Page 45 - SLO Visitors Guide Winter 2026

slovisitorsguide.com WINTER 2026 45
Los Osos
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Birdwatching in winter?
Thousands of birds are migrating
The Pacific Flyway is a major
migratory route for billions
of birds that travel between their
breeding and overwintering
grounds. The route stretches from
Alaska to Patagonia, South Ameri-
ca. Birdwatching during migration
is the chance to see birds that most
of us never see otherwise.
It’s no accident that hundreds of
people also migrate to SLO County
every January to participate in the
Morro Bay Bird Festival. Another
group that spearheads birdwatch-
ing activities is the Morro Coast
Audubon Society (MCAS). There
are plenty of opportunities for ex-
cellent birdwatching, so pack up the
kids, binoculars, cameras, a picnic,
and head out! Best to leave the dogs
at home; many wildlife sanctuaries
and preserves don’t allow dogs.
Sweet Springs Nature Preserve
in Los Osos is one of the top bird-
watching locations in SLO County.
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, woodpeck-
ers, and many bird species some of
us may have never seen before.
With 464 bird species docu-
mented in SLO County, and
individual birds numbering in the
thousands, there’s no reason to stay
home!
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,
San Luis Obispo
County is a
hotspot on the
Pacific Flyway
the Harmony Headlands in San
Simeon, and the Fiscalini 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 curi-
osity about what’s in your backyard
to trips to observe birds in their
natural habitats.
Joining a group is a fun way to
learn and make new friends. The
MCAS offers several monthly bird
walks, beginner workshops, and
in-depth learning classes. The 2026
Morro Bay Bird Festival is sched-
uled for January 15–19, offering five
days packed with special bird-
watching opportunities, events, and
presentations by leading ornitholo-
gists and naturalists.
Learn more about the Morro
Coast Audubon Society at mon-
tereyaudubon.org, and the Morro
Bay Bird Festival at morrobaybird-
festival.org.
If you’re not into bundling up
on cold days, spring and summer
are nesting seasons when birders
look forward to returning birds that
have been gone all winter. Nesting
season is an excellent opportunity
to watch and learn. Species you
might see include the hooded ori-
ole, Bullock’s oriole, black-headed
grosbeak, cliff swallow, tree swal-
low, and Allen’s hummingbird.
The Sweet Springs Nature Pre-
serve is located in Los Osos off Ra-
mona 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!
—Jackie Iddings
Red-naped sapsucker (Sphyracpicus nuchalis).