MCAS Field Trip - AUG 11 - Cloisters to the Strand

Long-Billed Curlew Eating Sand Crab [photo by Mike Baird]  

Morro Coast Audubon Society Presents  

FIELD TRIP:       Cloisters to the Strand 

DATE:                  Sunday, August 11, 2024  

TIME:                   9:00am to 11:30am  

LEADER:            Robbie Revel  

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: Enjoy a leisurely walk through many different habitats; from grassy park, reed lined pond, backyard bird feeders, and finally out to the Morro Strand State Park Beach. RED-WINGED and BREWER’S BLACKBIRDS visit many of the feeders and BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS are lurking in the trees around the pond. There are a variety of breeding and migrant birds in the willows along the trail north and south. The nuttalli race of WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW is often seen up close. There is a possibility of seasonal pools on the beach.  When present, these pools can have an amazing variety of species that are easy to view! Look for GULLS, TERNS and SHOREBIRDS.  Walk will be on a flat trail and beach with some areas of deep sand. Expect to walk 1 – 2 miles at a slow pace. Restrooms are available.

ADA Accessible: No

Experience Level: All Levels Welcome

ADA Accessible: No

Registration and RSVP to confirmation Required! 

Registration will open on the morning of AUG 1^st. 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. To receive ALERTS from MCAS regarding Field Trips, Community Programs, and other MCAS activities, you will need to fill out the MCAS ALERT EMAIL LIST signup form in the footer of the MCAS website. You can also join the SLOCOBIRDING email list to get Field Trip ALERTs 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

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The End of an Era

The Morro Coast Audubon Society Board would like to thank Judy Neuhauser for her dedication to conservation and her work as the President of MCAS over the last 5 years. Judy has led all of us through land acquisitions, grant awards, and technology advances for the chapter. Although Judy is stepping down from the position of President, she will stay active with the chapter working with the Lands committee and Sweet Springs Circle of Friends.

Again, our deep appreciation to Judy for the time, energy, and commitment she has given to conservation in our community. Please join us in thanking Judy for her important service to our community.

 

Thank you Judy!

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Climate Bond Vote Needs Your Support

Sharks Inlet, Montana De Oro State Park [photo by Joanne Aasen]

MCAS urges you to send a message to our elected representatives in support of a climate bond vote to be placed on the November ballot.

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PACIFIC FLYWAY NEWSLETTER - July/August 2024

July/August 2024 Flyway

Click READ MORE to VIEW, PRINT, or DOWNLOAD Flyway Newsletter. Then move cursor over the Flyway Newsletter displayed below and click the "Pop-out" icon in the top-right corner.

From the now newly opened window, you can read the Flyway Newsletter OR use the icons in the top-right corner to PRINT or DOWNLOAD the Flyway Newsletter.

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MCAS Diversity Statement and Land Acknowledgement

Morro Coast Audubon is dedicated to ensuring conservation, nature, and the outdoors are inclusive spaces for everyone, regardless of their background. By respecting, valuing, and including people of all backgrounds, lifestyles, and perspectives, we strive to create a safe, equitable, and vibrant future for environmental stewardship on the Central Coast.

We invite you to review our new Diversity Statement and Land Acknowledgment.

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Habitat and Wildlife Protection - You can help!

Looking South over Estero Beach to Morro Rock [photo by Dave Tyra]

[MCAS email sent to State Senator John Laird and State Representative Dawn Addis.] 

June 13, 2024 

 

My name is David Tyra, and I am the Conservation Chair of Morro Coast Audubon Society. On behalf of MCAS and its 1,000 plus members, I’m writing to ask that you protect and preserve funding for the Habitat Conservation Fund. Please remove the current section in the State Budget Proposal that would revert the funding, and reject any efforts to eliminate its annual allocation. 

 

The Habitat Conservation Fund has been the most useful and reliable source of funding for vital conservation and restoration projects for more than three decades. Hundreds of important projects protecting everything from countless bird species like, Western Burrowing Owls and Western Bluebirds to mountain lions to coasts, to wetlands have been supported – nearly a million acres in all. In addition, the Fund is one of the few reliable and ongoing funding sources for the state’s Climate Plan and 30x30 Initiative. 

 

The birds, wildlife, and people of California rely on our diverse habitats and our conservation efforts. Please save this successful program to protect the future of wildlife and communities.

