Date: 10/30/26 7:30 pm From: John Harris via main <jhh.birder...> Subject: [StanislausBirds] Central Valley Bird Symposium
Dear Birders:
The CVBS will be celebrating its 30th anniversary next month, Nov 19-22 at the Stockton Hilton. The CVBS serves as the annual meeting of the Central Valley Bird Club (CVBC), also in its 30th year. The website with the schedule and registration information is https://cvbs.regfox.com/26.
To celebrate our 30th, our two keynote speakers have their roots in the Central Valley, but from very different stages of their lives. Nationally acclaimed bird illustrator and author, Keith Hansen, will share a lively program with lots of striking visuals of his life-long fascination with all things avian starting from his early years in Fresno to his current life in Marin County, the location of his amazing art gallery. Our second keynote will be Mackenzie Hollender, a highschool senior from Sacramento, who is just starting her career in bird study and conservation. Mackenzie was awarded 2026 American Birding Association Young Birder of the Year for her field sketching abilities and her conservation work in Sacramento. Her program will highlight how her love for birds inspired her to protect 8,000 acres of open space in the Natomas area of Sacramento. Mackenzie is obviously mature beyond her years, with a vibrant and engaging personality. Her future is bright.
I would like to highlight two additional programs. On Saturday morning Lynette Williams of UC Davis and Dr Karan Odom of UOP (Stockton) has organized student speakers to speak on their current bird-related projects. Having student participation in the event has been a very important part of the event in recent years. The other program is the Specimen Workshop on Saturday afternoon. Andy Engilis, who is the curator at the UC Davis Museum of Natural History will bring a select group of specimens for us to study and appreciate. He and his staff will place specimens of bird groups and families side by side that are notoriously difficult to separate, and they will then go over what to look for when you have them in your hands!! This is a rare and unique opportunity, as most museums never allow their precious collections to be open to the public in this fashion.
Finally, there are always wonderful artists and vendors on display. And visiting them is free at the Stockton Hilton on Nov 20-21. In particular, there will be Out of this World Optics from Mendocino present. They will have a full complement of binoculars, spotting scopes and tripods of all brands at every price range on hand at discounted prices.
Hope to see you in November! If you have any questions, please contact me, or be in touch with Katie in registration (contact info on the website).
Happy Fall Birding, David Yee Stockton CVBS Chair 209-329-5490 <(209)%20329-5490>
