During San Luis Obispo’s Coastal Discovery and Stewardship Month, Avila Beach visitors and local residents are invited to meet and learn from knowledgeable birders and wildlife specialists during the 1st Annual (and free) “Avila Beach Bird Sanctuary Day” for all ages on February 21, 2015.
The event celebrates Avila Beach’s designation as an official California Bird Sanctuary town and helps provide stewardship for coastal bird populations through education, appreciation, and contribution opportunities. Shirley Goetz will lead Avila Beach’s Bird Sanctuary Day and is a well-known regional birder and the cofounder of the event. She was instrumental in the success of the Avila Beach Bird Sanctuary designation project for the County of San Luis Obispo in 2013. “What a great day for birds and people who love them,” says Goetz. “We have carved out this special time each year to celebrate the diversity, health, and special sanctuary we have in Avila for our bird populations and I am looking forward to sharing what we know with local residents and our visitors. We appreciate all our Stewardship Travelers, those special visitors I am learning about that care about making a difference to the places they visit.”
The day begins at 10am at the Avila Beach Community Center at 191 San Miguel Street near the beach. Participants will enjoy a bit of Sanctuary history and a regional birding overview along with a live Pacific Wildlife Care bird exhibit and helpful information about plastic waste and its alarming impact on local birdlife. Some of the resident bird populations that visitors are likely see during the day include; Great Blue Herons, California Gulls, Snowy and Common Egrets, Cormorants. The special migratory bird sightings may include; Brant Geese, Loons (Common, Red-throated, & Pacific), Grebes (Western, Eared, Horned, & Clarks), Surf Scoters, Common Murres, and Northern Shovelers and more. Also, during the morning, meet “Morro”, the rescued Brown Pelican turned celebrity, who is one of the stars in the movie “Pelican Dreams” by San Francisco film producer Judy Irving. To learn more and watch the movie trailer go to http://vimeo.com/102655510.
The day concludes with a fun Stewardship Beach and Trail Clean-up Kit option for individuals exploring Avila Beach in the afternoon. Participants are encouraged to pick up an Avila Beach Stewardship Clean-up Kit during the event and walk along the beach and/or nearby Bob Jones Bike & Hiking Trail for a bit of personal birding and to provide some friendly Bird Sanctuary stewardship.
Representatives of San Luis Obispo’s award winning non-profit organization, Pacific Wildlife Care (PWC), will be present to introduce the audience to live and rescued birds such as a Western Screech Owl and a Red-tailed Hawk and share the bird’s personal stories, natural history, and answer questions.
PWC and its volunteers treated an astonishing 2,448 wild animals in 2014. PWC rescues, rehabilitates, and releases injured or orphaned wildlife successfully throughout San Luis Obispo County each year. Contributions opportunities will be available for residents and visitors. For more information go to http://www.pacificwildlifecare.org/
For more information about Avila Beach’s Bird Sanctuary Day go to: http://www.pacificwildlifecare.org/news_events.html. For more information about San Luis Obispo’s Coastal Discovery and Stewardship Month go to: http://www.winecoastcountry.com/events/coastal-discovery-stewardship-month/
