Hi Mountain Lookout - Open House and Campout, Saturday, October 5th

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Come and discover one of the largest and most endangered flying birds of North America. This is an opportunity for you to learn more about condor biology and the reintroduction of these magnificent birds back to the wild.

The open house schedule includes a bird watching field trip, condor radio tracking demonstrations, geographical landmarks, local geology, and native plant identification. Bring a picnic lunch at noon. Families with children are welcome.

Meet and socialize with our staff and community volunteers. Cal Poly student interns will discuss their ongoing biological field research projects in the Hi Mountain area, including condor telemetry.
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MCAS Benefits from Sweet Springs Saloon Competition

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Saturday, September 21st
12:00-3:00pm
Sweet Springs Saloon - 990 Los Osos Valley Road, Los Osos

The 36th Annual Bloody Mary Competition is proudly sponsored by Titos Vodka and is a benefit for the Morro Coast Audubon Society.

Join others for an afternoon with a friendly competition, live music, food, and raffles!

Competition is FREE to attend!
Tickets are $10 to participate and help us pick the crowd favorite Blood Mary!
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Hi Mountain Interns Visit Bitter Creek - Condor Country!


A three-day visit with not-to-be-missed experiences!     
                 Click READ MORE to read their newsletter.
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EUREKA! THE BIRDS OF SLO COUNTY - June-July 2019

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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!.
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MCAS Community Program - SEPT 16th - Diablo Canyon Lands

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When: Monday, Sept. 16th, 7:00pm
Where: SLO Botanical Garden Oak Glen Pavilion in El Chorro Regional Park

Kara Woodruff will present important information on two regions of SLO County with high conservation priority and high risk: the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes and the Diablo Canyon Coast (including Wild Cherry Canyon and “Little Cherry Canyon”). Come to learn about these important areas in our county and what is being done to protect them.

Kara is a Cal Poly graduate and received a J.D. and M.A. from Duke University. She is currently the VP/Chief Compliance Officer and financial planner at Blakeslee & Blakeslee and was a former project director for The Nature Conservancy and American Land Conservancy. Her passion is for the natural world and being involved in conservation projects, which she now does on a volunteer basis. Past and current projects include the Hearst Ranch, Cambria Coast Ranch, Chimineas Ranch, and lands in the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes and Irish Hills/Diablo Canyon Coast.

All MCAS Community Programs are free and open to the public. As always, all ages are welcome.
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The SPRING Pelican Survey Results are IN!!



The Spring Pelican Survey took place in May of 2019 and here are the RESULTS!

This year's FALL pelican survey is scheduled for Saturday, September 14.

Each surveyor commits to a one hour period that day within the 3:37pm to 7:37pm timeframe.

If you are interested in participating in this survey, please contact Dave Tyra and he will get back to you with more information.

 It's fun, and a good way to get involved in Citizen Science.
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TALK at SLOBG - Why Birds Flock - Saturday, Sept. 7th

You may have heard the old saying that birds of a feather flock together. But have you ever stopped to wonder why? Join Jessica Griffiths on Saturday, September 7 at 1 PM in the SLO Botanical Garden’s Education Building for a fascinating look at bird flocks and flocking behavior. Why do some species of birds form flocks, while others do not? Can different kinds of birds join together in a flock? Why do geese and ducks fly in a “V” formation? Learn the answers to these questions and more in this presentation, which touches on bird biology and behavior, and highlights some remarkable scientific discoveries.

Presentation is $5 for Garden and MCAS members / $10 for public. No pre-registration required.
For more information, visit slobg.org.

Jessica Griffiths has been working as a wildlife biologist for nearly 20 years. She currently works as a biologist for Althouse and Meade, Inc. in Paso Robles. Prior to moving to the SLO area, Jessica worked in Big Sur for the Ventana Wildlife Society, overseeing all of their songbird research projects and running the Big Sur Ornithology Lab for several years. She is actively involved with Morro Coast Audubon and leads year-round bird walks for birders of all ages.
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FIELD TRIP: Shorebirds 101 – Thursday 8/22


Join leaders Norma Wightman and Jan Surbey, and the returning shorebirds, for this trip along Morro Strand State Beach on Thursday, August 22nd from 8:30-10:00AM.

Targeted for beginners, but all ages and experience levels are welcome. Expect to walk about a mile or two along the beach. Meet at the Morro Strand campground entrance to the beach at the north end of the campground.

Directions: Take Highway 1 to Morro Bay, turn off Hwy 1 towards the ocean at Yerba Buena Street (signal), turn left when road bends onto Oceanside Drive, continue into the campground to the first parking lot past the entrance kiosk.

Dressing in “layers” recommended. Bring binoculars if you have them; if not, the leaders will have some binoculars you may borrow for the trip. No RSVP needed. Restrooms are available in the campground.

For additional information, email Jan Surbey, MCAS field trip chair, at jan@morrocoastaudubon.org.
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URGENT: Coastal Commission is Coming to Town! Make Your Voices Heard.


Coastal Commission is Coming to Town!  Make Your Voices Heard.

On July 11 the Coastal Commission will be meeting in SLO to take comments regarding the coastal permit for the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area. Plans put forth by State Parks have the potential to adversely impact Oso Flaco Lake’s environment (flora & fauna); threaten destruction of habitat and endangered species (including Snowy Plover and Least Tern); and allow for repeated violations of federal and state conservation laws (Endangered Species Act, California Environmental Quality Act, and Coastal Act). 

It is now time to speak up for protection of endangered wildlife and in favor of conservation of natural resources and passive recreational use of the dunes and Oso Flaco Lake. 

The Commission meeting begins at 9AM on Thursday, July 11th (arrive by 8AM to get a seat), at the Embassy Suites Hotel, 333 Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo. Agenda Item 12A will be a review of the off-road area coastal permit. Hearing Procedures

The Commission Staff Report (please read Summary, pages 1-6, of 65 page report) recommends a number of interim measures to protect coastal resources and ways to begin phasing out off-road vehicle activity while transitioning the park to other public uses.

The off-road vehicle advocates will be out in force at this Coastal Commission meeting. 

Those of us who want to protect the Guadalupe/Nipomo Dunes and Oso Flaco Lake also need to be there. Please either show up to speak up at the meeting (pro-conservation voices will be wearing dark green), support those who do speak, or e-mail your comments (select Thursday, JULY 11, scroll down to Item 12, then click on Submit Comment) to the Commission by 5:00 PM, Friday, July 5th. 

Please speak in support of the staff report recommendations and vision for the park. Please also voice your opposition to State Parks’ February 2019 Public Works Plan (PWP) to turn the area around Oso Flaco Lake into a campground and junior ATV track. This would decimate an environmentally sensitive habitat area, degrade a high-use passive recreation area, and would not be consistent with the Coastal Act.
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EUREKA! THE BIRDS OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY - May 2019

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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!.
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