The 2025 Annual WFO Conference is only a few weeks away – there is still time to register! In partnership with the Washington Ornithological Society, this year’s conference will be held in Yakima, Washington, June 5–8. Visit the conference website for more information and to view the most up-to-date schedule and field trip options.

Conference Artwork and Merchandise  

This year’s conference artwork is by Dr. Jack DeLap, a professor, ecologist, and artist. The art features a Ferruginous Hawk and a Yellow-breasted Chat perched on a branch, with the beautiful varied habitats of Yakima visible behind them. Order a short or long-sleeve t-shirt or midweight hoodie here: WOS-WFO Joint Meeting 2025 Shirts.

Workshop and Keynote Sessions 

On Friday morning, Nathan Pieplow will lead a workshop titled Crossbills and Other Audio Arcana, diving into the baffling world of crossbill vocalizations. He will provide an introduction to the identification and ecology of North America’s Red Crossbill complex and tackle related issues in other finch species, including Evening Grosbeak and redpolls.

Saturday evening’s keynote presentation will be by Jeff Kozma, Timber, Fish and Wildlife (TWF) Wildlife Biologist with Yakama Nation Fisheries. His presentation, The Case for Umbrella Species Management, will explore the growing push to reduce the frequency of severe fires in dry forests—and whether these practices align with habitat needs for species like the White-headed Woodpecker. Drawing from years of research, Jeff will make the case that managing forests for an umbrella species, like the White-headed Woodpecker, can also provide fire-resilient forests and habitat for other dry forest-dependent species.  

Scholarships and Research Grants 

This year, WFO is honored to provide support for 10 students and 5 Mexican researchers to attend the conference.  

• Read about the scholarship recipients here: 2025 Student Scholarship Recipients

• Read about the Mexican researchers here: Connecting Through Birds: Mexican Scholars Join WFO Conference

In addition, this year WFO’s Research Grant program is supporting 10 students. Due to the significant reduction of federal funding for studies, the Board felt that increasing the number of research grants would be an important way to support students at this time. Thank you to our donors, whose generosity to the Scholarship Fund enabled this decision.  

• Read about the research grant recipients here: WFO Increases Support for Research in Ornithology

Field Trip Highlights 

This year, there is an incredible lineup of full- and half-day field trips to choose from, showcasing the rich avian diversity of central Washington. Many are within minutes of the conference center and are designed to maximize birding time while highlighting the unique habitats of the Yakima Valley. Up to 190 species of breeding birds and migrants are possible!  

Full-day trips like Sunnyside Wildlife Management Area and Toppenish National Wildlife Refuge provide superb opportunities to view riparian and marshland specialists. Both are among the few trips that guarantee shorebird sightings. At Sunnyside, expect to visit hotspots like Byron Ponds and scan for American Bitterns and Great Blue Herons. Toppenish NWR offers expansive marshes, open shrub-steppe views for hawks and eagles, and potential sightings of nesting Black-necked Stilts and American Avocets. 

For those looking to minimize driving time, the Yakima Greenway offers the best birding access within the city. This scenic, mostly paved trail runs alongside the Yakima River, where Wood Ducks nest and colonies of Red-winged and Yellow-headed Blackbirds thrive in marshy slack water areas. With a potential for spotting up to 70 species in June—including Sora, Virginia Rail, and late migrant songbirds—this walkable trip also skirts the lush Yakima Arboretum. 

Visit the conference website for the complete field trip schedule.  

No matter which you attend, these trips promise rewarding birding, rich habitats, and a deeper connection to avian ecology and conservation. 

We can’t wait to see you in Yakima!  

 

May 2025 | Lauren Smith, Newsletter Editor