NEXT STEPS FOR BIRDS

December 8: Keynote speaker in the morning, followed by 15-minute talks in the morning and discussion sessions in the afternoon. Early evening networking session.

December 9: Keynote speaker in the morning, followed by 15-minute talks in the morning and discussion sessions in the afternoon. Early evening poster session.

December 10: Keynote speaker in the morning, followed by 15-minute talks in the morning and discussion sessions in the afternoon. Early evening awards and closing comments.

December 11: Workshops. More information soon.

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. Conference sessions—including plenaries, talks, posters, and group discussions—will explore four 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
• Enhancing Public Outreach on Birds

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. Outcomes will be synthesized across themes 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.

We encourage all attendees to consider the theme of ‘Next Steps’ when preparing talks and posters. Please show the ornithological community and the public how your research, conservation, and outreach activities are helping us bring birds back.

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.