All attendees will get a packet that includes a personalized schedule with the activities they signed up for, a name badge, and other items related to the convention. These packets can be picked up at the Welcome Picnic or in the Cow Palace Lobby at the info table.

The convention programs will be digital-only in 2024. Please download your program and bring it on a digital device or print it out before the convention.

A note on gluten-free meals: Please note that The Cow Palace kitchen cannot guarantee a gluten-free environment and does not offer gluten-free options for any of the catered events. Some items may be naturally gluten-free but they will not label any items as gluten-free due to possible cross-contamination.

Breakfasts

Grab & Go breakfasts will be available to pick up each morning in the lobby. All breakfasts must be ordered when you register. Coffee and tea service will be available each morning.

Breakfast Bag - $14 - All breakfasts come with a choice of main and juice (cranberry, apple, or orange).

• Breakfast Burrito - egg, potato, cheese
• Breakfast Burrito - bacon, egg, potato, cheese
• Cinnamon Roll & Fruit
• Fruit & Yogurt Parfait

Lunches

Participants on all-day field trips will need to bring a lunch. Participants on half-day field trips may still wish to pack a lunch so that they can get to the start of the Science Session. Boxed lunches will be available to pick up each morning. All lunches must be ordered when you register.

Lunch Bag - $16 

Friday Lunch Options

• Poke Bowl - ahi tuna, white rice, edamame, slaw, sweet soy
• Garden Salad - lettuce; carrots; green onions; grape tomatoes; choice of ranch, bleu cheese or Italian dressing
• Hummus Wrap & Chips - feta, lettuce, red pepper hummus, carrot, cucumber
• Italian Sandwich & Chips - pepperoni, salami, ham, lettuce, cheese, Italian dressing
• Cobb Salad - lettuce, egg, bacon, cheese, chicken, green onion, ranch

Saturday Lunch Options

• Poke Bowl - ahi tuna, white rice, edamame, slaw, sweet soy
• Garden Salad - lettuce; carrots; green onions; grape tomatoes; choice of ranch, bleu cheese or Italian dressing
• Hummus Wrap & Chips - feta, lettuce, red pepper hummus, carrot, cucumber
• Chicken Caesar Salad - romaine, chicken, parmesan, croutons, Caesar dressing
• Turkey Club & Chips - turkey, bacon, cheese, lettuce, garlic mayo

Sunday Lunch Options

• Poke Bowl - ahi tuna, white rice, edamame, slaw, sweet soy
• Garden Salad - lettuce; carrots; green onions; grape tomatoes; choice of ranch, bleu cheese or Italian dressing
• Hummus Wrap & Chips - feta, lettuce, red pepper hummus, carrot, cucumber
• Chicken Caesar Wrap & Chips - chicken, lettuce, parmesan, croutons, caesar
• Beef Horseradish Wrap & Chips - shaved prime rib, cheese, lettuce, horsey mayo

Science Session

Come learn about what is happening with our local birds from avian researchers working across Colorado. The scientific session will be held on Saturday afternoon.  All convention registrants are welcome to attend.

Presentation Guidelines

Oral presentations should reflect original research or summarize existing unpublished information and should be presented in a manner that will interest both serious amateur and professional field ornithologists. All researchers, including students, are encouraged to present.

Talks relating to the following themes are solicited:

• Status, distribution, migration, and population dynamics of birds
• Systematics and biogeography of birds
• Ecology, behavior, and evolution of birds
• New information on avian field identification problems
• Science-based conservation and management of birds
• Techniques for field study of birds, including censusing, monitoring, and other methods; and results of studies applying such techniques.

All talks should identify study objectives, describe methods and data analysis, present results, discuss the significance of the research, and propose future research directions. Oral presentations will be allotted 15 minutes, including 3 minutes for questions and discussion.

Abstract Submission

The deadline is extended to 31 March 2024.

We invite abstracts for presentations to be given during the scientific session on Saturday, May 4th from 1-2:30 pm.

Abstracts should be 200-250 words and include a title, name of presenter(s), affiliation, email address, and a picture if possible. Presentation abstract submissions must be received by February 28th, 2024 for consideration at grants@cobirds.org .

The Convention Banquet and Annual Meeting is a ticketed event – be sure to purchase your ticket, and choose your main course, when you complete your registration. There will be a no-host bar before and during the banquet.

A note on gluten-free meals: Please note that The Cow Palace kitchen cannot guarantee a gluten-free environment and does not offer gluten-free options for any of the catered events. Some items may be naturally gluten-free but they will not label any items as gluten-free due to possible cross-contamination.

