Join Roger Zachary and Scott Inman for birding and wine at Halter Ranch. Drive through oak woodlands and vineyards along Vineyard Road to Halter Ranch. Look for Raptors, Wild Turkeys, and Yellow-billed Magpies on the way. Park in the barnyard parking lot. We will bird the barnyard area, along Los Tablas Creek, and observe birds near the agriculture pond next to the vineyard. Wine tasting is optional, and no outside food is allowed. You must make an online reservation if you are interested in wine tasting and food. Check the website (halterranch.com) for tasting fees, menu, location, and reservations.
This trip meets at Morro Bay Comm. Center, 1001 Kennedy Way, Morro Bay at 7:30am. As an option, attendees may meet the group at the intersection of Hwy 46 and Vineyard Drive just west of Templeton at 8am. The group will carpool from that location to Halter Ranch. Hwy 46 and Vineyard Drive map link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/CqwgFubCbSR3XvGb7

Join Dave Berry & Mark Mushkat for a half day big day on closing day. Starting at 7:30am, you will be visiting local birding hot spots to hopefully add new birds to your Festival life list. Birding hotspots will depend on weekend birding reports and also inputs from the group consensus, with a goal of a variety of habitats. Meets at Morro Bay Comm. Center, 1001 Kennedy Way, Morro Bay.

Go on a guided kayak tour of Morro Bay for an up close opportunity to see birds in their natural habitat! You may see: White Pelicans, Brant, Common Loons and a host of other migratory waterfowl and shorebirds. Paddle near the Heron Rookery, Grassy Island oyster farm, mudflats and channels of the Back Bay. Using double kayaks, no prior kayaking experience needed. Dress in layers with the following guidelines: synthetics or wool, no cotton, windbreaker jacket, hat for sun and wind protection, and shoes that can get wet. Weather conditions may cancel. Meets at the Morro Bay State Park Marina Kayak Shop. 10 State Park Road, Morro Bay.

Join Bettina Eastman for in-depth bird observation and ID skills enhancement with a stroll through El Chorro Regional Park sharing observations of bird characteristics. Field guides will be checked to verify. This trip is aimed at all level of birders including those who want to teach others how to learn bird ID most effectively. Bring binoculars and a favorite field guide. 15 miles round trip by personal vehicle. El Chorro Park is located at State Hwy 1 @ Dairy Creek Rd. Meets in the SLO Botanical Gardens parking lot.

Bird with Bob & Carmen Keally and Terri May on Cambria's Fiscalini Ranch on a moderate three-mile hike through grassland, mixed oak/Monterey pine forest and coastal bluffs. Expect a diversity of birds, including sparrows, birds of prey, Pygmy Nuthatches and rocky shore shorebirds. Pace will be determined by leader and desires of the group. 50 miles round trip by personal vehicle. Meets at Fiscalini Ranch south end, 2799 Windsor Blvd, Cambria.

Join Evan Weissman for a long walk (4 miles round trip), to bird various habitats beginning at a riparian zone, moving through grasslands, past vernal pools, and down to the rocky coast. Meets at the Harmony Headlands trailhead parking lot, Hwy 1, 5 miles north of Cayucos. Look for Linn's billboard.

Join Rouvaishyana for a walk through the riparian habitat in Montana de Oro State Park to identify and discuss how birds interact with the surrounding plants they are utilizing. 2-3 mile walk. Meets at the Coon Creek Parking Lot in Montana de Oro. From Los Osos, west on Los Osos Valley Road, the road becomes Pecho Valley Road. The Parking Lot is 5.9 miles from Los Osos.

Join Tom and Owen Slater for close views of waterfowl and occasional bitterns and rails from the boardwalk over Oso Flaco Lake and marsh. Bird two prime willow habitats for wintering warblers. Includes 2-3 miles of slow walking. Moderate. Great trip to join if you're heading home going south. Meet at Oso Flaco parking lot, 3004 Oso Flaco Lake Road, Arroyo Grande. State Parks requires a parking fee of $5.

Designed for those driving SOUTH, home from the Festival. Travel by personal vehicle to Las Cruzitas, a private 1,500-acre cattle ranch including oak grassland and sage-covered canyons. You will be met by Cruz Phillips, Cher Hollingworth and Wes Fritz who will lead the trip. Expect to see yellow-billed magpies, vesper and lark sparrows, band-tailed pigeons, red-breasted sapsuckers, golden eagles, and possibly burrowing owls, prairie falcons, phainopeplas, red-naped Sapsuckers and Lewis' woodpeckers. At least 30 species are seen from the ranch house bird feeders alone, so folks who cannot walk far can sit in the yard and have a great time birding. Bring lunch. Meets at the intersection of Alisos Road and Happy Canyon Road in Santa Ynez.

This field class is for beginners, but all birding levels are welcomed. Travel to nearby locations where Clara Thomas, Seth Greene and Harnawaz Boparai will help you identify some easy-to-see birds around Morro Bay. Bring your favorite field guide and binoculars. 10 miles round trip by personal vehicle. Easy. Meets at Morro Bay Comm. Center, 1001 Kennedy Way, Morro Bay.

