Learn bird calls and plants of the El Moro Elfin Forest in the town of Los Osos. This park on the south end of Morro Bay supports more than 200 plant species and 110 bird species in its brackish marsh, riparian woodland, pygmy oak woodland, maritime chaparral, and coastal dune scrub plant communities. Our hike leader, naturalist and Audubon guide Jessica Griffiths, will help us learn bird songs and calls to aid in identifying birds even when you cannot see them. Native plants of the Elfin Forest and their associations with birds will be discussed. Total distance will be 2 miles with 100 feet elevation gain and will be mostly on the boardwalk loop. The 16th Street entrance of the Elfin Forest has wheelchair access. The hike is expected to take about 2.5 hours.
This trip is limited to 25 local CNPS participants to allow quiet conditions for listening to birds and because of space limitations on the boardwalk. To reserve a spot on this hike, email Bill Waycott at the email address below, add “Audubon” in the subject line, and make sure to specify how many people will be in your party. Parking is limited to a few spots at the road ends or along adjacent roadsides, so carpooling is recommended. The meeting spot for the start of the hike will be sent to those who RSVP.
Bring water, snacks, hat, sturdy shoes, and dress in layers for changing weather. For this hike, binoculars and a field notebook for taking notes are recommended. Plant and animal lists for the Elfin Forest can be found here. There are no bathrooms at this park but public bathrooms are available approximately 2 miles away at the South Bay Community Center and adjacent Los Osos Community Park at 2180 Palisades Avenue, Los Osos, CA 93402.
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Plant these natives to attract birds to your garden.
Don’t forget that insect eating birds will visit most of these plants when looking for spiders, gnats, flys, moths, etc.
Genus/Species |
Part Used |
When |
Specific Birds |
Acacia Greggii |
Seeds |
Summer |
Mourning Dove |
Atriplex species |
Leaves/Seeds |
Sum/Fall |
Finches, Quail, Sparrows, Towhees |
Abies concolor |
Leaves |
All-year |
Blue Grouse, Red Crossbill, Clark’s Nutcracker Pygmy Nuthatch |
Acer macrophyllum |
Seeds/Buds/Flowers |
Spr/Sum/Fall |
Evening Grosbeak, many others |
Acer negundo |
Same as macrophyllum in all categories |
Achillea borealis. |
Seeds |
Summer |
Goldfinches |
Adenostoma fasciculatum |
Seeds |
Summer |
Goldfinches |
Alnus rhombifolia |
Nesting |
Spring |
Warblers |
|
Seeds |
Summer |
Pine Siskin, Goldfinches |
|
Buds |
Spring |
Cedar Waxwings |
Alnus rubra |
Same as rhombifolia all categories |
Amelanchier alnifolia |
Fruits |
Summer |
Many Species |
Antirrhinum multiflorum |
Flowers/Seeds |
Spring/Sum |
Hummingbirds & seed eaters |
Aquilegia species |
Flowers |
Spring/Sum |
Hummingbirds |
Arbutus menziesii |
Fruit |
Fall |
Band-tailed Pigeon, Varied Thrush, Long Tailed Chat |
Arctostaphylos species |
Fruit |
Sum/Fall |
Jays, Grosbeaks, Mockingbirds, Fox Sparrow |
|
Flowers |
Late Win/Early |
Sp. Hummingbirds |
Artemisia species Leaves |
All-Year |
Sage |
Grouse, Quail |
|
Flowers /Seeds |
Spr/Sum /Fall |
Towhee |
Asclepias species |
Stems, nests |
Spring |
Orioles |
Aster species |
Seeds |
Fall |
Finches, Sparrows |
Baccharis species |
Seeds |
Sum/Fall |
Finches, Sparrows |
Beloperon californica |
Flowers |
Spr/Sum |
Hummingbirds, Finches, Sparrows |
Ceanothus species |
Seeds |
Sum/Fall |
Quail |
Cephalanthus occidentalis |
Seeds |
Sum/Fall |
Ducks |
