Sweetsprings Nature Reserve is a hotspot for birdwatching.
Adding a different experience to hiking, beach strolls, and family time
Sweet Springs Nature Preserve in Los Osos is one of the top birdwatching locations in SLO County. With 464 species of birds recorded in SLO County, birdwatching is the perfect outdoor activity for families and another reason for hiking and beach strolls. Individual birds number in the thousands, and at certain times of the year, include migrating birds not normally seen in the area. The Central Coast is one of the four main migration routes for birds in the Americas.
Birds that can be seen at Sweet Springs Nature Preserve include a rich variety of water birds and shore birds, bald eagles, ospreys, hawks, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, and many bird species some of us may have never seen before.
Spring and summer are nesting seasons when birders look forward to returning birds that have been gone all winter. Along with Central Coast birds that don’t migrate, nesting season is an excellent opportunity to watch and learn. Species you might see during nesting season include the hooded oriole, Bullock’s oriole, black-headed grosbeak, cliff swallow, tree swallow, and Allen’s hummingbird.
According to Susie Reddy, outreach coordinator for the Morro Coast Audubon Society (MCAS) and the Morro Bay Bird Festival, SLO County has some excellent locations for bird watching. Pack up the kids, binoculars, cameras, a picnic, and head out!
Keep an eye our for Bullock’s oriole.
Birdwatching on the coast
For easy-to-reach locations in addition to the Sweet Springs Preserve, check out Oso Flaco Lake in Oceano. Favorite spots in Morro Bay are the marina boardwalk and Morro Rock. Farther north, visit Estero Bluffs State Park in Cayucos, the Harmony Headlands in San Simeon, and the Fiscalni Ranch Preserve near Cambria.
Birdwatching inland
For great inland locations, check out Meadow Park, El Chorro Park, or Laguna Lake in San Luis Obispo. The Bob Jones Trail at Avila Beach and Atascadero Lake in Atascadero are also easy to get to locations.
Getting to know the birds
Learning to identify each unique species can range from curiosity about what’s in your backyard, to day trips, and vacations to observe many different birds in their natural habitats. “The easiest way to get started is to look out your windows,” says Reddy. “You don’t even need binoculars. You might be surprised at what you see and hear, birds are all around us!”
Joining a group is a family-fun way to learn and make new friends. The MCAS offers several monthly bird walks, beginner workshops, and in-depth learning classes.
The Sweet Springs Nature Preserve is located in Los Osos off Ramona Avenue and has been owned and managed by MCAS since 1989. The preserve offers hiking trails, beautiful views of Morro Bay and Morro Rock, and excellent birding opportunities. No pets please! For more information about birdwatching locations, membership, and programs, visit morrocoastaudubon.org.
—By Jackie Iddings
