MCAS Virtual Community Program - MAR 18 - 15 Years of Birding for Conservation in Colombia

 

Crimson-rumped Toucanet [photo by Chris Calonje]

MCAS Virtual Community Program 

Title:               15 Years of Birding for Conservation in Colombia

Presenter:      Presented by Christopher Calonje 

When:             Monday, March 18th, 2024, 7:00 pm 

Zoom INFO below

Description: Christopher Calonje will talk about his 15-year involvement in promoting bird tourism in his native Colombia. The end of a 50-year civil war brought peace and prosperity to a country marred by violence, opening it up to tourism and to birders from around the globe. Colombia boasts the world's longest list of birds, now over 1,960 species, which is roughly 20% of the world’s species in a country that occupies less than 1% of Earth's landmass. Chris will discuss how bird tourism has supported conservation and local communities in rural areas of Colombia, and his involvement in the process since the country finally became accessible to birders at the beginning of the 21st century. 

Bio: A Humboldt State University graduate, Chris has led hundreds of tours in all regions of Colombia since he founded Colombia Birdwatch in 2009. Chris devotes his time to various non-profit conservation groups and local communities in Colombia and also runs the amazing Araucana Lodge in southwestern Colombia, near the city of Cali. Owned by his family on a 30-acre property purchased in 1957 by his grandfather Julio H., the lodge has been touted as one of the best birding lodges in the country.

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

No signup/registration required to attend. 

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

Join Zoom Meeting                 Zoom Meeting ID: 985 7649 5990                 Passcode: 640771 

MCAS Field Trip - APR 6 - Birding by Ear at San Simeon

Birding by Ear with Jessica [photo by Robbie Revel]

Morro Coast Audubon Society Presents ** MEMBERS ONLY** 

FIELD TRIP:       Birding by Ear at San Simeon 

DATE:                  Saturday, April 6, 2024 

TIME:                   8:30am to 11:00am 

LEADER:            Jessica Griffiths 

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: It’s nesting season and the birds are singing so "Birding by Ear" is back. Join Jessica Griffiths for a bird walk along the trails and boardwalk at San Simeon, focusing on bird songs and calls. She will ID all of the bird songs heard, as well as presenting helpful tips and mnemonic devices for remembering bird songs.

ADA Accessible: No

Experience Level: All Levels Welcome

Registration and RSVP to confirmation Required! 

Registration will open on the morning of MAR 27thOn 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 Reveal robbie@morrocoastaudubon.org

MCAS Field Trip - APR 4 - Habitat: Dune scrub, Intertidal & Beach at Estero Bluff’s China Cove

Looking North Toward Villa Creek in the Distance [photo by Faylla Chapman]

Morro Coast Audubon Society Presents 

FIELD TRIP:       Habitat: Dune scrub, Intertidal & Beach at Estero Bluff’s China Cove 

DATE:                  Thursday, April 4, 2024 

TIME:                   1:00pm - 3:00pm 

LEADERS:          Faylla Chapman and Sharon Iranpour 

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: This will be the last low tide trip to this location for the season. We will start at the last pullout for Estero Bluffs State Park and will walk across the dune scrub, learning about the scrub habitat along the way. Then we will follow the path to the China Cove beach and look at the intertidal rock and sandy beach organisms. This is a snowy plover habitat along with other shore birds that will be seen as we walk the beach to Villa Creek. Restrooms are not available. 

ADA Accessible: No

Experience Level: All Levels Welcome

Registration and RSVP to confirmation Required! 

Registration will open on the morning of MAR 25thOn 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

MCAS Field Trip - APR 3 - Elfin Forest



Morro Coast Audubon Society Presents 

FIELD TRIP:       Elfin Forest 

DATE:                  Wednesday, April 3, 2024 

TIME:                   9:30-11:00AM

LEADER:            Vicky Johnsen 

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:

The Elfin Forest Natural Area encompasses multiple habitats: Dune-Scrub, Maritime Chaparral, Manzanita/Oak woodland complex, and Riparian + Marsh giving us opportunities to see many different species of land birds. We will look for shorebirds, ducks, grebes, and other wintering migrants from the viewing platforms. Our walk is a loop of about 1 mile on boardwalk and sandy trails.

ADA Accessible: Yes

Experience Level: All Levels Welcome

Registration and RSVP to confirmation Required! 

Registration will open on the morning of MAR 23rdOn 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@morrocoastaudubon.org

Join MCAS for our Inaugural Community Engagement Class

Super Bloom at Carrizo Plain

Birds & Blooms: An Introduction to Birds, Plants, and Natural History of Carrizo Plain

Embark on an exciting journey of environmental discovery with Morro Coast Audubon's brand-new Community Engagement Class series. This series is designed to create accessible environmental education opportunities in our community, increase community awareness of the natural world, and connect community members with local nature experts. The proceeds of these courses will directly support our environmental education programs in schools across the Central Coast. Our debut offering, "Birds & Blooms: An Introduction to Birds, Plants, and Natural History of Carrizo Plain," is your chance to immerse yourself in the vibrant birdlife, stunning wildflowers, and fascinating natural history of Carrizo Plain.