Cercis occidentalis |
Seeds/Flowers |
Spr/Fall |
Hummingbirds, Gold Finches |
Cercocarpus species |
Seeds/Leaves |
Sum/Fall |
Blue Grouse |
Chilopsis linearis |
Seeds/Flowers |
Spr/Fall |
Hummingbirds, Doves |
Chrysothamnus species |
Seeds |
Sum/Fall |
Finches, Quail, Pine Siskin |
Comarostaphylis diversifolia |
Flowers/Fruits |
Spr/Sum/Fall |
MANY SPECIES! |
Cornus species |
Flowers/Fruits |
Spr/Sum/Fall |
MANY SPECIES! |
Cupressus species |
Seeds |
Sum/Fall |
Red-breasted Nuthatch & others |
Delphinium cardinale |
Flowers |
Spr/Sum |
Hummingbirds |
Mimulus (Diplacus) species |
Flowers |
Spr/Sum |
Hummingbirds |
Dudleya species |
Flowers |
Spr/Sum |
Hummingbirds |
Eleocharis species |
Seeds/Culms/Tubers |
Fall |
Ducks, Teals,Geese, Scaups, Swans, Rails, Sandpipers, Snipe |
Encelia californica |
Seeds |
Spr/Fall |
Sparrows, Finches |
Equisetum species |
Stems/Rootstocks |
All-Year |
Geese, Swans, Waterfowl |
Eriogonum species |
Leaves/Seeds |
All-Year |
Finches, Juncos, Sparrows, Towhees |
Eschscholzia species |
Seeds |
Summer |
Quail |
Forestiera neomexicana |
Fruit |
Summer |
Quail, Robin, Other Fruit Eating Birds |
Fragaria species |
Leaves/Fruit |
All-Year |
MANY SPECIES! |
Fraxinus species |
Seeds |
Fall |
Quail, Finches, Grosbeaks, Cedar Waxwings, Wood Ducks |
Galvezia speciosa |
Flowers |
Spring |
Hummingbirds |
Geranium species |
Seeds |
Summer |
Doves, Quail, Towhees |
Helianthus species |
Seeds |
Fall |
Seed eating birds, Goldfinches, Bush Tits |
Heteromeles arbutifolia |
Berries |
Winter |
Blue Birds, Robins, Band-tailed Pigeon |
Heuchera maxima |
Flowers |
Spring |
Hummingbirds |
Juglans californica |
Nuts |
Winter |
Jays |
Keckiella species |
Flowers |
Spr/Summer |
Hummingbirds |
Lavatera assurgentiflora |
Flowers/Seeds |
Sum/Fall |
Hummingbirds/Seed eaters |
Lepechinia calycina |
Flowers |
Summer |
Hummingbirds |
Lonicera species |
Flowers/Berries |
Spr/Sum/Fall |
Hummingbirds, Towhees, Robins, Thrashers, Bluebird |
Lupinus species |
Seeds |
Summer |
Quail, Dove |
Mahonia nevinii |
Berries |
Summer |
Bluebirds, Thrashers, Robins, Towhee |
Mahonia aquifolium |
Berries |
Summer |
Thrashers, Robins, Towhees, Others |
Malacothamnus species |
Seeds |
Fall |
Bush Tits/Others |
Mimulus species |
Flowers |
Summer |
Hummingbirds |
Monardella species |
Flowers |
Summer |
Hummingbirds |
Penstemons species |
Flowers |
Spr/Sum |
Hummingbirds |
Pinus species |
Seeds/Bark |
All-Year |
Jays, Nuthatches, Many species! |
Platanus racemosa |
Fuzz/Seeds |
Spr/Winter |
Seed eaters, fuzz used by Hummers for nesting |
Prunus species |
Berries |
Summer |
Jays, many others |
Quercus species |
Seeds |
Fall/Winter |
Jays, Hummers, Many species! |
Rhamnus species |
Berries |
Summer |
Jays, Thrashers, Berry eaters! |
Rhus species |
Berries |
Spr/Sum |
Thrashers,Towhees, Many species |
Ribes viburnifolium |
Berries/Flowers |
Win/Sum |
Hummingbirds, Thrashers, Towhees |
Ribes species |
Berries/Flowers |
Win/Sum |
Hummingbirds, Jays, Thrashers, others |
Rosa species |
Hips |
Sum/Fall |
Thrashers,Towhees Jays,Others |
Salix species |
Insects/Catkins |
All-Year |
Many Species Use Galls |
Salvia species |
Flowers/Seeds |
Spr/Fall |
Hummingbirds, Seed eaters |
Sambucus species |
Berries/Flowers |
All-Year |
Many, Many Species |
Scrophularia species |
Flowers/Seeds |
Spr/Sum |
Hummingbirds, Seed eaters |
Shepherdia argentea |
Berries |
Summer |
Berry eaters |
Sidalcea species |
Seeds |
Summer |
Thrashers, Seed Eaters |
Solanum species |
Berries |
Summer |
Berry eaters |
Stachys species |
Flowers |
Summer |
