San Diego's 'Bird Wizard' Retires After 50 Years at Natural History Museum

Phil Unitt, the museum's curator of birds and mammals, reflects on a lifetime of studying and preserving San Diego's winged creatures.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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After 50 years at the San Diego Natural History Museum, Phil Unitt, the museum's curator of birds and mammals, has retired. Unitt, known as the 'Bird Wizard,' has dedicated his career to studying and preserving the diverse bird species found in San Diego County, creating the first 'Bird Atlas' for the region and inspiring generations of naturalists.

Why it matters

Unitt's retirement marks the end of an era for the San Diego Natural History Museum and the local scientific community. His work has not only expanded our understanding of San Diego's avian biodiversity, but also fostered a deeper connection between the public and the natural world through hands-on experiences and educational outreach.

The details

Unitt began volunteering at the museum at age 17 and eventually became the department's top role as curator of birds and mammals and chair of ornithology. During his tenure, he created the first 'Bird Atlas' for San Diego County, a comprehensive survey that required hundreds of volunteers to document over 500 bird species across the region. Unitt's expertise also led to the discovery of a previously unknown species of bird dining on the fruits of elephant trees.

  • Unitt began volunteering at the San Diego Natural History Museum in 1974.
  • Unitt retired from the museum in 2026.

The players

Phil Unitt

The recently retired curator of birds and mammals at the San Diego Natural History Museum, known as the 'Bird Wizard' for his extensive knowledge and expertise in local avian species.

Lori Hargrove

An ecologist at the San Diego Natural History Museum who was inspired by Unitt's work to pursue a PhD.

Joe Jehl

Unitt's predecessor as the museum's ornithology expert, who introduced him to the art of specimen preparation.

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What they’re saying

“Sometimes it will pick up a bird I just didn't hear. Other times, people will show me what the app identified by recording its song, and it's just nonsense.”

— Phil Unitt, Curator of Birds and Mammals, San Diego Natural History Museum (Voice of San Diego)

“Phil was so inspirational to me that I went back to graduate school and got a PhD.”

— Lori Hargrove, Ecologist, San Diego Natural History Museum (Voice of San Diego)

“The scientific legacy of this is huge, but the human legacy is just as important. All the people who participated strengthened their skills and made connections with each other. They looked at birds in a different way than they had before.”

— Phil Unitt, Curator of Birds and Mammals, San Diego Natural History Museum (Voice of San Diego)

What’s next

The San Diego Natural History Museum is expected to begin the process of finding a new curator of birds and mammals to continue Unitt's legacy of research and public engagement.

The takeaway

Unitt's retirement marks the end of an era for the San Diego Natural History Museum, but his decades of work have left an indelible mark on the city's scientific community and public understanding of local wildlife. His hands-on approach and emphasis on fostering connections between people and nature serve as a model for future generations of naturalists and museum curators.