Morro Coast Audubon Society

Morro Coast Audubon Society Promoting the appreciation, conservation, and restoration of the ecosystems and birds of the Central Coast since 1966.

We are composed of volunteers devoting time, energy, and resources to enjoying and protecting the environment through conservation, research, education, expansion, and diversity.

1949.For millennia, migratory birds have returned to this estuary with the changing seasons. Countless generations of pe...
08/07/2026

1949.

For millennia, migratory birds have returned to this estuary with the changing seasons. Countless generations of people, including the ancestors of today's Northern Chumash and Salinan peoples, have watched, learned from, and cared for this place.

Now it's our turn.

Thank you to everyone working to help this remarkable estuary thrive, including our friends at .

Historical aerial photograph: UCSB Library Geospatial Collection (FrameFinder), Flight AXH-1949, Frame 7F-87.

One of the greatest opportunities we can offer young people is the chance to discover that their observations matter.In ...
08/05/2026

One of the greatest opportunities we can offer young people is the chance to discover that their observations matter.

In FEATHER, students learn that science begins with curiosity and careful observation. Through field practices such as nature journaling, they slow down, ask thoughtful questions, and develop one of science's most important habits: careful observation.

As students explore the Central Coast's varied ecosystems, they build far more than scientific skills. They deepen their connection to place, gain confidence in their own observations, and discover that they are essential partners in expanding our understanding of the world we share.

Those are lessons that extend far beyond a single field trip or a single school year.

Here's to the next generation—and to a lifetime of noticing, wondering, and caring.

Happy Owl Awareness Day! 🦉These photographs were taken in Boca Raton, Florida, by Morro Coast Audubon board member Marce...
08/04/2026

Happy Owl Awareness Day! 🦉

These photographs were taken in Boca Raton, Florida, by Morro Coast Audubon board member Marcella Munson. The city is home to Florida Atlantic University, whose Boca Raton campus has been a National Audubon Society-designated Burrowing Owl Sanctuary since 1971. The Burrowing Owl is also the university's beloved mascot, affectionately known as "Owlsley."

Burrowing Owls nest underground, often using abandoned burrows created by other animals, including gopher tortoises. Unlike many owl species, they're also active during the day, and can often seen perched in the open on the ground, fence posts, or buildings.

Today, we're celebrating these remarkable birds, the habitats they depend on, and the people and organizations working to conserve them. (And Go Owls.)

📷 Photos by Marcella Munson (Boca Raton, Florida)

We protect what we know, and we know a place by spending time with it.A Sunday Sit is an invitation to slow down, observ...
08/02/2026

We protect what we know, and we know a place by spending time with it.

A Sunday Sit is an invitation to slow down, observe, and simply be present. Whether you're at Sweet Springs Nature Preserve, in your backyard, or at your favorite neighborhood park, take a few quiet minutes today to notice what has changed since the last time you looked.

At Morro Coast Audubon Society, we're honored to steward Sweet Springs Nature Preserve—a landscape with a long human history that continues to bring people together through nature, observation, learning, and community.

This simple practice of observation has shaped generations of naturalists and remains at the heart of birding, citizen science, and conservation. It reminds us that belonging to a place begins by paying attention to it.

Take a Sunday Sit. We'd love to hear what you noticed.

August is here, and that means MCAS field trips are back! 🐦Our Shorebird Habitat trip filled quickly—thank you! There ar...
08/01/2026

August is here, and that means MCAS field trips are back! 🐦

Our Shorebird Habitat trip filled quickly—thank you! There are still openings on the rest of our August field trips, including our popular Pontoon Boat trip at Santa Margarita Lake, plus outings to Oceano Lagoon, Sweet Springs Nature Preserve, Morro Rock, and the Marina Boardwalk.

Field trips are a wonderful way to discover birds, explore local habitats, and enjoy the Central Coast with a welcoming community of birders and nature enthusiasts.

Visit https://morrocoastaudubon.org to view the full schedule and register.

We hope to see you in the field! 🐦

Every tradition has a beginning.As we look ahead to Morro Coast Audubon's official 60th anniversary in 2027, marking the...
07/31/2026

Every tradition has a beginning.

