2018 Carrizo Plain Christmas Bird Count

Photo by Roger Zachary

The 2018 Carrizo Plain CBC will be on Saturday, December 29th. Registration must be submitted by December 15. The Carrizo Plain Christmas Bird Count is on a different day than the Morro Coast Audubon CBC.

Registration for the Carrizo CBC is less formal and can be done by contacting Roger Zachary at rzachary@charter.net or 805-458-8838 (cell).

We will meeting at the Community Center/Fire Station on Soda Lake Road at 8:00 a.m. We usually break the group into 7-8 parties in the morning then re-group at 1 p.m. for lunch and to check the number of species observed. We may be assigning section leaders for those who are dedicated and knowledgeable of certain areas. Bring your own food/water and come with a full tank of gas. Several parties bird the afternoon depending on what we need to find or confirm. We're looking forward to a productive count as well as a great day of birding.

If you are an experienced birder and know the area please email or call me to let me know that you are participating by no later than Dec. 15. I just need to get organized on the number of participants on the count. Last year I had late sign-ups and had to be creative on where to assign birders. A prompt email reply would to helpful. Thanks to those who already contacted me.

Happy Birding,
Roger

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2018 Nancy Vaughan Scholarship Award

The MCAS Nancy Vaughan Scholarship Award is available to Cuesta College students that meet the criteria listed below. Please pass this on to anyone you know who might be interested, as the application deadline is approaching.

Download Scholarship Application (PDF)

The scholarship application deadline is December 1, 2018

Scholarship Application Criteria:

1. A minimum 2.50 cumulative grade point average.
2. Student must currently be enrolled in a minimum of 6 units at Cuesta College.
3. Applicant must be interested in and pursuing a career involving some aspect of caring for our natural environment, such as biology, wildlife conservation, ecology, animal care, water and air quality, or any other related field.
4. One letter of recommendation is required. Letters from instructors, counselors, employers, and community members are preferred.
5. Candidate will be awarded the scholarship money at the Morro Coast Audubon Christmas Bird Count dinner on December 16, 2017 (held at the Botanical Gardens in San Luis Obispo).

Scholarship Guidelines:

1. Selection of Recipients
   Selections will be based on student’s overall academic progress, financial need, extracurricular activities, leadership skills, and participation in community activities.
2. Notice of Awards
   Students will be notified by e-mail or phone of any scholarship award or denial.
3. Renewal of Scholarship
   Scholarship may be renewed, contingent upon satisfactory academic progress and availability of funds. Students must re-apply for a continuation of the scholarship. Please attach a separate sheet describing how the scholarship benefited you and why it should be renewed.

Mail your application to:

Morro Coast Audubon Society
% Stephanie Little

PO Box 1507
Morro Bay, CA 93443

Questions: Stephanie Little, (805) 610-6229

Applicants will be notified of scholarship award or denial by December 15, 2018.

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Photo-to-Postcard Contest Winners Announced!

The Winners of the 2018 Photo-to-Postcard Contest are...

1st Place
Photographer: James P. Little
"A Large, Tasty Meal"
West Shore of Morro Bay near Morro Rock

2nd Place
Photographer: Jeanie Greensfelder
"Sweet Springs Great Egret"
Sweet Springs Nature Preserve, Los Osos

3rd Place
Photographer: Marlin Harms
"American White Pelicans"
Morro Bay Sand Spit, Morro Bay

We want to thank all the photographers who participated in this contest, 

and congratulate the winning photographers.

Thanks also goes to those who voted.

Meet the photographers and winners at the November 19th Community Program.

Postcards with the winning photos will be available for purchase 

at the MCAS office in Morro Bay beginning around mid-November.

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2018 Christmas Bird Count Registration OPENS!

Registration for the 2018 Morro Bay Christmas Bird Count is now OPEN.

If you have never previously participated in the CBC, why not make this your First one! It's fun, and all experience levels are welcome.

For more information go to 2018 Christmas Bird Count.

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NOV COMMUNITY PROGRAM: "RATS" Raptors Are The Solution

RATS: Raptors Are The Solution
Presented by SLO-RATS volunteers Judy Neuhauser and Kathleen Dillon

Monday, November 19th 7 pm
at SLO Botanical Garden Oak Glen Pavilion in El Chorro Regional Park

Judy Neuhauser, in cooperation with Kathleen Dillon (also with Pacific Wildlife Care), will present a program on the dangers that the second generation anti-coagulant rodenticides present to wildlife predators across the country. RATS (Raptors Are The Solution) is a program started in the Bay Area to address this threat by educating the public on ways to promote and encourage raptors in both rural and urban areas as part of the solution to rodent problems.

Preceding the program will be an update from Hi Mountain Lookout Cal Poly student Interns, Gio Espinosa and Marie Solis, about their biological field research projects this past summer, including condor radio-tracking experience.

Also preceding the program will be an update on the PHOTO-TO-POSTCARD Contest.
The Photographers will be recognized and WINNERS congratulated!
Photos will be on display and Postcards will be available for purchase.

Refreshments will be provided. All MCAS Community Programs are free and open to the public. As always, all ages are welcome.

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