The 2025 Election closed on May 8th and the results are in.
To see how members voted, go to ELECTION RESULTS.
MCAS Field Trip - MAY 30 - Birding in the de Anza Watershed
Morro Coast Audubon Society Presents 
Birding in the De Anza Watershed [photo by Roger Zachary]
FIELD TRIP: Birding in the de Anza Watershed
Atascadero Mutual Water Company property
DATE: Friday, May 30, 2025
TIME: 7:30AM to 10:00 AM
LEADER: Roger Zachary
CO-LEADER: Ruth Zachary
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: We will be birding in mixed oak woodland and riparian woodland along the Salinas River. We should be able to identify approximately 35 species.
Terrain: level road/ sandy riverbed
Distance: 1 mile
Restrooms are not available-There is no water or restroom facilities at the site, Home Depot and Starbucks are the closest facilities.
Rain cancels.
ADA Accessible: No
Experience Level: All Levels Welcome
Registration and RSVP to confirmation Required!
Registration will open on the morning of MAY 20th. On that date, MCAS members will automatically receive an ALERT with the LINK to the Field Trip’s Registration Form.
Non-members can also receive ALERTS from MCAS regarding Field Trips, Community Programs, and other MCAS activities. To do so you will need to fill out the MCAS ALERT EMAIL LIST sign up form in the footer of the MCAS website. You can also get MCAS Field Trip alerts, and other SLO county bird sightings, by joining SLOCOBIRDING.
Please consider becoming a member of MCAS to support MCAS’s mission and activities, including Members Only Field Trips.
Questions? Email Freddy Howell freddy@morrocoastaudubon.org
Proposed Bylaw Changes - Voting Closes May 9th at Midnight
Prior to voting, it is recommended that members familiarize themselves with the bylaw changes being proposed.
MCAS Field Trip - MEMBERS ONLY - MAY 19 - Habitat: Villa Creek/China Cove
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| Looking North Toward Villa Creek [photo by Faylla Chapman] |
FIELD TRIP: Habitat: Villa Creek/China
Cove
DATE: Monday,
May 19, 2025
TIME: 10:00am
to 12:00 Noon
LEADER: Faylla
Chapman
CO-LEADER: Sharon Iranpour
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: 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 May 9th. On that date, only 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 freddy@morrocoastaudubon.org
VIDEO now available for APR 23rd Community Program: Birds of SLO and NOSB Counties
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| American Coots [photo by Dave Lawrence] |
Program: Third Annual Birds of SLO and Northern
Santa Barbara (NOSB) Counties
Curated
and Presented by Judy Neuhauser
Music
accompaniment by Aria DiSalvio
Description of the Community Program: Judy Neuhauser will present the third annual program of Birds of San Luis Obispo and Northern Santa Barbara Counties. This slide show, featuring photos from some of the best photographers in the area, will showcase the splendor of birds that live and migrate through the spectacularly varied habitats in our counties. 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 music by Aria DiSalvio, a cellist from Santa Cruz, and her musical collaborators.
MCAS Field Trip - MEMBERS ONLY - MAY 15 - Breeding Birds of Sweet Springs
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| View over Estuary to Morro Rock from Sweet Springs |
REGISTRATION CLOSED.
Morro Coast Audubon Society Presents **MEMBERS ONLY**
FIELD TRIP: Breeding Birds of Sweet Springs
DATE: Thursday, May 15, 2025
TIME: 8:30am - 11:30am
LEADER: Jay Carroll
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: 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 Welcome
Registration and RSVP to confirmation Required!
Registration will open on the morning of MAY 15th. On that date, only 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 Freddy Howell (freddy@morrocoastaudubon.org)
MCAS Field Trip - MAY 11 - Stop & Scope-Heron and Egret Rookery Watch
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| Great Great at Nest [photo by Bob Revel] |
Morro Coast Audubon Society Presents
FIELD TRIP: Stop & Scope-Heron and Egret Rookery Watch
DATE: Sunday, May 11, 2025
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 required - but all may come.
Registration will open on the morning of MAY 1st. On that date, MCAS members will automatically receive an ALERT with the LINK to the Field Trip’s Registration Form.
