Come join fellow WSO members in Two Rivers at the Lighthouse Inn and Conference Center right on Lake Michigan for our annual convention (May 17-19). Convention registration will run from March 1 to April 15. 

Check-in will begin at 3 pm on Friday, May 17, followed by a member appreciation indoor picnic at 5:30 pm. Starting at 7 pm, WSO will hold its annual awards ceremony.

For early birds, we are excited to offer a Birds ‘N Beers Social and Bird Trivia Contest – complete with complimentary appetizers and trivia prizes – at a local brew pub on the evening of Thursday the 16th.  Take advantage of this bonus birding time and come have fun with fellow bird nerds! Please register for this event if you plan to attend so we can prepare adequately.

On Saturday morning, a variety of field trips to local birding hotspots will leave from the Lighthouse Inn at staggered times.  Beginning at 2 pm, convention goers will enjoy presentations, followed by the annual WSO membership meeting. Social hour starts at 5pm, followed by a banquet dinner at 6:30 pm.   This year’s keynote speaker – Dr. Ben Zuckerberg – will speak at 7:30 pm. Zuckerberg, whose UW lab has found overwhelming evidence that wildlife populations are responding to modern climate change, will discuss how birds are responding to a warming world.

During the convention attendees will have the opportunity to bid on several silent auction offerings. Prior to and during the convention there will also be guided bird hikes and an Open House at the Woodland Dunes Nature Center.