BIRDS OF A FEATHER WILL BE FLOCKING TO MORRO BAY

13^TH Annual Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival, January 16-19, 2009

 SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY, CA – San Luis Obispo County is one of the top birding destinations in the nation, with the focus on Morro Bay, a Globally Important Bird Area and a designated State and National Estuary.  Situated along the Pacific Flyway, Morro Bay is showcased during the 13^th Annual Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival, January 16-19, 2009, with events featuring birding hikes, tours, field trips on the ocean and bay, plus workshops, guest speakers and exhibits. 

All levels of birders will find the Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival of interest, with more than 35 land, ocean and bay field trips, discussions and presentations, social events, and workshops focusing on everything from warblers to elephant seals being offered.  Scheduled filed trips include pelagic (open sea) trips, kayak trips, shorebird field trips, excursions to view Sandhill Cranes and Bald Eagles, and the much anticipated “see as many species as possible” field trip.

Special events and guests include the Opening Reception on Friday evening featuring John Muir Laws signing his new book, The Laws Field Guide to the Sierra Nevada; a keynote address on Saturday night by Al Batt, a nationally recognized naturalist, writer, speaker, storyteller, humorist, and cartoonist; and a seminar and presentation by San Luis Obispo County wildlife photographers on Sunday night.

Full registration for the four-day Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival is $70, with one-day registration options – $35 for Friday through Sunday and $25 for Monday also available.

Morro Bay typically ranks in the top five nationally during the Audubon Christmas Bird Count with more than 200 bird species that winter there or are permanent residents.  Included in the tally are snow geese, egrets, herons, California Brown Pelicans, Peregrine Falcons, and the Brant Goose that winters in the Morro Bay estuary after flying non-stop from Alaska. 

For more information about the Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival, visit www.morrobaybirdfestival.org.  To plan your winter birding adventure to San Luis Obispo County, California’s Natural Escape, call 1-800-634-1414 or visit www.SanLuisObispoCounty.com.  Don’t forget to bring your spotting scope or binoculars!

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