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Promoting the enjoyment, study, and conservation of Wisconsin's birds.

Late Summer Rare Birds: An exciting time with Wood Stork, Snowy Plover, Red Knots

By Mark Korducki The dog days of summer produced a number of exciting bird sightings. DNR biologist Ryan Brady shared this image of a Wood Stork photographed in Rusk County on July 7.  The bird was present at a private residence for about 30 minutes near dusk, flew off, and was not seen again. A Wood Stork was photographed in Rusk County.  Surprisingly there are five previous... Read More   

WSO launches regional coordinator program

WSO is launching a program to strengthen its statewide presence, increase the diversity of our membership and build a more unified advocacy network for birds and birding.  The newly minted Regional Coordinator Program hopes to recruit talented and passionate volunteers from all 72 counties to serve as regional liaisons to WSO. Our roster of volunteers is growing every day.  It already... Read More   

WSO recruiting editors for its key publications

The Wisconsin Society for Ornithology is a volunteer, non-profit organization. Thanks to the efforts of our dedicated volunteers, WSO has celebrated many accomplishments during our 80-year history, including coordinating the first and second Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlases, preserving and managing critical bird habitat on our Honey Creek Preserve and inspiring generations of people to study,... Read More   

2022 WSO Convention: Save the Date!

Mark your calendars for the 2022 WSO Convention! “Great Birding on a Great Lake!”May 19-22, 2022 Sepia Chapel in Two Rivershttps://sepia-chapel-two-rivers.business.site/ The same great event that was planned for 2020 will be offered in Two Rivers from Thursday through Sunday, May 19-22, 2022. Please join us for a fun-filled weekend of field trips, social events, award ceremonies and... Read More   

State Coalition to Support Recovering America’s Wildlife Act

A diverse group of wildlife, environmental and sporting conservation organizations have formed the Wisconsin Coalition for Recovering America’s Wildlife Act and are calling on members of Congress to support federal legislation to increase funding that would benefit a variety of species and habitats. More than 30 groups – including WSO -- already participate in the new coalition and they... Read More   

Bah on Birds: The Great Egret

By Mariama Bah, age 14 Hello and welcome to “Bah on Birds.” I’m Mariama Bah, author of “Bah on Birds” and a volunteer for the Wisconsin Society of Ornithology. In my free time, I like to crochet, read books, and learn new things, which is why I joined the WSO. What I hope to accomplish with my volunteer work is to educate people about the endangered and threatened birds of Wisconsin... Read More   

Summer Rare Birds Report: Mega-Rare Arctic Loon Spotted in Bayfield County

By Mark Korducki Early summer is a great time to find vagrants in Bayfield County at the tail end of spring migration.   In the recent past, birders have found some amazing birds including Sage Thrasher and Tropical Kingbird.  On Memorial Day, a group of birders discovered a loon out on Lake Superior.  After careful study they photographed what will likely be accepted as the... Read More   

Meet the Northern Goshawk in "Eyes on the Hawk"

In Wisconsin, the Northern Goshawk is a secretive raptor, rarely-encountered. Yet it nests throughout our northern counties, its meager population waxing and then waning during its regular prey cycles.  Learn more about this fascinating bird from Ornithologist Thomas Erdman, who leads us deep into the woods for a closer look at this powerful accipiter in our newest WSO Bird TV video, “Eyes... Read More   

Bah on Birds: The Piping Plover

THE PIPING PLOVER By: Mariama Bah, who will be entering the 9th grade in the fall and is a reporter for Simpson Street Free Press Hello and welcome to “Bah on Birds.” I’m Mariama Bah, author of “Bah on Birds” and a volunteer for the Wisconsin Society of Ornithology. In my free time, I like to crochet, read books, and learn new things, which is why I joined the WSO. What I hope to... Read More   

WSO Seeks Executive Director

The Wisconsin Society for Ornithology (WSO) is pleased to announce we have begun a search for our first ever Executive Director.  Who we are and what we do: The WSO is the state's leading volunteer membership organization dedicated to promoting the enjoyment, study, and conservation of Wisconsin's birds. The WSO seeks to hire an Executive Director (ED) to assist the Board of Directors... Read More   

Proposed Granite Peak Ski Area Expansion Threatens Acadian Flycatcher Population

The WSO Conservation Committee is urging members to say no to the proposed expansion of the Granite Peak Ski Area at Rib Mountain State Park.  Located near Wausau, WI, Rib Mountain is home to nesting Acadian Flycatchers.  This is one of the few sites in northern Wisconsin to host this state-threatened bird. The Wisconsin DNR is currently accepting public input on the proposed... Read More