I'm on the board of Western Field Ornithologists. One of my goals is to
significantly increase participation in the society overall, especially by
students. And, right now I'm reaching out to encourage those who can to
join the annual *conference*
<https://westernfieldornithologists.org/conference/> this year which is in
a GREAT place - Ashland Oregon - in partnership with Klamath Bird
Observatory and Oregon Birding Association.
Why attend? Well, there will be:
- *Expert-led field trips* to premier southern Oregon habitats
- *Science sessions *featuring cutting-edge research and regional studies
- *Skills workshops *and panels to sharpen your identification, field
techniques, and scientific literacy
- *Signature events*, including the high-energy Sound ID Challenge with
Nathan Pieplow
- *Community gatherings*, receptions, and a special 50th-anniversary
banquet
And, it's an opportunity to:
- *Deepen your knowledge* – Learn from leaders in western ornithology
through focused talks, panels, and research presentations.
- *Bird a premier region* – Explore wetlands, oak savannahs, mixed
conifer forests, and montane meadows at the height of fall migration.
- *Connect with the community* – Build relationships with fellow
ornithologists, expert trip leaders, and next-generation birders.
- *Sharpen your skills* – Improve visual and sound ID, photography, molt
interpretation, and field methods through hands-on workshops.
- *Celebrate a milestone* – Be part of WFO’s 50th conference—our biggest
celebration of birds, science, and community to date.
I'm particularly interested in encouraging students, as well as
professionals to present projects or research they are working on at the
science sessions. This is a great meeting to share your work with what is a
blended audience of avid birders, amateur ornithologists and
professionals, including a growing contingent of students and professionals
from Mexico. It's also a relatively low barrier, low stress way to present
work to a very receptive audience and practice for other meetings as well.
This meeting (*and the journal*
<https://westernfieldornithologists.org/publications/journal/>) is also a
way to get your work and ideas out there that you might otherwise not have
a venue for. This is a particularly good venue for undergraduate and
graduate students doing projects in ornithology to get experience
organizing and presenting their work. So, please share with your networks.
Overall, it's a great event for everyone with lots of opportunity to
connect with avid birders and professionals from all across the west
Registration will open soon and the hotel rooms with group rate are already
open, so get one before it's too late.
