News - Wisconsin Society for Ornithology

November Rare Birds: Ross’s Gull, Lewis’s Woodpecker top off exciting month

By Mark Korducki November started out quite mild but quickly turned to more seasonal temperatures with a few light snowfalls in some parts of the state. There was a pattern of strong westerly winds that can be conducive to bringing rarities to the state. Overall it was a good month of birding with some exciting finds. The highlight of the month was a Ross's Gull found Nov. 27... Read More

New cap, book available at WSO Store

By Dar Tiede WSO Store Manager WSO is pleased to announce two additions to our store offerings. Current inventory for each of these new items is limited to about 20 and restocking before Christmas is unlikely given current delivery times. We plan to restock these items during 2022 as needed. Please place your order as soon as possible for delivery before Christmas. We will do our... Read More

Flight Forward Campaign: Securing the Future of Wisconsin Brirds

The Wisconsin Society for Ornithology is a statewide organization with over 1,100 members that is dedicated to fostering a love of birds through research, conservation advocacy, and educational outreach. For more than 80 years the WSO has been the state’s go-to organization for the study of birds. Each year the WSO awards grants to researchers who are working diligently... Read More

WSO Conservation Committee Stewardship Fund, crane hunt, wildlife act, golf course are all on its radar

In an Oct. 17th report to the WSO Board of Directors, the Society’s Conservation Committee, chaired by Carl Schroeder, reported that is acting on or monitoring these issues: Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund: The KN Stewardship Fund was reauthorized for four years by the State Legislature and signed by the governor on July 8 at an annual funding level of $33.25 million. While this is less than... Read More

October Rare Birds: Breeding Barn Owls highlight otherwise slow (but warm) month

By Mark Korducki October continued the above normal temperature pattern we have seen throughout the year. At this point it has been the warmest autumn on record. Perhaps due to this mild weather, the birding was a bit slow from a rarity standpoint. The most exciting report came in from the western part of the state when Barn Owls were confirmed nesting for the first time in more than 20... Read More

WSO opposes state hunt of Sandhill Cranes

WSO administrative assistant Rebecca Gilman delivered this statement at an Oct. 19 hearing of the Wisconsin Senate Committee on Sporting Heritage, Small Business and Rural Issues: The Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, a statewide organization with over 1,100 members whose mission is to promote the study, enjoyment and conservation of Wisconsin’s birds, opposes Senate Bill 620. Sandhill... Read More

Bird Protection Fund Giving back to birds: NRF announces 2021 funding projects

By Caitlyn Schuchhardt Outreach Coordinator Natural Resource Foundation Photo courtesy of Grupo Quetzalli Canada Warblers captured in Nicaragua’s first constant effort mist-netting station in the Central Highlands. Madison -- Wisconsin’s love for birds flies high—and nowhere is that more apparent than in the results of the 2021 Great Wisconsin Birdathon, the annual fundraiser for the... Read More

Harrington Beach Hawk Watch 2021 – A Tale of Two Dates

By Tom Schultz and Adam Knueppel Sunday, October 3rd was the planned field trip date for our WSO Hawk Watch at Harrington Beach State Park (Ozaukee Co.), but unfortunately the weather was that morning not very conducive. About 12 people showed up at 8:00 AM, but there were nearly continuous rain showers. The wet weather, in combination with frequent lightning, made us decide... Read More

WSO comes to the rescue of WISBIRDN

Listserv gains a new owner - and some updates In late September, the Wisconsin Birding Network (WISBIRDN) mailing list transitioned to the ownership of the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology). All of the technical details were engineered by Tom Sykes, the longtime former list owner, and Sunil Gopalan, WSO vice president and web administrator. Gopalan and Sykes both issued email... Read More

Jaegerfest 2021: Report and Photos

By Tom Schultz Jaegerfest Report 2021 Although Jaegerfest 2021 was not an “official” WSO field trip again this year (due to COVID concerns, like the 2020 cancellation), quite a few birders made the trip to Wisconsin Point from September 16 to 19. There was a period on Saturday morning when there were roughly 70 birders present on the beach! Wendy and I arrived on Thursday morning... Read More

New era for WSO with hiring of director

On Monday, Oct. 4, Jennifer Lazewski of Wauwatosa, will begin work as WSO’s first executive director. Lazewski accepted a hiring offer from WSO President Mary Korkor and Vice President Sunil Gopalan after a unanimous vote by the Board of Directors to accept the recommendations of its search committee. That vote followed a virtual meet-and greet with Lazewski on Sept. 13. On Sept. 26, the... Read More

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