Hummingbirds |
Trichostema lanatum |
Flowers |
Summer |
Hummingbirds |
Washington Filifera |
Dates |
Sum/Fall |
Cedar Waxwings, Others |
Epilobium (Zauschneria)sp. |
Flowers |
Sum/Fall |
Hummingbirds |
Reference: Las Pilitas Nursery, with permission of Bert Wilson. Edited by Al Naydol and members of the San Luis Obispo Chapter of the California Native Plant Society.
Sketch and journal on this nature walk at Three Bridges Oak Preserve on Tuesday, April 15, starting at 10 am and lasting approximately 2 hours. Spring has come to Three Bridges and everything is leafing out and blooming. There’s much to see on this easy loop trail: we’ll stop to draw and identify plants, birds and anything else we find. We can also look for bear marks (scratching on trees). There’s a creek to cross. Although we often sponsor this hike on weekends for children, this Tuesday morning walk is being offered for adult persons but curious people of all ages are welcomed. Art materials are provided, and you can take your sketchbook home with you. Meet at the Three Bridges parking area in Atascadero (35.458096, -120.688223).
Bring water, snacks, sunscreen, hat, sturdy shoes, and dress in layers for changing weather. A plant list for Three Bridges Oak Reserve can be found on our website here. There are no bathroom facilities along the hike route. Rain or threat of rain cancel or postpone this trip.
Please register and sign a liability waiver below for this event.
Click here to register in English
Click here to register in Spanish
Spring has come to Three Bridges Oak Preserve in Atascadero! Everything is leafing out and blooming. There’s much to see on this easy loop trail. We’ll stop to draw and identify plants, birds, and anything else we find. We can look for bear marks (scratching on trees). There’s a creek to cross. This hike is aimed at 5- to 10-year olds, but all are welcome. Art materials are provided and you can take your sketchbook home.
Please register and sign the liability waiver HERE for this event.
Bring water, snacks, sunscreen, hat, sturdy shoes, and dress in layers for changing weather. A plant list for Three Bridges Oak Preserve can be found on our website here. There are no bathroom facilities at the park. Heavy rain (as well as flooding creek) cancels this trip but hike will still occur in light rain. If you have any questions about weather affecting the hike, contact the leader through contact info listed below.
Join Faylla Chapman, Sally Krenn, and Sharon Iranpour for a visit to the intertidal zone during low tide to learn about the multitude of algae species that inhibit the rocky shores in San Luis Obispo County. This afternoon of beach walking and bird watching will occur at China Cove in Estero Bluffs State Park, Cayucos, CA. We will view any plants of interest as we walk across the bluff trail and then go down to the beach where we will see the rocky intertidal and beach wrack before strolling up the beach to observe birds and other things of interest. Villa Creek flows into the sea at the northern-most point of this area.
Meet at the Villa Creek turnout (35.458567, -120.961201). Going north on Highway 1 from Cayucos, this is the sixth parking lot on the left after Highway 1 becomes two lanes, and is the last turnout before Highway 1 turns north towards Harmony.
Bring water, snacks, sunscreen, hat, sturdy shoes that can get wet, binoculars, and dress in layers for changing weather. There are no bathroom facilities along the hike route. Rain or threat of rain cancel or postpone this trip.
