DVOC Banquet 2025 - featuring speaker Jason Hall

It's that magical time of year again... banquet season!

Join us on Friday, November 14th, 2025 at 6:30pm for a tasty buffet-style dinner and presentation by Jason Hall, founder of the In Color Birding Club. Jason will cover his observations of the birding landscape before 2020 and the progress we've made since. It will include enjoyable bird sightings, the establishment of organizations, and some of the iconic birds in our region. He will then discuss the potential future direction for Philadelphia, arguably the greatest birding city in North America.

Please note this year's event is on a Friday night!

Where: 1301 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19147
When: Friday, November 14th at 6:30 pm
Tickets: $59

Schedule:
6:30pm: Cocktail Hour with Cash Bar
7:30pm: Buffet-Style Dinner & Presentation by speaker Jason Hall

Where do we go from here? The Future of the Philly Birding Scene

Speaker: Jason Hall
Join Philly area birder and founder of the In Color Birding Club to hear about Jason's observations of the birding landscape before 2020 and the progress we've made since. It will include enjoyable bird sightings, the establishment of organizations, and some of the iconic birds in our region. He will then discuss the potential future direction for Philadelphia, arguably the greatest birding city in North America.

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Jason started birding in the previous century and considers himself an "elder" millennial birder. He first was introduced to the activity in a high school Environmental Science course. A native of California and an adopted son of Philly, Jason has birded many regions all over the US and Virgin Islands. In his day job as a Vaccine Scientist, Jason has had to travel to many countries where he has also enjoyed birding on his off days. Many weekends were spent birding in the Atlantic Forests of Brazil, the countryside of Istanbul, the dark forests of Germany, the coasts and mountains of Ireland, and the open farmlands of The Netherlands. If there are birds there, Jason is going to do his best to go see and learn about them.

In 2021, Jason founded the In Color Birding Club, in order to open the activity of birding to as many communities as possible. In particular, ICBC focuses on opening birding and bird conservation to Black and brown communities in the Philadelphia area. To date they have run about 30 outings per year in the region including many for 10-100 groups of students at a time. Jason focuses on ensuring EVERYONE gets on the bird and finds that "bird joy" regardless of who they are and where they come from.

Menu (Buffet-Style)

Garden Salad (v)

Entrees:
Vegetarian Puff Pastry stuffed with eggplant, onions, peppers, spinach, potatoes, and carrots (v)
Chicken Marsala with frizzled onions

Sides:
Oven Roasted Herb Crusted Baby Potatoes (v)
Vegetable Medley with Broccoli, Cauliflower, Carrots (v)

Dessert:
Fresh Baked Brownie with Berries
(v) = vegan

All are welcome.
Questions? Email banquet@dvoc.org

Where: Sheet Metal Workers International Association, 1301 S Christopher Columbus Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19147, USA
When: November 21st at 6.30pm

Join us for another year of food and fun at our Annual Banquet & Art Show! This year's event will feature ABA President Jeff Gordon as our speaker. All are welcome to attend, and artists of all levels are encouraged to bring an original piece to display in the pop-up art show. Questions? DVOCbanquet@gmail.com.

Can't attend? Donate tickets instead.

Speaker: Jeff Gordon
It’s Too Late to Stop Now: Sharing the Gospel of Birding in the 21st Century

The American Birding Association, founded in 1969, is celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2019. Join ABA President Jeffrey Gordon for a celebration of the power of birding to heal and transform, not only our own lives but even our world.

Jeff will share some of the highlights of the ABA’s first half century and from his own 40+ years as a birder. But most of all, he will talk about the path to 2069 and how we advance boldly toward making the world a better place for the birds and birders who will follow us.

Join us for a humorous, heartfelt, and opinionated look at the joys, virtues and occasional frustrations of a life spent birding, the road we’ve traveled together, and what lies ahead.

Jeffrey Gordon is the president of the American Birding Association, a position he has held since late 2010. Jeff is also a well-known writer, photographer, tour leader, and naturalist. He is a frequent speaker and field trip leader at various birding and nature festivals. He is a DVOC member and has helped support Bird Philly as a rider on our World Series of Birding team. For more information on the ABA and on Jeff, visit www.aba.org

Speaker: Kevin Karlson & Pete Dunne
"BIRDS OF PREY”
Kevin Karlson and Pete Dunne will provide a visually stunning program that reflects the mood and content of a new book (Birds of Prey) by Pete Dunne and Kevin Karlson (April 2017, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers). The show starts with a video introduction by Pete, and then Pete’s recorded words explain the concept of the book as images of raptors are shown. All the raptor groups are then briefly presented by Kevin, with images from the book and special stories about birds of prey shared. A special musical ending highlights some of the most spectacular raptor images ever assembled by 19 top North American photographers. Kevin will be available to sign copies of their newly released book (April, 2016, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishers, Boston MA)

DVOC Members and Non-Members – Everyone Welcome – Bring Guests!!

Menu

Select one from 4 Menu Options:

1. Herb-Stuffed Chicken w/ Mango and Fire-Roasted Red Peppers
2. Fresh Grilled Vegetable Plate w/ Eggplant, Peppers, and Asparagus (Vegan)
3. Roast Beef
4. Blackened Ginger Catfish

Includes Mixed Green Salad w/ Champagne Vinaigrette, Herb-Roasted Potatoes,
Grilled Broccolini, and Mango Mousse Cake w/ Berries or Vegan Fruit Plate

Cash bar is available

Parking is free.

Get Tickets

If you cannot pay by PayPal, please contact dvocbanquet@gmail.com to arrange alternate forms of payment. You can still submit the form above to record your menu choices and then exit out of the PayPal page.

If you would rather submit a paper form, you can download it here and send it along with a check to the address provided in the form.

The Witmer Stone Award, the Julian K. Potter Award and the Rosalie Edge Conservation Award are presented at the annual banquet.

Lauren Diamond - Chairperson (dvocbanquet@gmail.com)
Anita Guris
Bernice Koplin
Brittany Stewart

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