Morro Bay State Parks and the Museum of Natural History

The story of California's State Parks Captured in the Award-Winning Film, California Forever Preview at California Forever Available at the Museum store for $14.95.

Adventures With Nature December 2014

Sponsored by the S. L. O. Coast & Oceano Dunes State Park Districts / Supported by the Central Coast State Parks Association
This schedule can be found at www.ccspa.info (Adventure Descriptions on the Reverse Side). For additional information, call the Museum of Natural History, Morro Bay State Park, (805) 772-2694 / Coastal Discovery Center: Open Fri - Sun, 11 - 5 pm. Hearst State Beach, across from the entrance to Hearst Castle. Spooner Ranch House: Open Fri - Sun, 11 - 3 pm. In Montaña de Oro State Park, above Spooner’s Cove. Historical ranch house, Spooner history, nature displays. Pismo Nature Center: Open F, Sa, Su, 1- 4pm. Located at 555 Pier Ave, Oceano, just before the entrance to the Off Road Vehicular Area. Information on Oceano Lagoon, Native Americans and local trails is provided with videos and docent interpretation of displays.

SPECIAL EVENTS!
LOCation Codes: EB - Estero Bluffs, HH - Harmony Headlands, LO - Los Osos, MB - Morro Bay, MdO - Montaña de Oro, NC - North Coast,
PB - Pismo Beach. Holidays at the Museum. Dec 20 - Jan 3. Special family events have been planned in or around the Morro Bay Museum of Natural History for the winter school break. Most will be in the Museum auditorium at 2 pm each day, but others are at different times and outside. Look at the highlighted Holiday Events column on the reverse for descriptions. Pismo Monarch Butterfly Grove. Open daily with special talks at 11am and 2 pm. Come see the beautiful Monarch Butterflies and learn about them from the talks and the grove rovers. Pismo Butterfly Grove, 1 mile south of Pismo Beach on Highway 1. No entrance fee. Mind Walks 2015. Starting January 5 and extending through March 30, every Monday morning at 1015. Topics vary from the drought and earthquakes to Montana de Oro history to ancient voyagers and human history to otters and Brant geese. Morro Bay Veteran’s Building, 209 Surf Ave, Morro Bay. Admission is $3; CCSPA members and docents are free.

Date Day Time LOC Adventure ............................................................................................ Presenter
3 Wed 11:00 am MB Black Hill Nature Hike ....................................................................... Rich Michels
5 Fri 2:00 pm MdO Intertidal Life at Hazard Reef ...................................................... Faylla Chapman
6 Sat 1:00 pm MB White's Point Vistas .................................................................. Norma Wightman
7 Sun 2:00 pm MB Sketching with a Microscope ......................................................... Barb Renshaw
8 Mon 2:00 pm MB State Parks 150th - A Final Show ................................................ Faylla Chapman
10 Wed 10:30 am MB Birding for Beginners ............................................... Karen Watts & Robbie Revel
13 Sat 8:30 am PB Birds at the Oceano Lagoon ............................. Gary Espiau and Susan Grimaud
13 Sat 10:00 am LO Los Osos Oaks Reserve ............................................................. Faylla Chapman
13 Sat 1:00 pm MdO Pecho Sewing Society ....................................................................... Debi Dismer
14 Sun 10:00 am Mdo Hike the Point Buchon Trail ........................... Bardeen, Kirkhart, Reifel, Renshaw
15 Mon 10:00 am MdO Montaña de Oro Bluff Nature Walk ................................................ Paul O’Connor
16 Tue 11:00 am MB How to Identify Birds ..................................................................... Claudia Freitas
17 Wed 1:00 pm MB Salt Marsh to Mudflats ................................................................ Faylla Chapman
20 Sat 2:00 pm MB Black Hill Trail ................................................................................. Roger Randall
21 Sun 3:00 pm MB Windy Cove Mud and Tide Pools ................................................ Faylla Chapman
22 Mon 2:30 pm MdO Explore the Tide Pools at Corallina Cove ....................................... Paul O’Connor
23 Tue 2:00 pm MdO Intertidal Life at Hazard Reef ...................................................... Faylla Chapman
27 Sat 10:00am MB Exploring Shifting Sands .................................................................. Robbie Revel
27 Sat 2:00 pm MB Saturday Scientists: Plankton ............................. Rouvaishyana & Gene Rotstein
29 Mon 10:00 am MdO Montaña de Oro Bluff Nature Walk ................................................ Paul O’Connor
20 Sat 2:00 pm MB Kelp Holdfast Dissection ..................... Sally Krenn & Faylla Chapman
21 Sun 2:00 pm MB Puppets: Bucket Monster ............................................. Linda Winters
21 Sun 3:00 pm MB Windy Cove Mud and Tide Pools .............................. Faylla Chapman
22 Mon 2:00 pm MB Monarch Butterflies ........................................................ Judy Zaretzka
23 Tue 2:00 pm MB The Teeth Make the Skull ............................................... Dave Dabritz
26 Fri 2:00 pm MB Puppets: It’s a Big Ocean .............................................. Linda Winters
27 Sat 2:00 pm MB Saturday Scientists: Plankton ............ Rouvaishyana & Gene Rotstein
28 Sun 2:00 pm MB Snakes, Lizards and Bugs, Oh My! ........................... Quintana Family
29 Mon 1:00 pm MB Protecting Estuaries and Watersheds .................................. Lexie Bell
30 Tue 2:00 pm MB Animal Scat Activity ........................ Faylla Chapman & Rouvaishyana
Jan 2 Fri 11:00 am MB Elephant Seals and Sharks ......................................... Diana Barnhart
Jan 2 Fri 4:00 pm MB Introduction to the Night Sky ......................................... Rouvaishyana
Jan 3 Sat 11:00 am MB Natural History of our Local Bats ............................... Audrey Weichart

