What We Do

WSO Awards 2024

Photo Album from 2020 Awards It was quite a disappointment for all of us on the WSO board when we had to cancel our Annual Convention last May. We were hoping to hold a special gathering in the fall to recognize our Passenger Pigeon awardees, but by late August, as the number of COVID cases continued to rise, I knew there would be no special gathering, no pomp and... Read More

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WISBIRDN - Transition

WISBIRDN is an electronic discussion list principally focused on Wisconsin birds and birding. WSO is in the process of taking over administering WISBIRDN - a process which will be completed by the end of September 2021. In the meantime, please reference the original webpage for details on how to use the mailing list: http://www.portalscards.com/Wisbirdnupdate/ Please direct any... Read More

WSO Awards 2020

Checklist of Wisconsin Birds

Checklist of Wisconsin Birds This checklist contains all the valid species on the Wisconsin state list as of March 2025. Nomenclature and sequence follow the 65th supplement of the Checklist of North American Birds published by the Classification Committee of the American Ornithologists’ Union. Decisions regarding the inclusion of species on this list were made (or will be made) by the Records... Read More

Records

For many years, the scientific community accepted only those bird observations that could be substantiated by collected specimens. With the advancements in photographic equipment and technology, the criteria for rare bird documentation have been broadened beyond specimen records. Birders now make significant contributions to our knowledge of extralimital records, vagrancy patterns, and other... Read More

Issue Papers

Sandhill Crane Hunt WSO strives to alert members and the public to situations and practices that threaten Wisconsin’s bird populations. WSO provides the following information in the interest of educating its members as well as the general public regarding the possibility of a Sandhill Crane hunting season in Wisconsin. The Society recognizes that a major partner in our mission is the hunting... Read More

Conservation – Birding the Habitat Way

Birding the Habitat Way The entire series of Birding the Habitat Way is published in the WSO Passenger Pigeon archives, which is available on-line at the University of Wisconsin Digital Collections. Here are links to the articles in the series: Wisconsin’s bird habitats: Introducing a new series. M.J. Mossman and P.M. Matthiae. 1988. v. 50:43-53. Birds of wet-mesic and wet prairies in... Read More

Land Stewardship

WSO owns nearly 300 acres of important bird habitat in the state: 60 acres within the Buena Vista Prairie Chicken Management area of Portage County, and 267 acres in the Honey Creek valley of Sauk County. WSO’s ownership and sound management of these properties ensures their preservation for future generations. WSO has also conducted breeding bird inventories at Honey Creek and has recorded... Read More

Wisconsin Society for Ornithology provides opportunities for all people to enjoy resident and migratory birds while being a leading steward of and ambassador for Wisconsin birds. WSO sponsors birding field trips throughout the year, hosts an annual birding convention, publishes a quarterly journal and monthly newsletter, offers research grants, and serves as an informational resource center on... Read More

Youth Projects

The WSO Education Committee strives to further the appreciation of birds and bird-related issues among Wisconsin’s youth. We accomplish this by providing financial support to students wishing to pursue bird projects, as well as providing the tools and materials needed to study Wisconsin birds. We also highlight bird watching opportunities for youth in our monthly newsletter and on our events... Read More

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