Morro Coast Audubon Society

03/27/2026

If you missed the California Bird Atlas Town Hall you an view it on YouTube at

Donate to California Bird Atlas (donations are tax-deductible): donorbox.org/california-bird-atlasCalifornia Bird Atlas (CBA) website: www.californiabirdatla...

02/25/2026

On March 7th, join us at Swallow Creek Ranch in Cayucos for a hands-on morning of stewardship on the Central Coast.

Together, we’ll build 50 Western Bluebird nest boxes, learn how habitat structures support bird-friendly ranching through Audubon Conservation Ranching, and explore working lands that sustain both wildlife and agriculture.

The nest boxes we build will be installed across San Luis Obispo County to expand habitat for cavity-nesting birds — including Western Bluebirds, Ash-throated Flycatchers, Oak Titmice, Tree Swallows, and House Wrens.

All skill levels are welcome.
Lunch from Avenales Ranch included.
Limited to 25 participants.

Registration closes when capacity is reached.

🔗 Link in bio to register
(or visit: https://form.jotform.com/260425860519055)

02/17/2026

Photo: Research in New Zealand

VIEW VIDEO on MCAS Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-j4mKcOk47aXSrcq3m2XZw/videos

Date: Monday, February 16th, 2026, 7:00 pm
Title: Sounds in the Ocean: From Ventriloquist Lobsters to Dancing Crabs
Presenter: Marie Goeritz, Ph.D.

Description:
When we think of sounds in the ocean, we think of whales and dolphins, but the underwater soundscape is far richer and more diverse than that. In this presentation, Marie Goeritz will explore the hidden world of animal-generated sound beneath the waves, with a special focus on invertebrates. From snapping shrimp to crabs and lobsters, many animals produce and respond to sound in ways that shape their behavior and interactions with their environment. Drawing on examples from across the marine world and insights from her own research, Dr. Goeritz will introduce how crustaceans use the ocean’s soundscape as a sensory cue for orientation, how they generate sound, how they detect and respond to it, and how they even use sound in courtship-like dances during mating.

Bio:
Dr. Marie Goeritz is a neurobiologist and educator whose work explores how animals sense and interact with their environments. She earned her Ph.D. in Zoology and has conducted research at the University of Cologne, Cornell University, Brandeis University, and the University of Auckland. Her research is focused on the nervous systems of crustaceans, linking neurophysiology and anatomy with behavior and ecology. Dr. Goeritz currently teaches biology at Cuesta College and serves on the Board of Directors of the Morro Coast Audubon Society as Lands Chair. In her free time, she enjoys music, camera trapping, wildlife photography and being on or near the water.

02/06/2026

The introductions continue! We are thrilled to introduce Part 2 of our 2025-2026 MCAS Cal Poly College Corps Fellows.

This talented group is diving into our FEATHER, Communications, and Outreach teams this year. Get to know a few of the faces behind our conservation efforts!

Reedley Mallard:
From Bakersfield, CA, Reedley has chosen MCAS to immerse herself in the Central Coast community. She is a second-year English major with aspirations to become a teacher, so she is excited by connecting local students to conservation-focused projects this year.

Kayla Vu:
Kayla is a second-year Business Administration major from Redlands, CA, serving on both the FEATHER and Social Media teams. She looks forward to meeting new people, learning more about local conservation efforts, and finding ways to connect her passion for community engagement with environmental stewardship. Her favorite bird is the owl, symbolizing wisdom and curiosity, qualities she hopes to bring to her work at MCAS as she explores new ways to help others appreciate and protect the natural world.

Melissa Chen:
Melissa chose to spend her last year at Cal Poly working with MCAS because of her devotion for service on the Central Coast. She spent the summer of 2025 studying across Asia, matching her passion for travel with her dedication to service.

Welcome to the flock, Reedley, Kayla, and Melissa! 🦉

02/03/2026

February is off to a flying start at Morro Coast Audubon! We are thrilled to introduce the nine talented Cal Poly College Corps Fellows working alongside us through the 2025-2026 school year in classrooms and at outreach events.

