Osprey #63 Sighted in Southern California

,


Last year there were several sightings of an OSPREY with leg band #63. Originally banded, on 4/23/2018, in Orange county near Newport Beach, it went north and was sighted in several locations in San Luis Obispo County.

First seen on 7/9/2018 at Oso Flaco Lake, it was later seen at Oceano Campground, Pismo Creek Mouth, Marina Spit (across from MB State Park Campground), Morro Bay Marina and, lastly, back at Oso Flaco Lake on 9/28/2018. (See details at https://www.morrocoastaudubon.org/2018/10/osprey-63-photo-taken-by-beth-sargent.html#.)

On 10/4/2018 #63 was sighted again in the southland at Crystal Cove State Park in Orange County.

Recently MCAS received a photograph, taken by Eli Shapira, of #63. The photo was taken at Strand Beach in Dana Point, CA (south of Crystal Cove), on Wednesday, March 13th, 2019.

Eli's story of #63 continues... he has been around here for almost 6 months. He has a daily routine: catches a fish in late afternoon then sits on that post to eat it until about sunset. The post is about 100' away from the water and 35' high.

The question is: will #63 come back north?

Keep your eyes open and camera ready!


Read More

14th Annual Wildflower Show



Saturday, April 13th, 12-5 and
Sunday April 14th, 10-4
Cambria Veterans Memorial Building
1000 Main Street, Cambria, CA

This year’s show, “Early Spring Treasures,” is our first to put the spotlight on the remarkable display of Central Coast wildflowers and other flora that present themselves earlier than many in our traditional late April show.

Also, this year we are presenting more information on Edible, Medicinal, Rare, Invasive, and Poisonous plants, with botanists on hand to answer questions.

• Hundreds of Central Coast wildflowers and other flora will be presented and described
• All freshly picked
• Antique and sometimes rare bottles will display many of the specimens.
• Seeds, helpful books, and T-shirts etc. will be for sale.
• Treats from the Wildflower Café will also be for sale.
• Admission is free for students, otherwise it’s a $3.00 donation to this worthy cause.

Produced by Friends of the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve
and assisted by many, many volunteers!

Read More

FIELD TRIP: Harmony Headlands State Park, March 16th


TRIP IS NOW FULL!  

 FIELD TRIP: Harmony Headlands State Park
Saturday, March 16th

RSVP Required! Limited to 15 participants**

Join leaders Eric Wier and Steve McMasters for this early spring trip. Trip includes about 4 miles (round trip) of moderate hiking (some hills) through grasslands and coastal scrub to ocean views. Target bird species include raptors, songbirds, and seabirds.

A portable restroom is available along the trail. Bring binoculars, water, snacks, hat, and sunscreen, and dress for the wind / weather. Rain cancels.

This is a FREE trip; no fees charged. 

**Those interested must reserve a spot by emailing Jan Surbey, MCAS field trip chair, at jan@morrocoastaudubon.org. Jan will send start time and directions to those with reservations.
Read More

2019 Seabird Monitoring Survey

Volunteers needed!

Morro Coast Audubon is looking for motivated volunteers to conduct seabird monitoring surveys along the Central Coast beginning in April and ending in July. All work is conducted from the shoreline and no previous experience is necessary. We will train you in species identification, survey protocol, and provide spotting scopes. Each volunteer will be responsible for completing one survey a month, which takes between 3-4 hours, at the location of their choice. Surveys locations are Estero Bluffs, Montaña de Oro, and Shell Beach. Surveys at Montaña de Oro and Estero Bluffs require surveyors to hike with a spotting scope. The data collected is part of a statewide effort to monitor seabirds that use the coastline for nesting and foraging and document human caused disturbance of seabirds. The data is ultimately used to shape conservation efforts and policy.

To learn more, please attend our Introductory Meeting on Wednesday, March 20th from 5:30-7:00 pm at the Morro Coast Audubon Office, 601 Embarcadero #14 (upstairs in Marina Square), Morro Bay, CA.

Field trainings will be held as follows:
      Shell Beach - Sunday March 24, 11:00 -2:00 pm
      Estero Bluffs - Saturday March 30, 8:00 -11:00 am
      Montaña de Oro - Saturday March 30, 12:30 - 3:30 pm

Please RSVP to sarannsnyder@gmail.com.