 

Sincerely,

Dave Tyra

MCAS Conservation Chair

dave@morrocoastaudubon.org

 

YOU CAN HELP at…

CA Audubon Alert, Support Habitat Protection: https://act.audubon.org/a/tell-ca-senate-and-assembly-we-need-habitat-and-wildlife-protection

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MCAS EVENT - JUN 24 - Birding Field Trip & Annual June Picnic

2023 Picnic Bird Walk [photo by Wendy McKeown]

                                         MCAS Birding Field Trip & Annual June Picnic 

Includes a short Program: 

Conservation Ranching & How it Benefits Grassland Ecosystems

with Daniel Sinton and Grace Ferguson

Monday, June 24th, 2024, beginning @ 5 pm

El Chorro Regional Park, Dairy Creek Group Area

 

What: 

MCAS is inviting members, friends and guests, including CNPS-SLO members to attend the MCAS annual June Picnic that includes a birding walk and a short program on Conservation Ranching. 

 

When:

Monday, June 24th, 2024

●        Informal birding walk: 5:00-6:00 pm

●        Picnic & talk: 6:00-7:15 pm

 

Where:

Dairy Creek Group Area, El Chorro Regional Park

2961 Dairy Creek Rd., SLO

 

Location Details: The Dairy Creek Group Area is the third group area on your left as you drive into the park (across the street from the SLO Botanical Garden Children’s Garden). This is an ADA accessible group area. The closest restrooms are located at the Lupine Group Day Use Area or near the entrance to the park. 

 

RSVP:

Please let us know if you are planning on attending, and how many hamburgers you would like us to prepare for your party by clicking on the link below:

 

RSVP HERE by JUNE 17th

Picnic Details:

Bring a dish to share (w/serving utensils), and your own reusable table setting (plate, cup, flatware, etc.), in addition to a picnic tablecloth if you have one. If you’d rather not share, bring your own meal, or have a hamburger on us (see below for details). Assorted beverages and cookies will be provided by MCAS hospitality. 

 

This year, MCAS, in conjunction with the CA Audubon Conservation Ranching Program, will be providing BBQ’d hamburgers made with CA Audubon Certified Bird Friendly beef for anyone interested. An RSVP is requested for this so we know how many to plan for (see link above).

 

Program: Conservation Ranching & How it Benefits Grassland Ecosystems

Daniel Sinton, part of the family that owns and operates both the Avenales and the Shell Creek Ranch (of Shell Creek wildflower fame) and Grace Ferguson from CA Audubon Conservation Ranching Program will be on hand to talk about how this program benefits grassland ecosystems, including birds. 

 

Nationwide, grassland bird populations have fallen 53% since 1970 according to the Cornell Ornithological Lab. A study of 35 Audubon-certified ranches in the Northern Great Plains from 2016–2019, however, showed that bird populations on those lands increased by an average of 35 percent. One ranch in Wyoming showed an increase of 180%. Even if you are not a beef eater, you might want to find ways to support this initiative that has the potential to stem the losses of these birds.

 

Birding Field Trip:

Prior to the Picnic, an informal birding field trip around El Chorro Regional Park led by Torrey Gage-Tomlinson and Mark Mushkat will be held from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Join Torrey and Mark for a late afternoon walk through the varied habitats and surrounding environs of El Chorro Regional Park. 

 

This short bird walk will be over gentle terrain and will begin and end in the Dairy Creek Group area in time for the Morro Coast Audubon Annual Picnic! People of all birding skills are welcome. Some of the species we might expect to see include White-tailed Kite, Red-shouldered Hawk, California Quail, Western Scrub-jay, Western Bluebird, Black-headed Grosbeak, and Bullock's Oriole. Bring your own binoculars and take a casual stroll with fellow birders. No signups are required for this birding walk. 

 

The event is open to all at no charge. We’d love to have you join us!

 

Questions? Email Wendy McKeown at wendy@morrocoastaudubon.org

 

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MCAS Field Trip - JUN 30 - Lichens of White Point In Morro Bay

Lichens at White Point [photo by Ben Holsted]

REGISTRATION CLOSED.

Morro Coast Audubon Society Presents  

FIELD TRIP:       Lichens of White Point in Morro Bay  

DATE:                  Sunday, June 30, 2024  

TIME:                   10:00am to 12 Noon  

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 for an exploration of the unique maritime lichen flora of Morro Bay at White Point. During the walk, we will learn about the charismatic fog lichens, discuss the important ecological roles of lichens in coastal habitats, and learn to identify several common and perhaps one or two locally rare lichen species. 

This walk will follow the short but steep and uneven walk up to the top of White Point overlook at the Natural History Museum. Could be difficult for some, so please take this into consideration when registering.  

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 JUN 20^th. 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 Revel robbie@morrocoastaudubon.org

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