Join local expert photographer Rick Derevan to enjoy a leisurely photography focused boating tour of the bay and estuary in an open-deck 34-foot power catamaran. View a variety of shorebirds and waterfowl, often at close range. The boat will move slowly enough for you to see details of many species that you normally see only through a scope from shore. Good photo opportunities, but no tripods. Dress warmly. Meets at Sub Sea Tours, 699 Embarcadero, #9, Morro Bay.

Join leader Claudia Freitas & Rick Grijalva for this bird walk around Atascadero Lake which will be approximately one mile long, at a slow to moderate pace, depending on where and how often we are seeing birds. The terrain is gentle, over flat surfaces. Expect to see numerous species in a variety of habitats, with likely sightings of: Red-shouldered Hawk, California Quail, California Scrub-Jay, Woodpeckers and a variety of Waterfowl.
Meets at 9305 Pismo Ave, Atascadero, CA 93422.

Join Grace Hayes & Marin Romero for an unhurried walk around the edges and through the heart of the Morro Coast Audubon Sweet Springs Preserve. This trip will look for wintering songbirds as well as waterfowl and shorebirds in the nearby estuary. Previous trips have seen hawks, falcons, owls, osprey and kingfishers in this area. The effort will be easy to moderate and the walk should appeal to all birding levels. Meets at Sweet Springs, 660 Ramona Avenue, Baywood-Los Osos.

Go on a guided kayak tour of Morro Bay for an up close opportunity to see birds in their natural habitat! You may see: White Pelicans, Brant, Common Loons and a host of other migratory waterfowl and shorebirds. Paddle near the Heron Rookery, Grassy Island oyster farm, mudflats and channels of the Back Bay. Using double kayaks, no prior kayaking experience needed. Dress in layers with the following guidelines: synthetics or wool, no cotton, windbreaker jacket, hat for sun and wind protection, and shoes that can get wet. Weather conditions may cancel. Meets at the Morro Bay State Park Marina Kayak Shop. 10 State Park Road, Morro Bay.

Join Wildlife Biologist Russ Namitz to explore the Kern National Wildlife Refuge. The Refuge is a major wintering grounds for thousands of ducks, geese, and other migratory birds. During the winter the waterfowl numbers may peak to 80,000 in December and January. Large concentrations of waterfowl can be seen foraging in the moist soil and seasonal marsh areas. This trip is intended for people traveling to the Festival from the North and East. Meet at the Ranger Station at the Kern National Wildlife Refuge. 10811 Corcoran Rd, Wasco, CA 93280

Maps are a wonderful way to explore landscapes and to remember the places and stories you encounter. In this session, you'll capture your nature observations through hand-drawn maps. Using techniques such as simple iconography, relief, and topography symbols to depict landscape form and structure, you'll also learn to document the dynamic behaviors of animals and birds. After a brief introduction to basic cartographic principles, we'll venture outdoors to apply these skills in field journaling. You'll come away having crafted a collection of maps that reflect your experiences, serving as a means to revisit moments of awe and reconnect with nature's wonders.
Materials to bring: 1) a pen or pencil; 2) a sketchbook/notebook/journal with unlined pages or about 20 pages of printer paper and a something hard to write on, like a clipboard; 3) colored pencils or watercolors + brush + water container. If possible, also bring 4) a ruler or tape measure; 5) a hand magnifying glass or a loupe. If you already have a sketching practice, a field note-taking practice, or a journaling practice, you can bring any additional tools and materials you like. The instructor will have a limited number of basic kits available for $5 at the session. The basic kit includes a mechanical pencil, small sketchbook, magnifying glass, ruler, and a set of 12 colored pencils.
Meets in the Oak Glen Pavilion at SLO Botanical Garden (inside El Choro Park), 3450 Dairy Creek Road, San Luis Obispo.

Discover the unique saltwater marsh habitat of Morro Bay and learn how to observe and document the diverse flora and fauna that thrive in this environment. This session focuses on using nature journaling techniques to understand the ecological factors influencing the distribution of species in salt marshes. Participants will learn to create simple maps, geological block diagrams, and use words, pictures, and numbers to record their observations. The session includes a journaling demonstration, a guided activity, and a group discussion to share insights and findings.
This session is suited for all skill levels, and no prior drawing experience is required. Participants will need a Journal/ Sketchbook, Pen/Pencil or any preferred drawing or writing tools, their choice of coloring medium: Color Pencils / Tombow brush pens / Watercolor
Optional but helpful Supplies: a ruler for measurements, binoculars, a folding chair.
Meets at the Peninsula Trail Head, southeast end of the State Park Marina parking lot, across from Morro Bay State Park Campground.

Whether you're just discovering the joys of birding, seeking to develop your birding skills, or wanting to share your love of birding with your family, these trips with Hannah and Erik are for you! They are happy to answer any and all questions about birds, birding, gear, and more. Expect a slow-paced walk as we look for birds, talk about IDs, and whatever else comes to mind! Meets at Morro Rock. Coleman Drive, Morro Bay. Meet across from bathrooms, next to Morro Rock.

Enjoy a leisurely boating tour of the bay and estuary in an open-deck 34-foot power catamaran with Kaaren Perry. View a variety of shorebirds and waterfowl, often at close range. The boat will move slowly enough for you to see details of many species that you normally see only through a scope from shore. Good photo opportunities, but no tripods. Dress warmly. Meets at Morro Bay Landing, 1213 Embarcadero, Morro Bay. Weather conditions may cancel.