Please sign the Liability Waiver and register for this event by clicking this link.
Bring the family and the neighbors’ kids to a Family Sketch and Plant Hike at Three Bridges Oak Preserve in Atascadero on January 18, 2025 from 9:30am to 11:30am.
Winter at Three Bridges can be cold and wet, the creek may be running high, but there is still lots to see and draw! Some of the trees drop their leaves and we can clearly see the branches. Other plants are already putting out leaves or even flowers (manzanitas and currants). It’s easier to see birds. What’s been scratching that tree, 12 feet up? This is an easy loop trail where we’ll stop and draw and name a few plants and their leaves, acorns, bark and anything else we find. It’s aimed at 5-10 year olds, but all are welcome. Art materials are provided and you can take your sketchbook home.
Please register and sign the liability waiver HERE for this event.
Bring water, snacks, sunscreen, hat, sturdy shoes, and dress in layers for changing weather. A plant list for Three Bridges Oak Preserve can be found on our website here. There are no bathroom facilities at the park. Heavy rain cancels this trip but hike will still occur in light rain. If you have any questions about weather affecting the hike, contact the leader through contact info listed below.
Join us for a plant walk through the coastal habitat at Montaña de Oro State Park in Los Osos, including the fore and back-dunes, coastal scrub and maritime chaparral plant communities. We will also identify any shore birds we may encounter along the way. This is a moderate hike in loose sand with an elevation gain of 300 feet, 2.5-miles roundtrip, and a maximum of 2.5 hours. Meet at the Sand Spit parking lot located at the end of Sand Spit Road in the park (35.300317, -120.872514).
Please sign the liability waiver HERE to register for this event.
Bring water, snacks, hat, sturdy shoes, and dress in layers for changing weather. A plant list for Montaña de Oro State Park can be found on our website here. There are no bathroom facilities along the hike route but there are bathroom facilities farther in the park near Spooner Ranch House Visitor Center. No entrance or parking fees are required. Rain or threat of rain cancels or postpones this trip. Be prepared to walk in very loose sand.
Photo by Bill Waycott.
What makes Shell Creek in San Luis Obispo County so beautiful in the spring with wildflowers? Join us on MONDAY, June 24, 2024 for a joint picnic with the Morro Coast Audubon Society to learn how conservation grazing practices benefit plants, birds and many other inhabitants of grassland ecosystems. Presented by Daniel Sinton, part of the family that owns and operates both the Avenales and the Shell Creek Ranch (of Shell Creek wildflower fame) and Grace Ferguson from the California Audubon Conservation Ranching Program. The presentation will be outside as we enjoy an early evening summer picnic at El Chorro Regional Park from 6 to 7:15 pm. Come early for an informal bird walk from 5 to 6 pm. Details below.
Location Details: El Chorro Regional Park in San Luis Obispo (see address and map below). Bird hike, picnic, and presentation will start and end at the Dairy Creek Group area which is the third group area on your left as you drive into the park (across the street from the SLO Botanical Garden Children’s Garden). The closest restrooms are located at the Lupine Group Day Use Area or near the entrance to the park. This is an ADA accessible group area.
RSVP: Please let us know if you are planning on attending, and how many hamburgers you would like us to prepare for your party by clicking on the link below.
RSVP HERE
Here is the complete link if you need it: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1UO77j8tmfNTOs_3rI913H8m92dMKXFQwC5Y2Cpr_QQE
Picnic Details: Bring a dish to share (with serving utensils), and your own reusable table setting (plate, cup, flatware, etc.), in addition to a picnic tablecloth if you have one. If you’d rather not share, bring your own meal, OR have a hamburger on us – this year, MCAS, in conjunction with the CA Audubon Conservation Ranching Program, will be providing BBQ’d hamburgers made with CA Audubon Certified Bird Friendly beef for anyone interested. Assorted beverages and cookies will be provided by MCAS hospitality.
