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

News Release: Lights Out Wisconsin - ALERT!

Alicia King, Lights Out Wisconsin and Executive Director Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, 907-268-0124   Carol Wesley, Lights Out Wisconsin and Kickapoo Valley Dark Sky Initiative director, carolwjean124@gmail.com   Lights Out Alert forecast for tonight, May 11, across entire state Turn off outside lights overnight to save birds and sign up for reminders Scientists forecast... Read More   

News Release: International Dark Sky Week

  Brenna Marsicek, Lights Out Wisconsin and Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance, 608-255-2473  Alicia King, Lights Out Wisconsin and Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, 907-268-0124 International Dark Sky Week is for Wisconsin birds, fireflies, and people Madison, April 9, 2026 — The Lights Out Wisconsin coalition joins in the celebration of International Dark Sky Week (April 13-20,... Read More   

News Release: Grants Awarded by Wisconsin Society for Ornithology for Bird Conservation Efforts in Wisconsin

  News Release Alicia Frances King 907-268-0124 executive.director@wsobirds.org  https://www.wsobirds.org    Grants Awarded by Wisconsin Society for Ornithology for Bird Conservation Efforts in Wisconsin Madison, March 12, 2026 — The Wisconsin Society for Ornithology annually awards up to $3000 in grants for avian research and conservation efforts throughout... Read More   

News Release: Wisconsin Society for Ornithology Announcing 2026 Passenger Pigeon Award Winners

News Release Alicia Frances King 907-268-0124 executive.director@wsobirds.org  https://www.wsobirds.org    Wisconsin Society for Ornithology Announcing 2026 Passenger Pigeon Award Winners Recognizing outstanding achievements in advancing bird conservation   Madison, March 4, 2026 — Through the Passenger Pigeon Awards, the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology... Read More   

Lights Out Wisconsin for Friday night, Oct. 10, to save birds

  NEWS RELEASE Oct. 9, 2025 Lights Out Wisconsin for Friday night, Oct. 10, to save birds Contacts: Lisa Gaumnitz, Lights Out Wisconsin, lisa.gaumnitz@sossaveoursongbirds.org, 608-235-2201; and Brenna Marsicek, Lights Out Wisconsin, bmarsicek@swibirds.org, 608-255-2473     Extremely high levels of migrating birds are expected over Wisconsin Friday night, Oct. 10,... Read More   

News Release: Wisconsin Society for Ornithology seeks nominations for 2026 Passenger Pigeon Awards

                      Alicia Frances King 907-268-0124 executive.director@wsobirds.org https://wsobirds.org Madison, Sept. 18, 2025 — The Wisconsin Society for Ornithology Passenger Pigeon Award nomination period is open, and submissions will be accepted through December 31, 2025.  The Wisconsin Society for... Read More   

Join Our Team

Join Our Team - for the love of birds The Wisconsin Society for Ornithology seeks an administrative assistant to join the organization’s staff to assist with communications, publication distribution, membership, and business transactions. The Wisconsin Society for Ornithology is a nonprofit organization whose mission is promoting the enjoyment, study, and conservation of Wisconsin’s birds.... Read More   

2025 Kettle Moraine State Forest Northern Unit Field Trip

On Saturday, June 7, at 6:00 AM, 16 people met at the Zillmer Trail parking lot for the WSO’s Kettle Moraine State Forest – Northern Unit field trip. The weather was good, with partly cloudy skies, very light wind, and temperatures in the mid-60s. Our route for the day included: Auburn Lake Road, Jersey Flats Prairie Restoration Area, Haushalter Lane, Haskell Noyes Memorial... Read More   

WSO Mead Wildlife Area Field Trip Report

By Myles Hurlburt, WSO field trip committee This year’s outing was held, Saturday, April 19, 2025. The weather was a cool 37 degrees partly cloudy.  By the time we were done it reached 45 degrees. We had a total of 10 attendees from across the state.  The water levels were a little high on Smokey Hill Rd and Rangeline Rd. For some, this was their first visit to the Mead Wildlife... Read More   

Dane and Columbia County Ponds 2025 Field Trip Report

Thirteen of us met at Goose Pond on Saturday, March 22 at 7 AM, and were greeted with a nice spectacle of waterfowl – including about 400 TUNDRA SWANS swimming about on the west pond!  The morning was quite chilly, with a temperature of 26 degrees and a moderate north wind.  The sky was clear, but the early morning sunshine was doing little to warm us up. Field Trip Group... Read More   

Sheboygan Lakefront Field Trip 2025 Report

On Saturday, March 8, at 7:00 AM, our group gathered in Sheboygan near the Broughton Drive jetties, along the Lake Michigan shore.  The weather was not bad, with mostly clear skies and a starting temperature around 24 degrees. The recent rising temperatures were resulting in increasing bird song, and we were serenaded by RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, AMERICAN ROBINS, HOUSE... Read More   
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