|
| Taxidermy being used in a Birding Workshop [photo by Robbie Revel] |
|
| Photo from one of the trail cameras at Sweet Springs Nature Preserve |
 |
| Taxidermy being used in Birds in Your Neighborhood class [photo by Tami Livermore, used with school's permission] |
 |
| 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 5th. 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
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 4th. 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
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 6th. 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
 |
| [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 14th. 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
 |
| South Africa's National Birds, Blue Cranes, on a carpet of native wildflowers in Namaqualand, South Africa (Credit: Nishi Rajakaruna) |
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.
 |
| San Simeon Day Use Area [photo by Bob Keally] |
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 27th. 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
