during the voyage.


Questions? Send email to: fieldtrips@morrocoastaudubon.org
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