Menu

Fajita Taco Bar

Build your own pork or chicken tacos on flour tortillas. Top them with beans, mixed peppers and onions, sour cream, cheese, pico de gallo, guacamole, and Morita chile salsa. 

Butternut Squash Enchiladas (vegetarian) 

This meal will be individually plated.

Veggie Linguine with Lemon Caper Cream Sauce (vegetarian)

This meal will be individually plated.

Chef’s Choice (vegan)

A vegan option is available and will be Chef’s Choice on the day of the banquet. This meal will be individually plated.

Dessert

All meals will end with a dessert of your choice: bread pudding with whiskey caramel sauce or a brownie.

Order your exclusive convention shirt or a CFO hat with your registration! The convention art featured on the shirts is the work of Radeaux and portrays species that are found in Colorado only in the Lamar area.

All shirts must be purchased when you register.

Short sleeve shirt (unisex) in black - $20
Short sleeve shirt (v-neck) in black - $20
Long sleeve shirt (unisex) in royal blue - $25
CFO logo hats in tan - $25

The Historic Cow Palace Inn

The convention will be held at the newly renovated Historic Cow Palace Inn. The Cow Palace is a stone’s throw from the Arkansas River, you can bird even when not on a field trip.

All rooms at the Cow Palace Inn have now been booked. We list other Lamar hotels near the Cow Palace below.

Cow Palace Cancelation Policy

To cancel a reservation, please call the Historic Cow Palace Inn at 719-691-6167.

• Reservations are fully refundable 48 hours prior to check-in.
• Reservations canceled 1 to 12 hours prior to check-in will be credited towards a future stay of equal or lesser value.

Additional Information From Hotel

• Check-in time: 3:00 p.m. We’ll be ready for you.
• Check-out time: 12:00 p.m. Seize the day, friend!
• Breathe easy. Historic Cow Palace Inn is a non-smoking property. This applies to both traditional smoking methods and all electronic delivery systems, including vapes, vaporizers, vape pens, hookah pens, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes or e-cigs), e-pipes, and any variations of the foregoing regardless of the product’s name. Any smoking in the rooms or strong lingering smoking scents in rooms will result in a disappointed look and a $300 room cleaning fee.

Other Hotel Options

Cobblestone Hotel and Suites

On same side of highway and across the parking lot from Cow Palace
1215 N. Main Street, Lamar; website; 888-693-8262

Days Inn

Across highway from Cow Palace
1302 N. Main Street, Lamar; website

Holiday Inn

Across highway from Cow Palace
1304 N. Main Street, Lamar; website; 888-465-4329

Quality Inn

Across highway from Cow Palace
1202 N. Main Street, Lamar; website; 719-336-3427

Camping

There are camping options in or near Lamar. Most require reservations.

• There are several RV campgrounds in and around Lamar.
• John Martin Reservoir State Park - Point or Lake Hasty Campgrounds

Note that recent changes to SWA regulations and dispersed camping regulations may impact local areas. If you are looking for dispersed camping options, get information from the land managing agency. Don't just go based on someone's blog post!

All participants in the CFO 2024 convention are expected to:

• Abide by the CFO Code of Conduct
• Comply with the directions of the event leaders

Participants on 2024 Convention field trips are expected to:

• Stay with the group.
• Notify the trip leader and the driver of the vehicle in which I am riding, if carpooling, of any plans to leave the group.
• Make sure all carpool participants are in the vehicle when we leave any destination.
• Not undertake any endeavor that would endanger my health, or the health of others, as I know it.
• Observe all applicable rules of conduct, policy, regulation and law, whether on public or private lands.
• Adhere to the American Birding Association Code of Birding Ethics.

Safety Terms and Conditions

Staying Home When Appropriate

• Attendees should stay home if they have tested positive for COVID or are showing symptoms of COVID
• Monitor your health if you have had close contact with a person who had symptoms within the last 14 days

Hand Hygiene and Respiratory Etiquette

• Frequent hand washing for 20 seconds to ensure safety. Please cover your face when coughing or sneezing

Masks

• Wearing a mask during Convention events is not mandatory
• Masks are meant to protect other people in case the wearer is unknowingly infected and has no symptoms. Please be cognizant of the health and safety concerns of others with whom you are participating in a shared event.

Non-smoking policy

Smoking is not permitted at any time or any place during the 2024 Convention, including field trips.

Pet Policy

No pets (other than service animals) are allowed during convention events, including field trips, workshops, socials, banquet, and science session.

Cancellation Refund Policy

CFO must receive written notification of registration cancellation on or by April 15th to receive a full refund. Deadlines for partial refunds for registration cancellation or modifications are April 20th (80% of total order) and April 25th (50% of total order).