This year?s Washington Ornithological Society?s conference will be held in Ocean Shores from August 20-24. The conference center is at the Shilo Inn.

We have just about completed all the information needed for registration in our next on-line newsletter. This will be available in the April/May issue. All the field trips, workshops, featured speakers, banquet information and lodging will be included. REGISTRATION WILL BEGIN ON JUNE 1.

We have an outstanding number of field trips, leaders, workshops and evening programs. Here is a brief summary:
a.. 14 field trips scheduled for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with ?chase? and going-home trips on Monday
b.. Evening programs with ?Stump the Experts? presented by Dennis Paulson on Friday, Westport Seabirds 1970-2015, A History of the Birds and People, by Bill Tweit, on Saturday and Peter Hodum on his work off of Chile on Pink-footed Shearwaters and other issues, on Sunday
c.. Two workshops in the morning on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Topics including shorebirds, raptors, shapes, museum specimens and seabirds will be explored. The presenters are Dennis Paulson, Jim Danzenbaker, Michael Donahue, Michelle Landis, Scott Mills, Peter Wimberger and Gary Shugart.
d.. One pelagic trip for Friday, Saturday and Sunday with Westport Seabirds
With this schedule, this year?s conference should be one of our largest. This brings up a main concern at this time before registration begins. Lodging is going to be a factor with so many people attending. We have booked up to 70 rooms at the Shilo Inn. They have blocked off these rooms at a discount price. There are also 15 rooms blocked off each night at the Quality Inn which is next to the Shilo.
They have already registered a number of participants.

To register at the Shilo Inn, call 360-289-4600. Be sure to mention that you will be attending the WOS conference in August and want the blocked, discount price. The Quality Inn?s number is 360-289-2040 and be sure to mention the same information. This is the busiest season for all the motels and campgrounds in the area. Early booking is advised.

To learn more about WOS and to look at our latest newsletter, please visit www.wos.org. The Westport pelagic trips for Aug.21, 22 and 23 are only reserved through them and not WOS. To reserve, which can be done now, visit www.westportseabirds.com for all their information.

All conference attendees have to be members of WOS. Membership information is also found at www.wos.org.

Looking forward to seeing you at one of best conferences ever!

Bruce LaBar
Conference coordinator