Community Program - DEC 16 - Awards and MB CBC Compilation

Morro Bay Christmas Bird Count Circle

This community program will begin with MCAS business that will include award announcements for the Libbie Agran Scholarship and Volunteer of the Year.

Next will be the Morro Bay Christmas Bird Count Compilation led by Jay Carroll. The compilation is the culmination of the annual MB Christmas Bird Count held on Dec 16th. A count of all species seen will be tabulated. Total number of species in count years 2010-2022 have ranged from 175 to 204, with anywhere from 81 to 142 participants. What will the counts be this year?

The this year's MB CBC compilation event will be held via Zoom AND IN PERSON at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 2201 Lawton Ave, SLO (enter parking lot from Meadow Street), beginning at 6:00pm on COUNT DAY. It will be so nice to see each other and share stories from the count day. This year MCAS will supply the main course and we ask that you bring an appetizer or desert to share if you have time.

Questions?

Contact Wendy McKeown, Programs chair, at wendy@morrocoastaudubon.org

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/95515494765?pwd=UEJGYW9pQzNIbDZtRVV5MDFqUWdYQT09

Meeting ID: 955 1549 4765
Passcode: 338678

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MCAS Field Trip - DEC 29 - Winter Birds of Land and Sea at Morro Rock

Peregrine Falcon or Rock Wren? Checking out the birds at Morro Rock [photo by Robbie Revel]

Morro Coast Audubon Society Presents

FIELD TRIP:       Winter Birds of Land and Sea at Morro Rock

DATE:                  Friday, December 29, 2023

TIME:                   9:00am - 11:30am

LEADER:            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:

Our leisurely walk will include a visit to both sides of the rock to welcome back our wintering sea ducks and shorebirds, and to observe cormorants, pelicans, and different species of gulls.. We will look for our resident Peregrine Falcons, as well as land birds occupying the coastal sage scrub on the rock.  Walk will be about 1 mile along a flat dirt path and pavement.

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 parking area. Rain cancels

ADA Accessible: Yes

Experience Level: All Levels Welcome

Registration and RSVP to confirmation Required!

Registration will open on the morning of DEC 14^th. On that date, the LINK to the Field Trip’s Registration Form will ONLY be sent out via MCAS ALERT and SLOCOBIRDING. If you are not already a member of these email lists, you can join MCAS ALERT via JOIN MCAS ALERT EMAIL LIST in the Footer of the MCAS websiteand/or SLOCOBIRDING via Groups.io.

Questions? Email robbie@morrocoastaudubon.org

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PACIFIC FLYWAY NEWSLETTER - Dec 2023/Jan 2024

DEC 2023 AND JAN 2024

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EUREKA! THE BIRDS OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY - October 2023

OCTOBER 2023

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MCAS Field Trip - DEC 14 - Stop and Scope the King Tide

 Morro Coast Audubon Society Presents

FIELD TRIP:       Stop and Scope

                              King Tide at Morro Bay State Park Marina Boardwalk

DATE:                  Thursday, December 14, 2023

TIME:                   9:30am to Noon

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 close in. This is a special high tide called the King Tide because it will be the highest of the year at 10:04am on Thursday, December 14. 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 9:30am 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 Required! 

Registration will open on the morning of NOV 29^th. On that date, the LINK to the Field Trip’s Registration Form will ONLY be sent out via MCAS ALERT and SLOCOBIRDING. If you are not already a member of these email lists, you can join MCAS ALERT via JOIN MCAS ALERT EMAIL LIST in the Footer of the MCAS website and/or SLOCOBIRDING via Groups.io.

Questions? Email robbie@morrocoastaudubon.org

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It’s All about the Caterpillars

Ash-throated Flycatcher with Caterpillar for Nestling [photo by Marlin Harms]

As we ease into the fall migration season, we are excited to see a greater diversity of birds. Many head off to see them at our local parks and preserves. According to the latest Sweet Springs Breeding Bird Survey, 57 species were seen, 36.8% of which were confirmed breeders at Sweet Springs Nature Preserve. 

MCAS has been actively removing invasive species (like insidious Veldt Grass), and planting more native plants as a regular activity for many years. These two facts are related - Planting native plants enables native insects such as butterflies and moths to lay eggs and hatch into caterpillars, which are the main food source most birds use to feed their young. So, it’s all about the caterpillars and the plants needed to support them. This concept is clearly explained in Doug Tallamy’s book, ‘Nature’s Best Hope’, and in the following webinar sponsored by the Golden Gate Bird Alliance (see link below). 

 

According to the Golden Gate Bird Alliance, “Recent headlines about global insect declines and three billion fewer birds in North America are a bleak reality check about how ineffective our current landscape designs have been at sustaining the plants and animals that sustain us.” However, there is hope - Nature’s Best Hope - all of us!

