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CONTACT: Fred Sater
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fred@fredsatercommunications.com

San Luis Obispo County Is A Top Wildlife
Viewing Destination

September 26, 2006

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY, CA - San Luis Obispo County is one of the most popular destinations in the country for wildlife, especially in winter. Spot gray whales during their annual migration along the coast, watch elephant seals as they gather and mate along the northern coastline of Piedras Blancas, visit Pismo State Beach, the wintering grounds for thousands of migrating Monarch Butterflies, or view the Brant Goose that winters in the Morro Bay estuary after flying non-stop from Alaska. Further inland, huge flocks of sandhill cranes join resident wildlife species in the winter at Carrizo Plain National Monument.  

A visit to the new Coastal Discovery Center at San Simeon Bay makes a nice addition to a San Luis Obispo County wildlife viewing itinerary, too. Operated by the Monterey Bay Marine Sanctuary and California State Parks, the Center's exhibits highlight the connection between land and sea and include a video voyage to the deep sea, a "talking" tidepool and live rainbow trout.

Birding
San Luis Obispo County is one of the top birding destinations in the country. During the Audubon Society's Christmas 2005 Bird Count in San Luis Obispo County, nearly 200 species of birds were counted in Morro Bay, and another 60 species were spotted on the Carrizo Plain. Included in the tally were snow geese, egrets, herons, red-tailed hawks, meadowlarks, and owls. Catch a glimpse of bald eagles soaring above Santa Margarita or Lopez Lake, and while you’re at it, view peregrine falcons around Morro Rock or brown pelicans flying in formation over Morro Bay.  Celebrate the birds during the Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival, January 12-15, 2007. This "Globally Important Bird Area." is showcased with weekend events featuring birding hikes, tours, field trips on the ocean and bay, plus workshops, guest speakers and exhibits. www.morrobaybirdfestival.org

Gray Whales.
From mid-December through early April, the San Luis Obispo County coast is an ideal spot to view gray whales from land or aboard a whale watching cruise. Regularly scheduled whale watching cruises depart Morro Bay and Port San Luis during the winter season. There are also several popular vantage points on land to view these magnificent marine mammals during their annual migration. Try an overlook at Montana de Oro State Park, along the bluffs near the Piedras Blancas lighthouse or a vista point in Pismo Beach. 

Elephant Seals  
Along Highway 1, approximately 4.4 miles north of the Hearst Castle Visitor Center, is Piedras Blancas, a favorite gathering spot for Northern Elephant Seals. Winter is the peak viewing season as the elephant seals gather to give birth and mate. The elephant seal viewing vista point has a number of excellent educational and interpretive signs. Also, look for Friends of the Elephant Seal docents in their blue jackets, who are eager to answer your questions. www.elephantseal.org .

Monarch Butterflies.
One of the largest monarch butterfly winter gathering spots of the West Coast is the Monarch Butterfly Grove at Pismo State Beach. From November through February, a grove of eucalyptus trees at Pismo State Beach are the home of some 50,000 Monarch butterflies. The butterflies can be found on the ground, in the air fluttering and soaring or hanging from the trees in massive clusters.

Although winter offers prime time wildlife viewing, San Luis Obispo County is home to a variety of critters year-round. Sea lions, harbor seals and sea otters can be found swimming and floating in coastal waters, and sea gulls and shore birds can be found on the beach or flying above.  You might even catch a glimpse of a zebra, or two, when visiting Hearst Castle!

To plan your wildlife viewing 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 binoculars!

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