Past Conventions

CFO Conventions have occurred since 1963 and are located throughout the state.

Group photo of 12 birders on a green high alpine slope. All have binoculars around their necks.
Happy birders during a high-alpine field trip at a CFO convention. Photo by Peter Burke.
Circular graphic with three Mississippi Kites, a Rock Wren, and a Northern Cardinal.

Lamar 2024

Dates: May 2-5, 2024

Venue: Historic Cow Palace

Keynote Address: Dallas May, May Ranch & Johnathan Reitz, CPW; Ranch Management while Maintaining a Sense of Balance and Harmony with Nature

eBird Trip Report: 215 species, 173 checklists

Group photo of 11 birders looking out over still water in a plains riparian habitat. Many birders have their binoculars raised to their eyes.
Birders on a convention field trip checking to see what migrants have ventured into a riparian corridor in southeastern Colorado. Photo by Don Marsh
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Summit County 2023 -
Joint WFO-CFO Convention

WDates: July 19-23, 2023

Venue: Copper Mountain Ski Resort

Keynote Address: Jessie Barry, Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Merlin- Sharing the Magic of Birds with the World

Plenary Address:  Chris, Wood, Cornell Lab of Ornithology; eBird Science to Conservation Action

eBird Trip Report: 176 species, 144 checklists

2023 Summit County Wrap Up news article.

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Pueblo 2022

Dates: May 19-23, 2022

Venue: Hampton Inn & Suites - North

Keynote Address: Michael Parr, American Bird Conservancy President; Bird Conservation Across the Americas

eBird Trip Report: 243 species, 179 checklists

 

Swallows at Lagerman Reservoir, Boulder County. Photo by Mike Patterson.

2020 & 2021

Conventions were not held in 2020 and 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

2019

Montrose 2019

Dates: June 13-17

Venue: Holiday Inn Express & Suites

Keynote Address: Nathan Pieplow, Earbirding.com; Birding by Ear

eBird Trip Report: 178 species, 205 checklists

2018

Longmont 2018

Dates: May 17-20

Venue: Best Western Plaza Hotel

Keynote Address: Scott Taylor, UC Boulder; Evolutionary Biology in Birds - Black-capped Chickadee Research

eBird Trip Report: 230 species, 173 checklists

2017

Steamboat Springs 2017

Dates: June 1-5

Venue: Colorado Mountain College

Keynote Address: Sheri Williamson; Hummingbirds: Small Wonders

eBird Trip Report: 119 species, 20 checklists

2016

Lamar 2016

Dates: May 5-9

Venue: Rodeway Inn - Cow Palace

Keynote Address: Garth Spellman, Denver Museum of Nature & Science; The Past, Present, and Future of Ornithology at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science

eBird Trip Report: 141 species, 18 checklists

Lamar 2016 CFO Convention Wrap Up news article

2015

Salida 2015

Dates: June 4-8

Venue: Gateway Inn & Suites

Keynote Address: Jeff Mitton, UC Boulder; A Naturalist's Interpretation of Interacting Species

eBird Trip Report: 121 species, 18 checklists

2014

Sterling 2014

Dates: Aug 28 - Sep 1

Venue: Ramada Inn

Keynote Address: Jon L. Dunn, Shorebirds in Colorado: When to Expect Them, & What to Look For

2013

Cortez 2013

Dates: May 16-19

Venue: Baymont Inn and Suites

Keynote Address: John Vanderpoel; Full Chase Mode: Highlights of a 2011 Big Year

The tall stately form and long needles (often over 15 cm long) at least three to a leaf fascicle distinguish west slope Ponderosa (var. ponderosa) from east slope Ponderosa.

Trinidad 2012

Dates: May 17-20

Venue: A. R. Mitchell Museum & Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites

Keynote Address: Brian D. Linkhart, Colorado College; Shedding Light on Climate Change Effects and Migration Patterns in Flammulated Owls

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Grand Junction 2011

Dates: May 20-23

Venue: Doubletree Hotel

Keynote Address: Jeff Gordon, American Birding Association; Ten Birds That Changed Birding