Wisconsin Society for Ornithology UnConvention 2026

In partnership with Driftless Area Land Conservancy

Wintergreen – Wintergreen Nature Preserve – Driftless Area Land Conservancy (5320 Hwy County C, Spring Green, WI 53533)

Saturday, October 17, 2026

Grassland Birds – Habits & Habitats

Grassland birds like meadowlarks, bobolinks, dickcissels, Henslow’s Sparrows, and upland sandpipers have declined steeply in North America — down 43% — since 1970 according to the U.S. Committee of the North American Bird Conservation Initiative.

Every year we, along with our partners, provide an overview of the amazing activities that are happening in Wisconsin related to the world of bird study, enjoyment, and conservation.

Research poster presentations

We are excited to host a research poster session at the UnConvention, this year! We invite student researchers to submit a poster proposal to the executive director, Alicia King, at executive.director@wsobirds.org for review. Submissions must be received by September 15, 2026 (11:59 p.m. CST). Accepted poster presentations will be notified by October 1, 2026.

Agenda

8 a.m. Optional field trip – Audubon's Conservation Ranching Program Six Sons Farm

9:30 Travel to Wintergreen

10 a.m. Welcome coffee

10:15 a.m. Introductions/Hands on Activity

10:45 a.m. Grassland Birds 101 – the big picture. David Sample

11:15 a.m. Atlas II and Grassland Birds – What’s the connection? Tom Prestby, Wisconsin Conservation Manager, Audubon Great Lakes

11:45 a.m. Where are the grassland birds? Their haunts in Wisconsin. Steve Holzman, President Wisconsin Society for Ornithology

12:15 p.m. Lunch

1 p.m. “Grazing for the Birds” Krysten Zummo, AWB Range Ecologist, National Audubon Society

1:30 p.m. “Activating Superpowers: The Southern Driftless Grasslands Partnership”, Andy Bingle Southern Driftless Grasslands Partnership Coordinator

2 p.m. TBD (potential student presentation)

2:30 p.m. Break

3 p.m. Seeking Safe Havens: How Grassland Birds Can Persist in a Warming World, Benjamin Zuckerberg

3:30 p.m. “The Fieldcraft, Composition, and Mechanics of Bird Photography”, Joe Luedtke

4 p.m. Ending comments

4:15 p.m. Close UnConvention

Happy Hour

Registration is open until October 14!