Non-members can also receive ALERTS from MCAS regarding Field Trips, Community Programs, and other MCAS activities. To do so you will need to fill out the MCAS ALERT EMAIL LIST sign up form in the footer of the MCAS website. You can also get MCAS Field Trip alerts, and other SLO county bird sightings, by joining SLOCOBIRDING.
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 Spring Global Bird Day - May 10 - Citizen Science at Four Locations
Morro Coast Audubon Presents 
Source: Birds of the World
May 10th – Spring Global Big Day – Citizen Science at Four Locations
Join the Morro Coast Audubon Field Trip committee for a day of birding, learning, and fun on Global Big Day! Global Big Day (GBD) is a worldwide effort to submit data using the citizen science tool eBird. We will have teams at FOUR LOCATIONS, looking for and learning about the birds of the Central Coast, learning how eBird is applied in the field, and most importantly, having fun! You do not need an eBird account to participate.
Using our Registration Form, select your first choice for location. You also have the option to select a second and third choice in the event your first choice is full. Each participant will receive a confirmation for their location with a description and directions.
The Four Locations for GBD are:
1 CERRO ALTO CAMPGROUND - 8am - 11am, Will Knowlton (10 participants)
2 CUESTA INLET - 10am -12 Noon, Grace Hayes & Susie Reddy (15 participants)
3 SAN SIMEON - 8:30am -12 Noon, Revel Team & Ben Kolstad (12 participants)
4 MONTAÑA DE ORO LAZY SIT - 9am - 12 Noon, Claudia Freitas & Karen Watts (Drop In)
1 CERRO ALTO CAMPGROUND – 8am - 11am with Will Knowlton
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. Restrooms are available. There is a $10 day-use fee per vehicle. 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. Non-ADA compliant.
2 CUESTA INLET - 10am - 12 Noon with Grace Hayes & Susie Reddy
Join Grace & Susie for shorebirds and ducks, an overview of area marsh plants, and a summary of area land conservation efforts The terrain is flat, narrow sand and silt trails and the walk is up to 1.5 miles. Many ducks and shorebirds should be at a good distance for study with (and maybe without) binoculars. Additionally, those that have a scope may wish to bring it for identification and viewing of ducks that may be off at a distance on the bay or shorebirds on the opposite side of the inlet. Restrooms are not available. Non-ADA compliant.
3 SAN SIMEON/WASHBURN - 8:30am - 12 Noon with Revel Team & Ben Kolstad
Join the Revel Team & Ben Kolstad for a leisurely stroll along the San Simeon boardwalk to view the amazing variety of birds on the beach and along San Simeon Creek. Expect to see shorebirds, cormorants, pelicans, Snowy Plovers, and warblers along the creek. Herons & egrets are also seen along with an occasional Bald Eagle. Distance is about 1.5 miles. Restrooms are available. Beach walk is non-ADA compliant.
4 MONTAÑA DE ORO LAZY SIT - 9am - 12 Noon with Claudia Freitas & Karen Watts
Drop in on Claudia Freitas and Karen Watts as they strive to perfect the art of “stop and sit” birding. They will be sitting quietly in one spot long enough for the birds to come out of hiding. Bring a chair and join them at Islay Campground in Montana de Oro. Wander through the campground until you find them. Expect to see songbirds, warblers, raptors and more. Chairs will be moved periodically. Bring drinks, snacks and a chair. Walking distance about .5 miles. Restrooms are available. ADA compliant.
Registration will open on the morning of APR 30th. On that date, MCAS members will automatically receive an ALERT with the LINK to the Field Trip’s Registration Form.
Non-members can also receive ALERTS from MCAS regarding Field Trips, Community Programs, and other MCAS activities. To do so you will need to fill out the MCAS ALERT EMAIL LIST sign up form in the footer of the MCAS website. You can also get MCAS Field Trip alerts, and other SLO county bird sightings, by joining SLOCOBIRDING.
Please consider becoming a member of MCAS to support MCAS’s mission and activities, including Members Only Field Trips.
Questions? Email Robbie Revel robbie@morrocoastaudubon.org or Freddy Howell freddy@morrocoastaudubon.org
