Date: 2/18/26 1:15 pm From: Justyn Stahl via groups.io <justyn.stahl...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Nat Talk: Phil Unitt's Journey Through the Collection
A great talk tomorrow at the San Diego Natural History Museum!
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Thursday, February 19, 2026 7 PM
After four decades of building and caring for The Nat’s world-class bird
and mammal collection, beloved Curator *Phil Unitt is retiring*. Before he
does, he’ll take us through a journey of discovery, showing how preserved
specimens help us understand environmental change and guide conservation.
This is your chance to hear directly from the person who has shaped our
understanding of Southern California’s wildlife.
Phil Unitt has spent his career asking a simple question: What can the past
teach us about the future? Now, after 37 years of work, he’s inviting us
into the world he’s dedicated his life to—The Nat's extraordinary
collection of more than 53,000 bird specimens and over 26,000 mammal
specimens. But as much as those specimens tell us about our environment, it
is the people who built the collection who inspire us to keep their legacy
vibrant.
Since the 1800s, determined collectors braved harsh conditions to document
the region's wildlife. Their work created something remarkable: one of the
most significant natural history collections in the western United States.
In this talk, Phil brings those early nature enthusiasts to life and shows
us how specimens continue to drive current research. Specimens are time
capsules that reveal how our environment has changed and help us protect
what remains.
You'll leave with a new appreciation for what natural history collections
can do, why they need our support, and what Phil's decades of work have
meant for science and conservation in our region. Come celebrate a
legendary curator and discover why collections matter.
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The monthly meetings of San Diego Field Ornithologists (SDFO) are currently virtual, open only to members, at 6pm on the third Tuesday of every month.
