NEXT STEPS FOR BIRDS

December 8: Keynote speaker Caroline Van Hemert, followed by discussions and science presentations. Early evening science and networking session.

December 9: Keynote speaker Nick Bayly, followed by discussions and science presentations. Early evening poster session.

December 10: Keynote speaker Chris Wood followed by discussions and science presentations. Early evening awards and closing comments.

December 11: eBird data workshops and other workshops. See the “Call for Workshops and Abstracts” page.

See the 2026 Program page for more details about the invited keynote speakers.

May 1 – Registration opens

May 1 – Call for Abstracts opens

August 1 – Abstracts due (authors notified by September 1)

August 1 – Student travel award applications due

October 1 – Pete Isleib Award nominations due

October 1 – Early bird registration ends

October 1 – Revised abstracts due

Many bird species face an uncertain future shaped by rapidly shifting environments. Additionally, the costs and logistics of accurately tracking the distribution and abundance of bird populations have risen and new methods have emerged but require additional evaluation. The composition and focus of many organizations that have traditionally studied and monitored bird populations have also significantly changed in recent years.

This year’s theme Next Steps for Birds focuses on the major changes affecting bird populations and the ways we monitor them, emphasizing both the challenges and opportunities ahead. We are planning for most conference sessions to explore three key areas: 

• Tracking the Distribution and Abundance of Birds in Alaska
• Conserving Alaska´s Long-distance Migrants in the Neotropics
• Changes in Funding and Focus

We welcome presentations on all topics relevant to Alaska birds, but are particularly interested in these three topics. Each day will begin with a plenary and continue with shorter presentations and a workshop aimed at developing concrete, actionable “next steps” for researchers, agencies, and the public on these topics. Outcomes will be summarized and shared on this website after the conference.

By bringing together a diverse community of knowledgeable, dedicated people, we aim to focus collectively on the near and distant future—on what is changing, what matters most, and what we can do right now. Our goal is to move beyond acknowledging problems and to center our conversations on concrete actions and achievable steps.

For thousands of years the Dena’ina have been and continue to be the stewards of this land. We respect and recognize the contributions and perspectives of the upper Cook Inlet Dena’ina.