Led by expert instructors, this immersive experience begins with two engaging Zoom sessions on April 2nd and 6th, followed by an unforgettable full-day adventure to Carrizo Plain National Monument on either April 10th or 13th. We’ll wrap the course up with a final 
Zoom meeting April 15th to understand how our research can be applied using community science platforms. You'll learn from experts about bird migration, spectacular blooms, geological wonders, community science, and much more, all against the breathtaking backdrop of a Carrizo Plain Spring bloom.

Registration opens March 13th! And keep an eye out for our upcoming classes, including an introduction to Community Science, Beginner Birding, Intermediate and Advanced Bird ID, and the Natural History of the Central Coast. Join us as we deepen our connection with the environment and support vital educational initiatives.

See the class posterregister, or learn about scholarship opportunities for these classes and other ways to get involved with MCAS

MCAS Field Trip - MAR 30 - Laguna Lake/eBird

Field Trip Leader Mark Mushkat Taking Flight:
Fields adjacent to Laguna Lake [photo by Robbie Revel] 

Morro Coast Audubon Society Presents 

FIELD TRIP:       Laguna Lake/eBird 

DATE:                  Saturday, March, 30, 2024 

TIME:                   9:00AM-12:00PM

LEADER:            Mark Mushkat 

CO-LEADER:     Torrey Gage-Tomlinson 

Trip is limited to 15 participants-Signups will be taken for 24 hours. 15 participants will be randomly selected. The remainder will be put on standby status in case of cancellations. 

Mark is asking that everyone who wishes to go on a field trip with him to have an eBird account. It is free, easy, and serves a highly important role in global citizen science. EBird data is critical for countless research projects that impact conservation and funding policies around the world. The website also has amazing resources that can help you become a better and more responsible birder. 

Follow the simple directions below. Your registration requires your eBird user name on the form.

To Create an eBird account.
a. Go to ebird.org/home and click Create Account
b. Fill out the information requested
c. Start exploring eBird!

DESCRIPTION: We’ll bird the park’s trees and meadows looking for migrating songbirds, flycatchers, waterfowl and raptors.  The open space and power poles are good for raptors. Marshy areas can be productive for warblers, wrens, munias and the lake offers the usual suspects and perhaps a surprise.  The trail is flat and we will walk approximately 1.0-1.5 miles. 

ADA Accessible: Yes

Experience Level: Beginner to Intermediate

Registration and RSVP to confirmation Required! 

Registration will open on the morning of MAR 20th. 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

MCAS Field Trip - MAR 28 - Birding at the Morro Bay State Park Marina Boardwalk

Birding at the Morro Bay Marina [photo by Robbie Revel]

Morro Coast Audubon Society Presents

FIELD TRIP:       Birding at the Morro Bay State Park Marina Boardwalk

DATE:                  THURSDAY, March 28, 2024

TIME:                   9:00am to 11:30am

LEADER:            Claudia Freitas

CO-LEADER:     Karen Watts

Trip is limited to 12 participants - Signups will be taken for 24 hours. 12 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 leisurely morning stroll along the Boardwalk with MCAS Field Trip leaders to identify wintering shorebirds and migrants, as well as the land birds occupying the coastal sage scrub habitat. This is a short walk of about one mile on a boardwalk and dirt path and is ADA accessible. 

ADA Accessible: Yes

Experience Level: All Levels Welcome

Registration and RSVP to confirmation Required! 

Registration will open on the morning of MAR 18th. 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@morrocoastaudubon.org

MCAS Workshop - MAR 23 - Birding for Beginners Workshop

MCAS Office [photo by Robbie Revel]

REGISTRATION CLOSED.

Morro Coast Audubon Society Presents 

WORKSHOP:     Birding for Beginners Workshop 

LOCATION:        Morro Coast Audubon Office, Morro Bay 

DATE:                  Saturday, March 23, 2024 

TIME:                   9:00 am to 1:30 pm 

LEADER:            Karen Watts 

CO-LEADER:     Robbie Revel 

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:

This program is especially designed for beginners. Learn about the skills needed to master birding as a hobby.  Practice making observations, learn to use binoculars, spotting scopes, and field guides. Learn about resources available for ongoing skill building. A discussion in the Morro Coast Audubon office will be followed by an outdoor walk at the Marina Boardwalk to practice skills. There will be a short break for lunch.  Skills practice can be done indoors if it is raining. Bring binoculars if you have them.  Restrooms are available. Children over 12 are welcome. 

ADA Accessible: Yes

Experience Level:  Beginners

Registration and RSVP to confirmation Required! 

Registration will open on the morning of MAR 13thOn that date, members of MCAS 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@morrocoastaudubon.org