As we look ahead to Morro Coast Audubon's official 60th anniversary in 2027, marking the year our chapter was officially chartered, we're taking an occasional look back at the moments that shaped our earliest days.

Flashback to April 1966: Morro Coast Audubon members were still trying to decide what to call their brand-new newsletter. The ballot featured options like The Cormorant, The Curlew, Sand and Sea, Bird Notes, and . . . the Pacific Flyway.

Which name would you have voted for?

e🌿 Meet Debra Cherry, our new Sweet Springs Ambassador Program Coordinator!We're delighted to welcome Debra as the coord...
07/30/2026

e🌿 Meet Debra Cherry, our new Sweet Springs Ambassador Program Coordinator!

We're delighted to welcome Debra as the coordinator of Morro Coast Audubon Society's Sweet Springs Ambassador Program.

Debra coordinates our dedicated team of Sweet Springs Nature Preserve Ambassadors—a wonderful group of volunteers who help welcome visitors, answer questions, share information about the preserve, and serve as extra eyes and ears to help care for one of our community's most treasured places.

Volunteer leaders like Debra are at the heart of what makes MCAS strong. She brings warmth, organization, and a collaborative spirit to the role, helping ensure our Ambassadors have the support and resources they need to succeed.

The Sweet Springs Ambassador Program helps visitors discover, enjoy, and care for one of the Central Coast's most treasured places—and we're grateful to everyone who volunteers their time to make that possible.

Interested in learning more about the Sweet Springs Ambassador Program?

Visit morrocoastaudubon.org for additional information.

Please join us in giving Debra a warm welcome! 💚

In honor of World Nature Conservation Day, we're celebrating the habitats that make life on California's Central Coast p...
07/28/2026

In honor of World Nature Conservation Day, we're celebrating the habitats that make life on California's Central Coast possible.

Healthy habitats are where biodiversity begins. They provide food, shelter, nesting sites, clean water, and space for life to unfold. Protecting habitat means protecting the remarkable diversity of species, along with the countless connections that make healthy ecosystems possible.

When habitat thrives, life thrives.

Photo by Ben Kolstad: Osprey with fish at Oceano Dunes, California.

One unforgettable experience in nature can change a young person's life.Morro Coast Audubon Society is looking for someo...
07/26/2026

One unforgettable experience in nature can change a young person's life.

Morro Coast Audubon Society is looking for someone to help create those moments.

We're hiring a full-time Program Manager to lead and grow our FEATHER environmental education program, connecting high school students with birds, habitats, and hands-on conservation experiences throughout San Luis Obispo County.

This is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact through environmental education while helping inspire the next generation of conservation leaders.

Position Highlights

• Full-time, exempt position
• Hybrid work schedule
• Salary: $72,000–$79,000, depending on experience
• Health insurance stipend, PTO, paid holidays

If you're passionate about environmental education and ready to help shape the future of conservation on California's Central Coast, we'd love to hear from you.

Know someone who would be a great fit? Please share this opportunity with them.

View the full job description and apply here:

https://www.morrocoastaudubon.org/2026/07/were-hiring-program-manager-for-feather.html

🪶 Help inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.Morro Coast Audubon Society is seeking a full-time Program ...
07/25/2026

🪶 Help inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.

Morro Coast Audubon Society is seeking a full-time Program Manager to lead our FEATHER environmental education program, connecting high school students across San Luis Obispo County with birds, nature, and conservation through outdoor learning, field experiences, and community science.

Position highlights:
• Full-time, exempt
• $72,000–$79,000 based on experience
• Health insurance stipend, PTO, and paid holidays

Join us in connecting the next generation with birds, nature, and conservation.
Visit our website to learn more and apply: https://www.morrocoastaudubon.org

Please help us spread the word by sharing this opportunity with your networks!

Address

601 Embarcadero, Suite 14
Morro Bay, CA
93442

Opening Hours

Wednesday 1pm - 3pm
Thursday 1pm - 3pm
Friday 1pm - 3pm
Saturday 12pm - 3pm

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