Keylani Ascenio is from Oceano, CA and is excited to serve the community in which she grew up. A lifelong Central Coast resident, she is serving with the Outreach and FEATHER teams, helping connect students and community members to the environment she calls home. Although she’s a Psychology major, she has a deep curiosity for birds, which began with Kiwi, her beloved Red-Crowned Amazon Parrot.

Michelle Cortes is from Los Angeles, and is majoring in Animal Science. Working with MCAS allows her to pursue her passion for working with animals. She is currently serving with the Outreach and FEATHER teams, teaching children her love for the environment around her. Michelle especially loves working in Morro Bay because she gets to interact with some of her favorite animals: marine mammals. Michelle dreams of one day working with Keel-Billed Toucans as they are her favorite birds.

Estelí Means, born in Long Beach and raised in Bakersfield, is a California native passionate about preserving our state's beautiful biodiversity. She is serving on the FEATHER and Communications teams, working on both the Pacific Flyway and creating social media posts. As a Political Science major, she hopes to learn more about how policies can shape the environments they regulate.

Welcome to the MCAS flock, Michelle, Keylani, and Estelí!

01/22/2026

The Morro Bay Bird Festival may be over, but the lessons from these incredible animal ambassadors live on! Thanks to Pacific Wildlife Care for sharing:

Corax (American Crow) & Rocky (Rock Pigeon): Reminding us that even our most familiar neighborhood birds possess remarkable intelligence and resilience.

Oberon (Long-eared Owl) & Ranger (Great Horned Owl): Majestic reminders of why we work so hard to preserve our local woodlands and protect the nighttime skies they depend on.

Pip (American Kestrel): A flash of color and energy, reminding us how even the smallest raptors play a big role in our ecosystem.

We also welcomed a few “ground-level” friends who share these habitats, including sleek skinks and the pun-loving William Snakespeare 🐍. These reptiles play a vital role in the food web that sustains our local bird populations.

Thank you for joining MCAS in celebrating the rich web of life that makes the Central Coast so unique. 🌊

01/21/2026

MCAS had an incredible time at the 2026 Morro Bay Bird Festival! We’re so grateful to our Family Day co-chairs, our MCAS Education Committee, our Cal Poly College Corps Fellows, our board members, and ALL of our volunteers. This remarkable MCAS community celebrated conservation, shared the joy of birding, and inspired through education—thank you for helping us soar!

01/18/2026

🎉Our annual Family Day at the Morro Bay Bird Festival brought together curious kids, animal ambassadors, and hands-on fun. We had such a blast hosting—thank you to our incredible nonprofit educational partners, and to everyone for being part of our flock!🦉

01/16/2026

Grateful for all who made Day One of the Morro Bay Bird Festival such a joy. Looking forward to Day Two and more of that Morro Bay magic! ✨

01/13/2026

The wait is almost over! As the Audubon chapter for the Central Coast and a proud legacy partner of the Morro Bay Bird Festival, the Morro Coast Audubon Society is excited to welcome nearly 1,000 birders to our region this weekend. We’re honored to serve as local ambassadors, sharing the magic of the habitats we protect year-round.

We invite you to join the MCAS community this weekend!
🪶 Guided by locals: Find MCAS members leading field trips and sharing their knowledge of regional species.
🪶Our mission: Stop by the MCAS booth at the Community Center hub to learn about our conservation work and how we protect Central Coast birds long after the festival ends.
🪶Safe travels to everyone arriving. We look forward to seeing you!

01/12/2026

Izembek National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska harbors the world’s largest eelgrass beds and nearly the entire population of Pacific Black Brant. These extraordinary birds are completing their fall migration from Alaska and will spend the winter in our Morro Bay estuary. 🌊

Morro Coast Audubon has formally submitted public comments opposing a proposed road that would imperil this irreplaceable refuge and the migratory birds that rely on it.

Witness the beauty of Izembek for yourself. This powerful video by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology documents Izembek's vital role for the Pacific Flyway:

Alaska’s Izembek National Wildlife Refuge and State Game Refuge lie along the Bering Sea coast of the Alaska Peninsula. They protect a coastal lagoon that ho...