A Joint Conference of the Western Field Ornithologists and Washington Ornithological Society
Yakima, WA 5–8 June 2025
Workshop: Crossbills and Other Audio Arcana
Speaker: Professor Nathan Pieplow, University of Colorado
Date: Friday, June 6, 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
What is a crossbill call type? Will Red Crossbill be split into 11 more species in North America (and dozens more globally)? Is Cassia Crossbill a real species? How can ordinary birders understand and identify the subpopulations of these maddeningly complex birds?
In this workshop, Nathan Pieplow will provide a thorough introduction to the identification and ecology of North America’s Red Crossbill complex. The workshop will also tackle related issues in other species of finch, including Evening Grosbeak and redpolls.
Participants should be able to use their newfound knowledge on subsequent WFO convention field trips in the crossbill-rich Yakima region.
Keynote: Balancing Dry Forest Management and Wildlife Habitat
Speaker: Jeff Kozma, TFW Wildlife Biologist IV, Yakama Nation Fisheries
Date: Saturday, June 7, 6:30PM-8:30PM
The Case for Umbrella Species Management. You may be aware that there is a huge push at both the state and federal level to manage dry forests in order to reduce the frequency of severe fires. However, many people are not aware of exactly what those management scenarios look like and whether or not those forest management practices are compatible with providing wildlife habitat.
Jeff’s talk will focus on describing the most commonly prescribed dry forest management treatments and showing that they are often not compatible with what his research shows are the habitat needs of the White-headed Woodpecker. Jeff will make the case that managing for an umbrella species, like the WHWO, can also provide fire resilient forests and habitat for other dry forest dependent species. Jeff will also highlight the need for future research in order to better understand the impacts of current forest management prescriptions on dry forest species like the White-headed Woodpecker.