The Morro Coast Audubon Society (MCAS), an affiliate of the National Audubon Society, is an
outdoor-oriented group of volunteers devoting its time, energy, and resources to enjoying
and protecting the environment through education, environmental monitoring, advocacy, and
land management.
Field Trips:
- MCAS sponsors two birding field trips each month featuring some of the county's best birding
areas.
- Our Morro Bay pelagic boat trip is an annual fall birding highlight.
- The exciting
Christmas Bird Count always confirms that San Luis Obispo County is
one of the prime birding areas in the U.S.A.
Monthly Meetings:
- Our programs feature biologists, naturalists, and birders who share their knowledge and
interesting experiences.
- Several potluck dinners and picnics provide and opportunity to meet other people who share
common outdoor interests and concerns.
Conservation:
Among our efforts we:
- Aided in the acquisition of Morro Bay State Park heronry.
- Assisted in the monitoring and funding to save the nesting Peregrine Falcons on Morro
Rock.
- Participate in a shorebird census and the monitoring of local Snowy Plover population.
- Established a Conservation Committee which continues to follow and recommend action on
environmental issues.
Education:
Ongoing activities are:
- Funding "Audubon Adventures", an environmental education program for local elementary
school classrooms.
- Sponsoring scholarships to the National Audubon ecology workshops and camps.
- Providing an out education program for school children at our nature preserve.
- Conducting learning sessions for beginning birdwatchers and newcomers at our view deck
overlooking Morro Bay.
Sweet Springs Nature Preserve:
MCAS owns and maintains a 25-acre wildlife preserve, one of the few public open spaces
remaining on the south side of Morro Bay. The preserve includes spring-fed ponds, a stream,
marsh, and upland area which is haven to wintering Monarch butterflies. Several species of
endangered and threatened plants and animals are protected here.
Monthly volunteer work parties are involved in restoring native plants and maintaining the
preserve.
Audubon Overlook:
In addition, we own property on which we have built a view deck overlooking the estuary.
This deck is open to the public for observation of birds on Morro Bay.
For an update on current chapter activities and recent bird sightings, call our local
Audubon Hotline: (805)528-7182