 

When returning home, let’s look around at our landscapes. Are we providing plants that will support the food web in our neighborhoods? It’s easier than we think to add some plants to our gardens that will support what Doug Tallamy calls ‘Homegrown National Park’, the combined yards of everyone in the country planting at least some native plants, since our parks and preserves alone can’t do it. 

 

On the Calscape website, one can type in a zip code, and get a list of plants that would be perfect for that location. The California Native Plant Society - SLO and local nurseries such as Las Pilitas Nursery can assist in finding the best plants.

 

To learn more, consider watching this excellent webinar, ‘Nature’s Best Hope – Doug Tallamy’ sponsored by the Golden Gate Bird Alliance.

 

For those who don’t have time for the entire webinar (73 minutes), consider watching these two shorter sections:

14:00 - 24:00 The reasons to plant natives (spoiler - cute Carolina Chickadees used as an example)

33:00 - 43:00 The solution - What we can do

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MCAS Field Trip - DEC 11 & 16 - Cuesta Inlet, Los Osos

Cuesta Inlet [artwork courtesy of savecuestainlet.org]

REGISTRATION CLOSED.

Morro Coast Audubon Society Presents

FIELD TRIP:       Cuesta Inlet, Los Osos

DATE:                  Monday, December 11 and Saturday, December 16, 2023

TIME:                   10:00AM-Noon

LEADER:            Grace Hayes

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. If you are able to come during the week, please sign up for the Thursday trip, leaving the weekend available for the folks that work during the week. Only registered people may attend. 

The Saturday trip will include the annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC).  The formal field trip will end at noon and there will be the option to continue birding for the count afterwards.  If extending birding time beyond the 10 to 12 field trip, bring a sack lunch.

Description:

Overwintering shorebirds and ducks, overview of area marsh plants, summary of area land conservation efforts (see also www.savecuestainlet.org). The terrain is flat, narrow sand and silt trails and we will walk up to 1.5 miles.

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 shoes are recommended. 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 more distant ducks that may be off at a distance on the bay or shorebirds on the opposite side of the inlet. Restrooms are not available. Rain cancels. 

ADA Accessible: No

Experience Level: All Levels Welcome

Registration and RSVP to confirmation Required! 

Registration will open on the morning of NOV26th. On that date, the LINK to the Field Trip’s Registration Form will ONLY be sent out via MCAS ALERT and SLOCOBIRDING. If you are not already a member of these email lists, you can join MCAS ALERT via JOIN MCAS ALERT EMAIL LIST in the Footer of the MCAS website and/or SLOCOBIRDING via Groups.io.

Questions? Email freddy@morrocoastaudubon.org

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MCAS Field Trip - DEC 10 - Habitat: Life on the Rocks—Birds and Lichens of the Rocky Seashore

Life on the Rocks [photo by Michael Mulroy]

REGISTRATION CLOSED.

Morro Coast Audubon Society Presents

FIELD TRIP:       Habitat: Life on the Rocks—Birds and Lichens of the Rocky Seashore

DATE:                  Sunday, December 10, 2023

TIME:                   1:00pm-3:00pm

LEADER:            Michael Mulroy

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 lichen enthusiast Michael Mulroy on an ecological exploration of the wondrous lichens that thrive on the rocks of the salty, foggy coastline. After a brief introduction to lichens and their ecology, we will do a lichenology-speed stroll (i.e. SLOW) around the perimeter of Morro Rock. We will discuss the different environmental factors that influence the observable variation in the colorful lichen communities on different parts of the Rock. Then we will take advantage of the low tide to get up close and personal with the "hyper-maritime" lichens growing on the riprap rocks of the immediate bay shoreline. If lucky, we may even encounter one or two locally rare, charismatic macrolichens.

Throughout the walk we will also be on the lookout for shorebirds, waterfowl, raptors, and other avian friends, as well as marine mammals. Magnifying loupes will be available for close looks at lichens, and binoculars are recommended for distance viewing of lichens higher up on the Rock. This walk will mostly take place on level ground, but be prepared to walk on uneven rocks and wet sand when we access the bay shoreline.

Things to bring: binoculars, layers, water, snack, hat, sunglasses, sturdy footwear. Restrooms are available. Rain Cancels.

ADA Accessible: No

Experience Level: All Levels Welcome

Registration and RSVP to confirmation Required! 

Registration will open on the morning of NOV 25^th. On that date, the LINK to the Field Trip’s Registration Form will ONLY be sent out via MCAS ALERT and SLOCOBIRDING. If you are not already a member of these email lists, you can join MCAS ALERT via JOIN MCAS ALERT EMAIL LIST in the Footer of the MCAS website and/or SLOCOBIRDING via Groups.io.

Questions? Email robbie@morrocoastaudubon.org

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