Nearby: Family Field Trip, Sunset Bat Walk in the Elfin Forest

The Estuary Program leads a sunset bat walk through the Elfin Forest

In Los Osos, across the back bay. The Morro Bay National Estuary Program leads a family sunset bat walk through the Elfin Forest on Thursday, July 30 from 8 to 9 PM, timed to the hour when the pygmy oak woodland above the estuary turns into prime bat feeding ground. Staff bring the acoustic detectors that make the bats’ echolocation audible, turning an invisible hunt overhead into something the whole family can hear happening in real time.

The Elfin Forest is one of the back bay’s quiet treasures, a boardwalk loop through centuries-old dwarf oaks with estuary views the whole way, and it takes on a different character at dusk. Bats are voracious insect predators and a healthy population is a good sign for the whole ecosystem, which is exactly the kind of connection the Estuary Program’s family field trips are built to make.

Registration is through the Estuary Program’s Eventbrite page, where the exact meeting point along the boardwalk is provided. Bring layers for the evening cool-down and closed-toe shoes for the boardwalk. Spots on the program’s family trips are limited and tend to fill, so registering early is wise.

For more wildlife walks and family outings around the bay, see what is coming up on the event calendar.