VIEW Flyer

Additional information

Read More

FIELD TRIP: Montana de Oro, March 30th


Saturday, March 30th, 8AM-noon

No RSVP necessary.  

Join leader Steve Griffith for birding the campground, cove, and bluffs at Montana de Oro State Park. Meet at 8AM in front of the Visitors Center / Spooner Ranch House across from Spooner’s Cove. Expect rock-loving shorebirds, water birds, raptors, and passerines in mixed habitats.  Includes 1-2 miles of slow walking.

Restrooms available near the ranch house and within the campground. Bring snacks, water, binoculars and a scope if you have one.

This is a FREE trip; no fees charged.

For more information, contact Jan Surbey, MCAS field trip chair, at jan@morrocoastaudubon.org.

Directions: [MAP] From the main business district of Los Osos go west on Los Osos Valley Road. Los Osos Valley Road becomes Pecho Valley Road and curves left (south). Continue to the park entrance sign. From the park entrance sign drive about 2.4 miles, turn left (east) toward the campground and park in front of the Visitors Center.
Read More

EUREKA! THE BIRDS OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY - January 2019

,

To VIEW, PRINT, or DOWNLOAD Eureka! click READ MORE. Then move cursor over the Eureka! displayed below and click the "Pop-out" icon in the top-right corner.

From the now newly opened window, you can read Eureka! OR use the icons in the top-right corner to PRINT or DOWNLOAD Eureka!.
Read More

MCAS Community Program - MAR 18th - Birds of SLO County, 2018, Part 1

,
Barn Owl, by Norm Pillsbury

Tenth Anniversary of the most popular Bird Photography Series
with an Artist Reception to precede the Program

Program Coordinated and Presented by David Keeling
With music by Bob Clark and Jack Collins

Monday, March 18th
Dark-eyed Junco by Jim Little
Reception at 6:30 pm & Program at 7:00 pm
at SLO Botanical Garden Oak Glen Pavilion in El Chorro Regional Park

Birds of SLO, 2018 is a two-part slideshow featuring outstanding images of over 200 species of birds taken last year by fifteen of the finest nature photographers in San Luis Obispo county. The photos are amazing and their impact is heightened by the synergistic effect of live guitar accompaniment by Jack Collins and Bob Clark. 

The program will be preceded by an artist reception at 6:30 pm to honor the photographers and to celebrate the TENTH ANNIVERSARY of the Birds of SLO series. Drinks and snacks will be provided courtesy of MCAS. 

Bald Eagle, by Richard Mittleman
If you enjoy birds and birding, you’ll enjoy the evening. It will be great entertainment and motivation to get out and bird more often in our county. You’d be hard pressed to come up with an example of anything quite like it.

All MCAS Community Programs are free and open to the public.  As always, all ages are welcome.
Read More

RARE WINTER VISITOR

,
To VIEW click READ MORE. Then move cursor over the PDF displayed below and click the "Pop-out" icon in the top-right corner.
Read More

EUREKA! THE BIRDS OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY - Nov-Dec 2018

,

To VIEW, PRINT, or DOWNLOAD Eureka! click READ MORE. Then move cursor over the Eureka! displayed below and click the "Pop-out" icon in the top-right corner.

From the now newly opened window, you can read Eureka! OR use the icons in the top-right corner to PRINT or DOWNLOAD Eureka!.
Read More

MCAS Community Program - FEB 18th - Monarch Butterfly Conservation

,
Morro Coast Audubon Society 
Community Program

Monarch butterfly conservation:
not for the faint of heart 

Presented by Dr. Francis Villablanca

WHEN:  Monday, February 18th, 7 pm
WHERE:  SLO Botanical Garden Oak Glen Pavilion in El Chorro Regional Park

Western monarch butterflies seem to be suffering from multiple threats. To name a few, these include loss of habitat, pesticides, non-native milkweeds, and climate change. We will review the current population status of western monarchs and discuss how their threats may be impacting the population.

Dr. Francis Villablanca received his Ph.D. from the University of California Berkeley in 1992. He has been at Cal Poly since 1999, and has been the research advisor for Monarch Alert since Fall of 2010. Monarch Alert is a citizen-based research project backed by graduate student researchers and faculty from Cal Poly. They focus on the demography and population fluctuations of western monarch butterflies by sampling overwintering populations in San Luis Obispo and Monterey Counties.

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




Read More