The Washington Ornithological Society was chartered in 1988 to increase knowledge of the birds of Washington State and to enhance communication among all persons interested in those birds.
The 2026 election of WOS officers and board members will take place the week of September 20, 2026. The 2026 WOS slate is headlined by Dennis Paulson, candidate for WOS president. The three other officer candidates are returning incumbents. Three new board candidates are making their debut this year. In addition, the WOS Board is proposing three Bylaws amendments. Check out the pictures and candidate statements and proposed Bylaws changes on the 2026 WOS election page.
The 2026 Spring issue of the WOS newsletter begins with a recap of the successful WOS Hells Gate Annual Conference in Lewiston, Idaho by WOS Vice President Jon Isacoff, who organized field trips for the conference. The issue also describes a rare and rich type of wetland in eastern Okanogan County that produces a great abundance and diversity of birds. Steve Hampton, Andy Bankert and Alex Sowers tell us how a individual Asian Great Egret subspecies ended up on the Skagit River this spring. Bill Shelmerdine describes seeing what turned out to be the first-ever documented adult female Rufous x Anna’s hummingbird outside his kitchen window. And there is much, much more.
Check out the latest WOSNews: Issue #206..
WOS is on its summer hiatus. Monthly meetings, field trips and other WOS activities will resume in the fall. Board and officer elections take place in September. Information about candidates is generally available on this website in August. Monthly meetings will resume Monday night October 5, 2026. Information about the speaker and how to access the presentation online will be available on the Monthly Meetings page closer to the date.
The 2026 WOS Annual Conference held May 14-17, 2026 in Lewiston, Idaho has concluded — and was a big success, we hear. But it’s not too late to buy conference shirts at https://bonfire.com/wos-2026-hells-gate-conference.
The board of the Washington Ornithological Society has appointed Dr. Thomas Bancroft to fill a vacancy in the president position after the president elected by the membership in October resigned for personal reasons.
Tom is a writer and conservationist based in Seattle. He earned both his Ph.D. and M.A. in biology, specializing in ornithology, from the University of South Florida. From 1975 to 1997, Bancroft served as a research biologist focused on avian studies and bird conservation. Between 1997 and 2012, he held leadership positions at The Wilderness Society and National Audubon Society.
The WOS board has also appointed Dr. Jon Isacoff, professor of Environmental Studies and Sciences at Gonzaga University, as vice president. Jon served on the WOS board more than a decade ago and was also the chair of the Patrick Sullivan Young Birder Fund committee at one time.
Here in Washington State, Dr. Bancroft has contributed to numerous boards and advisory groups, including the Puget Sound Partnership Ecosystem Coordination Board, the Northwest Straits Commission advisory board, Audubon Washington, WOS, and the Mountaineers.
Presently, Tom dedicates his efforts to writing about nature and sharing his passion for the natural world through presentations, educational outreach, and field excursions. His first book, “Beyond the Wonder: An Ecologist’s View of Wild Alaska,” was published in 2024. His forthcoming work, “Marvelous Wings: Reflections on Birds of the Pacific Northwest,” will be released in May. His photography has appeared in publications including Audubon, Birding, American Birds, and Mountaineer Magazine, as well as in exhibits at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and the Burke Museum.
Go to WOS’s Monthly Meetings page for information on our fabulous monthly meeting programs. WOS members who live outside the Seattle area (or are on the road) can still attend using a computer, tablet or phone. It’s easy!
Our monthly meetings are being held via Zoom (no in-person attendance). They are open to all, as WOS invites everyone in the wider birding community to attend. Thanks to the generosity of our presenters, recordings of past programs are available at the following link to the WOS YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@washingtonornithologicalso7839/videos