Registration fee ($150) includes Programs & Field Trips for Thursday-Sunday and membership/renewal fees for the Central Valley Bird Club. If you are unable to attend the full Symposium but wish to attend one day, there is a $75 Single-day fee available. College age students (ID required) will only pay $60 for the entire event, or $30 Single-day. All other students through high school age are $10!

NOTE: Credit cards and checks are accepted. If paying by check, make it payable to: Central Valley Bird Club. A printable registration form (PDF) is available for those who prefer to send it through the mail; however, field trips fill quickly and online registration offers the best chance to get desired field trips. Please send in your registration by November 8th.

Upon receipt of your registration, an email confirmation notice will be sent. Registration packets, which contain your name badge and meal ticket, may be picked up beginning at 3:00 PM on Thursday, November 21st at the Stockton Hilton Hotel. Registration packets are also available on Friday morning (prior to field trip departures), Friday afternoon and evening, and again on both Saturday and Sunday mornings. Email the CVBS Registrar at CVBSreg@gmail.com if other arrangements need to be made.

Cancellations made by telephone or email on or before November 1, 2024, will result in a refund of fees paid, less $20.00 administrative fee for each registrant. Refunds will be processed by the CVBS Registrar after the symposium.

No refunds will be made for cancellations after November 1, 2024, or for no-shows. The CVBC reserves the right to cancel any event for any reason, and you will receive a full refund for any paid event we cancel.

Daily hot breakfasts are again available this year. In addition, box lunches, with a vegetarian option, are available for both Friday’s and Sunday’s field trips. Saturday buffet lunch will include soup, salad, sandwiches, and drinks. Friday and Saturday dinners will be served at the Stockton Hilton Hotel prior to the keynote speaker. Dinners will be served buffet style, and will include meat, chicken and vegetarian entrees. We try our best to accommodate special needs, but bringing your own food is the only way to be certain that your dietary requirements are not compromised. Please indicate on the registration form which meal(s) you would like to purchase. Meal prices are listed on the registration form.

For those of you not choosing to participate in the meals, there are several restaurants surrounding the Stockton Hilton Hotel to choose from.

Lodging is not included in the registration fee. Our venue, the Stockton Hilton Hotel, is providing a limited number of rooms at a discounted rate, so register early! Make reservations directly with the hotel by calling (209) 957-9090 and ask for the Central Valley Birding group rate (group code CVBS24). Click here for online Hilton reservations.

Symposium t-shirts and sweatshirts have always been a big hit. In an effort to offer a wider variety of styles and colors, we have transitioned our merchandise sales to an online vendor. Under the Merchandise section you will find the link to our online merchandise shop. From there you will be able to select the style, size, and color of your desired merchandise, and it will be shipped directly to you. Please refer to the Merchandise section for helpful tips on using this new online shop.

If you have questions regarding merchandise, please feel free to contact us at: CVBCmerch@gmail.com

In November, in the Central Valley, rain and fog are to be expected. In fact, anything except snow and high temperatures are possible. Participants should plan accordingly. Since conditions commonly change during the course of a day, it is usually best to be dressed in layers that can be shed or added as necessary.

Carpooling is encouraged, so be sure to start the day with a full tank of gas. Friday will be a long field day, so bring plenty of water, snacks and pack a lunch for the day. Due to the variation in weather conditions, participants should be well prepared. Dress in layers; bring an outer rainproof/windproof shell, wool gloves and caps, and perhaps a hat to shade the eyes. Good sturdy shoes are a must, and rubber knee boots may be useful for some areas.

Binoculars are essential, with spotting scopes useful to help optimize looks at distant waterfowl, raptors, shorebirds, or gulls. Please don’t forget your optic cleaning equipment. A daypack is desirable to carry your personal gear. Don’t forget a thermos of your favorite hot beverage!

Please judge your own limits for walking. For those birders that have limited mobility, please refer to the mobility rating that is listed with each field trip description.

For further information regarding field trips, please contact Cliff Hawley at yellowhammerca@gmail.com.

No matter what you are looking for, you are sure to find it at the Birding Nature Fair and Art Show located in the Stockton Hilton Hotel. We will have many vendors and artists from across the state selling their goods. The items will range from books & software, clothing, optics to fine arts and collectibles. Vendors are available to help you find that perfect birding gear, gift, or equipment. Open Friday & Saturday only…so don’t miss out!