Birding Field Trip: Prior to the Picnic, an informal birding field trip around El Chorro Regional Park led by Torrey Gage-Tomlinson and Mark Mushkat will be held from 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm. Join Torrey and Mark for a late afternoon walk through the varied habitats and surrounding environs of El Chorro Regional Park. This short bird walk will be over gentle terrain and will begin and end in the Dairy Creek Group area in time for the Morro Coast Audubon Annual Picnic! People of all birding skills are welcome. Some of the species we might expect to see include White-tailed Kite, Red-shouldered Hawk, California Quail, Western Scrub-jay, Western Bluebird, Black-headed Grosbeak, and Bullock’s Oriole. Bring your own binoculars and take a casual stroll with fellow birders. No signups are required for this birding walk.
What is there to see when it’s blazing hot? Lots! Bring the family for a sketch and plant walk at shady Three Bridges Preserve in Atascadero. The trees are cool and shady, and there may still be water in the creek! Some plants are sleeping (summer dormant), but some are still blooming and there’s always birds, insects, maybe even mammals. This is an easy loop trail where we’ll stop and draw and name a few plants. It’s aimed at 5-10 year olds, but all are welcome. Art materials are provided and you can take your sketchbook home.
Bring water, snacks, hat, sturdy shoes, and dress in layers for changing weather. A plant list for the Three Bridges Preserve can be found on our website here. There are no bathroom facilities along the hike route.
Please sign the liability waiver HERE to register for this event.
THIS TRIP HAS BEEN CANCELED DUE TO FORECAST OF RAIN. Possible rescheduling of this Carrizo Plain trip in late April. Check back here for details. In the meantime, we recommend you check our calendar here for the many other hikes, wildflower show, native plant sale, workshops, and meetings CNPS-SLO and others are sponsoring in April and May. You can also plan your own trip to the Carrizo Plain and we encourage you to check the BLM Carrizo Plain National Monument website and social media for most up-to-date information on the status of the wildflower bloom, and travel and safety conditions at this beautiful remote area.
Remember, seasonal wildflower blooms can vary from year to year even week to week. They are not simply a theatrical production for human enjoyment. They are important ecological events when plants use flowers to create seeds for their future generations. The flowers deviously attract and feed butterflies, native bees, birds and other animals to increase their seed production. Recent weather events like rain, drought, wind and freezing temperatures along with longterm climatic change and human activities can affect the amount and types of wildflowers that bloom at any one point in time. We encourage you to enjoy the variety of a bloom when you are hiking, look for animals visiting flowers, and see if you can detect subtle changes and how environmental conditions are shaping that bloom. As the season progresses, you can also look for and learn about the interesting shapes and sizes of developing seeds. Protect the bloom by staying on trails.
—————————————————BELOW CANCELED——————————————————
This year, the chapter’s spring field trip to the Carrizo Plain will focus on the southwestern side of the valley, as well as a possible ascent up Caliente Mountain Road. This outing will last the entire day. Only vehicles with high clearance (HCV) can be used on this field trip. HCV ground clearance should be 9 inches or higher. Please make carpool arrangements on your own before the event if you do not have a HCV. Limited seating in an HCV may be available at meet-up location, but not guaranteed. Otherwise, participants without space in an HCV may wish to tour on their own the main roads in Carrizo Plain that do not require an HCV. Many roads in the Carrizo Plain can be difficult to travel after recent rains. Make sure your vehicle has a full tank of gas as this is a remote area without nearby services.
Meet at the Santa Margarita Park and Ride Lot on the Santa Margarita/CA-58 East exit off Highway 101, Lat/Long 35.383290, -120.628037.
Please sign the liability waiver HERE to register for this event.
A plant list for the Caliente Range of the Carrizo Plain can be found on our website here. You can also go to our website here to purchase wildflower books for Shell Creek, Highway 58 and the Carrizo Plain; some items are ebooks which need to be downloaded before you hit the trail. Some of the ebooks are free!
Bring water, lunch, snacks, hat, sturdy shoes, and dress in layers for changing weather. Come prepared because this is a long and fun day. There are limited bathroom facilities along the hike route. Rain or threat of rain cancels or postpones this trip.
Photo: Caliente Range on East side of Carrizo Plain, 2023, Bill Waycott