2026 “Hells Gate” WOS Annual Conference-Lewiston, ID
The Hells Canyon Grand Hotel at 621 21st Street, Lewiston, ID 83501 is the conference hotel.
The 2026 Washington Ornithological Society Annual Conference features two evening programs at the conference hotel: a “Stump the Experts” quiz following Friday night’s heavy appetizers buffet and a keynote talk following the Saturday night banquet. (See the Friday and Saturday evening schedules below.) Both programs as well as the meals will take place in the hotel’s Warrior Ballroom.
Keynote talk Saturday night: Michael Schroeder
Keynote Speaker Michael Schroeder will share his research on the White-tailed Ptarmigan, a small grouse found in Washington’s alpine areas.
Michael Schroeder received his Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Ecology from Texas A&M University, his Master of Science degree in Wildlife Biology from the University of Alberta for research on Spruce Grouse, and his Doctor of Philosophy from Colorado State University for research on Greater Prairie-Chickens.
Mike is a Certified Wildlife Biologist who has pursued research and management of grouse since 1981. He joined the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife in 1992 as a research scientist and has continued to focus most of his activities on the biology and management of grouse. His focal species include Sharp-tailed Grouse, Greater Sage-Grouse, and White-tailed Ptarmigan. He has been an author on approximately 90 peer-reviewed publications with the vast majority on grouse. Mike’s seminal research on Washington’s White-tailed Ptarmigan has contributed to the understanding of its classification and status.
Friday photo quiz: Shep Thorp and Dennis Paulson
On Friday, the “Stump the Experts” quiz will be led by longtime WOS volunteer Shep Thorp and Dennis Paulson, WOS pioneer and winner of WOS’s Zella M. Schultz Lifetime Achievement Award for “extraordinary service to the birding community of Washington State.”
Please join us all for this interesting, challenging and fun event! Dennis, a retired University of Puget Sound professor and former director of the Slater Museum, is a fount of information in many areas of natural history, particularly birds and odonates (dragonflies and damselflies). He has given numerous talks for bird groups, and each year for this meeting, he pulls a collection of his photographs to test our identification skills. Come, it is great fun. Dr. Shep Thorp is a Master Birder and veterinarian from Tacoma. He will facilitate this experience. Current WOS President Thomas Bancroft still remembers a juvenile European Starling in the 2017 conference that stumped the entire audience!
Friday evening schedule – Warrior Ballroom
5 p.m. – Social Hour with no-host bar for all conference attendees
6 p.m. – Heavy appetizer buffet
7 p.m. – “Stump the Experts” quiz with Shep Thorp and Dennis Paulson
Saturday evening schedule – Warrior Ballroom
5 p.m. – Social Hour with no-host bar for all conference attendees
6 p.m. – Buffet dinner
6:30 p.m. – WOS Annual Business & Awards Meeting
7 p.m. – Keynote Talk by Michael Schroeder