A Milestone Year
We are excited to welcome an outstanding lineup of keynote speakers and presenters. Although our longtime Thursday night speaker, Ed Harper, will be traveling in South America during the symposium, “the other Ed,” Ed Pandolfino, will step in with what promises to be an entertaining and memorable presentation on “achieving immortality through birdwatching.” Known for his wit, humor, photography, and exceptional bird recordings, Ed is sure to deliver a crowd favorite.
Our own Keith Hansen will present an interactive program about his journey to becoming one of the premier bird illustrators of his generation, featuring many of his well-known videos from his gallery in Bolinas and beyond.
2026 ABA Young Birder of the Year, Mackenzie Hollender, will share reflections from her journey as a young birder and conservation leader. Drawing on her work with the Sacramento Valley Young Birders Club and local birding community, her program will explore the curiosity, connection, and stewardship that birds can inspire.
Are you ready to register?
Registration opens Sunday, September 13, 2026 at 3pm PST
The 2026 Central Valley Birding Symposium information page is now open!
View REgistration InformationSpeakers
Ed Pandolfino
Keith Hansen
Mackenzie Hollender
The symposium will continue its popular student research programming, featuring presentations by local college students studying bird populations, distribution, and conservation in the Central Valley. New this year, we are also expanding programming opportunities for high school-aged Young Birders.
Attendees can once again look forward to a wide variety of field trips, including several new offerings, as well as returning favorite workshops such as bird photography, illustration, and woodcarving. Popular programs, including the Bird Identification Panel and Jon Dunn’s bird identification workshops, will also return.
We’re excited to welcome back Andy Engilis, Curator of the UC Davis Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology, and UC Davis students for an up-close exploration of Central Valley birds. Specimens from the museum’s collection will be available at interactive stations to sharpen your identification skills—an uncommon and memorable opportunity for birders of every level.
Mark your calendars for November 19-22, 2026, and start planning to join us for this exciting milestone symposium. Don’t miss your chance to celebrate 30 years of birding, community, and conservation with friends old and new!