SPECIAL HOLIDAY EVENTS ADVENTURE DESCRIPTIONS

Everyone is welcome, but no dogs, please. All times are approximate. Bad weather cancels outdoor activities Birding for Beginners. Learn about the skills needed to master birding as a hobby. Practice making observations, learn to use binoculars and spotting scopes, and learn about resources available for ongoing skill building. Binoculars helpful but not necessary. An outdoor walk will follow a discussion in the Museum’s Learning Center. Meet at the Morro Bay Museum of Natural History. Family event, walk less than 1 mile, 2 hours. Birds at the Oceano Lagoon. Birders of all levels are welcome to join this walk along the lagoon and native plant gardens to look for waterfowl, songbirds, raptors and more. Bring binoculars and bird book; scope optional. Dress for wind/weather, with hat, sunscreen and water. Meet at the Nature Center, Oceano Campground, Pismo State Beach. Moderate walk, 1 mile, 3 hours.

Black Hill Nature Hike

Hike to the summit of Black Hill from the Morro Bay campground. We will walk 1.5 miles with an elevation gain of 660 ft. to the summit. Enjoy a
spectacular view from atop the hill. Bring binoculars, long pants and good shoe tread suggested. Meet at the picnic area at the Morro Bay Campground. Active hike, chance of poison oak, 3 miles, 2-2.5 hrs Black Hill Trail. Walk the most accessible of the volcanic sisters while discussing their history and enjoying a panoramic view of the surrounding geography. Dress for wind/weather. Take Golf Course Drive past the clubhouse and bear left at fork in road.

Meet at the overlook parking lot above the Morro Bay Golf Course. Moderate walk, chance of poison oak, 0.5 miles, 1.5 hours. Explore the Tide Pools at Corallina Cove. Learn some local history while walking the bluffs looking for sea birds, whales, seals and otters. Explore the tide pools of Corallina Cove at low tide. Wear sturdy shoes, dress for wind/weather, and bring binoculars. Meet at Bluff Trailhead, about 100 yards south of Spooner Ranch House in Montaña de Oro. Active hike, chance of poison oak, 2 miles, 2 hours.

