Spread your wings and join our volunteer teams!
The Wisconsin Society for Ornithology is a non-profit state-wide organization. Thanks to the efforts of our dedicated volunteers, the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology has celebrated many accomplishments during our almost 90-year history. These accomplishments include coordinating the first and second Wisconsin Breeding Bird Atlases, preserving and managing critical bird habitat on our Honey Creek Nature Preserve, producing regular publications, leading educational field trips, having the UnConvention and an annual convention, and inspiring generations of people to study, enjoy, and conserve Wisconsin’s birds.
We invite you to join us, for the love of birds, lend your talents, and learn more about Wisconsin’s birds and their conservation! We have a variety of options available for volunteering with the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology. Of our committees, one can be right for you!
Awards Committee – Under the chairmanship of Wendy Schultz, this committee selects the nominations for Wisconsin Society for Ornithology awards. These are presented at the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology annual convention.
Executive Committee – The executive committee shall consist of the five officers of the Corporation. These are nominated and voted on at the board level.
Finance Committee – Support for the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology treasurer. Helping with treasurer reports and finding creative ways to grow our organization’s financial abilities. Have some financial skills you want to share for the love of birds? This may be the committee for you.
Governance Committee – Members of the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology Board of Directors shall be elected for a term of three years. All directors, including officers, shall be members of the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology. Board shall meet no less than quarterly at a time and place to be determined by the Board. A minimum of 15 days’ written notice of such meetings shall be made to the directors. The Board shall meet in conjunction with the annual meeting and convention of the Corporation.
Records Committee - Validate records of birds found in the State of Wisconsin. Maintain permanently the original bird records and all Committee votes and comments for use by future students and provide a means by which sight records can gain universal acceptance as valuable scientific data.
Development Committee – This committee works on – well the development of the organization to find cool ways to grow our organization.
Conservation Committee – keep the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology Board and membership informed of important conservation issues that develop throughout the state, plus elsewhere when deemed necessary. Express official Wisconsin Society for Ornithology opinions on various conservation matters, when deemed necessary by the Board, via letters, testifying, etc.
Communication Team – This team works to coordinate messages and issues of importance to the enjoyment, study, and conservation of birds. The team coordinates with the Badger Bird and Passenger Pigeon editors to contribute stories and ideas for the publications.
Field Trip Committee – Set up annual schedule of field trips and campouts and arrange for competent leadership. Some field trips may be hosted by a bird club or individuals who are more familiar with the local area. If you are interested, complete the form.
Nominating Committee – to be appointed by the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology President no later than 60 days before the Annual Meeting to be held in May 2026. Please fill out the volunteer for and contact Lynn Barber at president@wsobirds.org if you are interested in serving on the board.
Convention Planning Committee – Annual Convention and UnConvention and other meetings and other events. This committee gets to have lots of fun planning the various meetings and events of the organization! Like to come up with creative ideas or have thoughts about fun speakers? Work on planning the annual conference and select appropriate locations for future annual conventions. The committee handles convention tasks like the silent auction, field trips, meal planning, speaker selections.
Honey Creek Committee – this committee is keen on working on the habitat management plan for Honey Creek Nature Preserve. There are a lot of ideas for education opportunities and habitat management for the property.
Publications – Contributing Writers – Badger Birder and Passenger Pigeon
We welcome articles from members, non-members, and partnering organizations for our monthly newsletter and quarterly journal.
- If you are interested in writing for the monthly newsletter, please contact editor Carl Schwartz at BadgerBirder@wsobirds.org.
- If you are interested in writing for our quarterly journal, please contact Carl Schroeder at passengerpigeon@wsobirds.org.
If you are interested in any of these opportunities or would like to help out in any other way, please take a few minutes to fill out our volunteer interest form below.