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Archaeologist Ethan Bertrando will take us time traveling into the pre-Spanish past of Central Coast inhabitants, the Chumash and their ancestors. Ethan teaches anthropology at Cuesta College and is the lead archaeologist and anthropologist for the California Army National Guard. Walking along the boardwalk, he will tell us the fascinating story of the ancient peoples who camped in the Elfin Forest 1,000 years or more ago. He will bring artifacts that show the industry and culture of the Chumash and other indigenous tribes on the Central Coast. This walk will reveal a complex world of the Elfin Forest's past inhabitants, one that we would never suspect today. Walks begin on the boardwalk at the end of the 15th Street sand path. Park at the north end of 15th Street (16th Street for wheelchairs) off Santa Ysabel in Los Osos. Please park carefully, avoiding driveways and mailboxes. Wear comfortable shoes, long sleeves and pants to avoid poison oak and mosquitoes. Besides docent-led events, visit the Elfin Forest any day: Experience the quiet natural beauty of this small wilderness area. Park at the north end of any street from 11th through 17th streets off Santa Ysabel in Los Osos, avoiding driveways and mailboxes. Coming Up in the Elfin Forest
This is the month for birding on and around Morro Bay. Often the water of the estuary seems nearly covered by grebes, pelicans, cormorants, ducks, geese, sandpipers, gulls, terns, and other wading, swimming, and diving species. Virtually all species of water birds and wading birds normally seen in the course of a year from Bush Lupine Point or Siena's View are present and at peak populations on Morro Bay in January. The forest itself is the winter home for many migratory birds favoring brushy open woodlands. Shrubs around the boardwalk can be alive with flitting finches, sparrows, warblers, wrens, titmice, gnatchatchers, nuthatches, and many other little brown and little grey birds. Among the not-so-little birds of the brush are phoebes, thrashers, towhees, scrub jays, quail, blackbirds, and doves.
Not only is the birding at its annual best in January, but our larger shrubs are in their spectacular winter bloom season. Buckbrush Ceanothus, among the many species of the California Lilac genus, nearly surrounds the boardwalk with white to light lavender flowers. Tucked in more protected areas of the lower (northern) boardwalk are Morro Manzanitas. The Elfin Forest is nearly in the center of their limited range and preserves a substantial percentage of the total population for this species. Their tiny bell-shaped flowers are white with a pinkish blush. Look down under the edges of the taller shrubs along the 11th Street sand trail or near Siena's View to find the lovely little native California Peony. Much easier to see are the red floral tubes lining thorny branches of the Fuchsia-flowered Gooseberry. Enjoy the floral beauty of the Elfin Forest and take pictures to arouse the envy of your friends and relatives in northern and eastern states. Their snow and ice may be beautiful to see, but we can enjoy the beauty of our small wilderness area in much more comfortable temperatures and arrive via much less hazardous walking, bicycling or driving conditions!
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