Exploring Shifting Sands
How is sand formed? How do wind and waves reshape the beach? Discover how many organisms have adapted to this challenging environment. Dress in layers for wind/weather and wear
sturdy beach shoes. Bring binoculars and water.
Take Hwy 1 north to Yerba Buena exit; turn west to
meet at Morro Strand State Beach entrance kiosk
in North Morro Bay. Easy walk, 0.5 miles, 2 hours.
Hike the Point Buchon Trail
Follow Coon Creek to its outlet and then walk
south along the bluffs overlooking the ocean.
Dress for wind/weather. Wear sturdy shoes, and
bring water. Meet at the Coon Creek parking lot at
the end of Pecho Road in Montaña de Oro State
Park. This is a moderate hike, 3 miles, 2 hours.
How to Identify Birds
Learn some practical methods to identify birds via
a slide program: structural, behavioral, age, sex,
seasonal differences plus field marks, flight, and
more. Comparisons of size and shape will be
shown. Meet at the Morro Bay Museum of Natural
History. Talk, 1.5 hours.
Intertidal Life at Hazard Reef
Learn some geology while walking through coastal
scrub and sand dunes to see seaweeds and
marine animals. Dress in layers and wear nonskid shoes that can get wet. Meet in Hazard
Canyon parking lot, on West side of road, 1.6
miles south of Montaña de Oro park entrance.
Look for announcement board. Active hike,
chance of poison oak, 1 mile, 3 hours.
Los Osos Oaks Reserve
Enjoy a shaded stroll through ancient forest. See
native plants and evidence of Chumash habitation. Learn colorful historical background. Dress
for wind/weather. Meet at Reserve entrance, 0.7
miles east of South Bay Blvd. on Los Osos Valley
Road. Easy walk, chance of poison oak, 1 mile,
1.5 hours.
Montaña de Oro Bluff Nature Walk
Take a pleasant hike along the bluffs for the
magnificent views and look for wildlife. Dress for
wind/weather and bring binoculars. Meet at Bluff
Trailhead, about 100 yards south of Spooner
Ranch House in Montaña de Oro. Active hike,
chance of poison oak, 2 miles, 3 hours.
Pecho Sewing Society
The Pecho Sewing Society will hold it's monthly
meeting at the Spooner Ranch house. We will be
stitching the Santa Barbara Mission, also known
as the Mother of all of the missions. We will also
have a holiday cookie exchange. We always
welcome new participants in our sewing group.
We can teach anyone willing to learn redwork
stitching in one sitting. The mission kits are $10.
All are welcome. A special holiday treat will be
served at the close of the meeting.
Salt Marsh to Mudflats
Walk the State Park Marina Peninsula boardwalk
to learn the history of the salt marsh and the
plants and animals living in this specialized
environment. Dress for wind/weather and mud.
Bring binoculars. Park close to east end of
Bayside marina parking lot or across the street at
MB campground restrooms. Easy walk, 0.5 miles,
2 hours.
Saturday Scientists: Plankton
Learn about plankton through a brief Powerpoint
show, see how it is collected, look at organisms
displayed live on the large screen using the video
microscopes and learn to use the compound
microscopes to see them yourselves. Museum of
Natural History auditorium, Family activity, best
from age 6 and up, 1-2 hrs.
Sketching with a Microscope
Examine fine details of flowers, shells, and other
artifacts and capture them on paper. Bring a
sketch pad, colored pencils, pastels, or watercolors. Bring something from your garden or
personal collections if you wish. Meet in the
auditorium of the Morro Bay Museum of Natural
History. 2 hours.
State Parks 150th - A Final Show
A slide show combining history of the California
State Parks, a fun fact quiz on the parks and a
discussion of all the parks on the Central Coast.
Talk, Morro Bay Natural History Museum
auditorium, 1 hour
White's Point Vistas
Enjoy a short, steep walk to view the estuary,
home to hundreds of marine and terrestrial
animals. Learn about the forces creating and
changing this watery world. Dress for wind/
weather. Meet at the Morro bay Museum of
Natural History. Moderate walk, 0.5 miles, 0.75
hours.
Windy Cove Mud and Tide Pools
Walk to Windy Cove below the Museum learning
about the plants, the mud and the organisms that
inhabit the mud and the rocks around the cove.
Dress for the weather and wear shoes that can
get muddy; no bare feet. Meet at the "Nature
Walk" sign in front of the Morro Bay Museum of
Natural History. Easy family walk, 1-2 hour.
Animal Scat Activity
Wildlife as well as domestic animals pay attention
to the scat of other animals. We will provide an
activity in which you will see what can be learned
from scat, and how to tell what animals have left it
behind. Family event, 1-2 hrs.
Elephant Seals and Sharks
There are thousands of 5000-pound elephant
seals wrestling, mating, giving birth, dealing with
sharks, putting on a great show on beaches near
San Simeon all year long. Next month is the most
exciting season of their year. Come learn about
these amazing creatures and their relationship with
sharks. Family activity, 1hr.
Introduction to the Night Sky
A talk about stargazing with images of the night
sky and Hubble Telescope views and a demonstration of how telescopes work. At 5 pm move
outside to watch the sunset and night sky viewing
with the telescope. Beginners and experienced
viewers will get something out of this! Family
activity, 1-2 hours.
Kelp Holdfast Dissection
Join us in pulling apart freshly collected kelp
holdfasts to see what lives inside of them and then
look at all the critters under the microscope.
Family activity, 1-2 hrs.
Monarch Butterflies
Come hear about the Monarch butterflies and their
return to the Pismo Butterfly Grove each year.
Demonstrations and butterfly activities will be
included. Family event, 1-2 hours.
Natural History of our Local Bats
Join Wildlife Biologist and State Parks Docent,
Audrey Weichert, for an introduction to several of
our local bats, including species accounts, natural
history information, and survey techniques. Family
activity, 1 hr.
Protecting Estuaries and Watersheds
Take a walk up to the top of White’s Point to view
the estuary and then learn about the watershed
that feeds it and how human activities can cause
problems. Then do a hands-on activity to study
pollutants and their effects on the estuary. An
easy family activity, 1-2 hours.
Puppets: Bucket Monster
Come to learn who the Bucket Monster is and
learn more about the critters that live in the tide
pools. A good chance to learn respect and how to
treat tide pool animals. Family event, 2 pm, 1
hour. (Followed by Windy Cove walk if desired)
Puppets: It’s a Big Ocean
Come see a baby whale get lost in the ocean,
meet a helpful otter and find his way back to mom.
A discussion of marine mammals follows.
Museum auditorium, 1 hr.
Snakes, Lizards and Bugs, Oh My!
Live specimens and information about them from a
family who loves sharing and showing them off.
Specimens can be handled and passed around.
Family activity, 1-2 hrs.
The Teeth Make the Skull
Come join the Museum's skull expert to learn
about the various skulls and teeth in the collection.
See the large whale jaw and all the teeth that fit it
as well as our tiniest skulls with their teeth and
learn how the teeth differ depending on what the
animal eats. Family activity, 1-2 hrs
HOLIDAY EVENTS
All at Morro Bay
Museum of Natural History

Are you looking for something to do this month? Check the possibilities for some great outdoor fun.
For more information visit the Adventures With Nature / CCSPA web site.