We invite you to join us for the Association of Field Ornithologists’ Annual Meeting in Ogden, UT, July 29-August 1, 2025!
WELCOME!
After hosting successful meetings in the eastern US and in South America, we are thrilled to bring AFO back to the western US for the first time in 15 years.
We are planning an exciting and diverse scientific program, highlighting research from professional and avocational ornithologists from across the Americas. This year the Western Bird Banding Society will join our meeting to highlight the importance of bird banding across broader ornithological research. Now in our 103rd year as a society, we hope you will join us in celebrating the valuable natural history and conservation work of our attendees.
Official conference artwork by AFO councilor Natasza Fontaine
Present AFO Councilors at our AFO-SCO-WOS 2024 joint meeting in Peoria, IL
WHO WE ARE
The Association of Field Ornithologists (AFO) is one of the world’s major societies of professional and avocational ornithologists dedicated to the scientific study and dissemination of information about birds in their natural habitats.
AFO council is made up of 15 volunteer professionals with careers spanning a variety of ornithological vocations. Our current council members hail from the US, Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico. AFO publishes the internationally recognized Journal of Field Ornithology and owns Avinet Research Supplies, producing and selling the highest quality avian research supplies anywhere.
ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
This meeting will be held in Ogden, Utah, between July 29th and August 1st, 2025.
The easy accessibility from the Salt Lake City airport, wonderful birding options, great surrounding scenery, and overall rustic and urban vibes have us very excited about this location.
Please visit the tabs below to find all the conference information.
Updates will be posted regularly on our social media as well. Make sure to follow the hashtag #AFOrnithevents.
OGDEN: A SPECTACULAR DESTINATION
With local hotspots with up to +150 bird species reported for the summer, and surrounded by mountains, forests, wetlands and only a few steps away from the Salt Lake, Ogden is an unmissable destination for bird lovers.
If you have time and are feeling adventurous, you can explore some of the National Parks and protected areas within driving distance from Ogden (Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Zion, Arches and Canyonlands, among others).
Do we need to say more…?
Snowy Plover | Mike Knibbs – Getty Images
Burrowing Owl | Christopher Hall – Getty Images
Red-necked Phalaope | PanuRuangjian – Getty images
Red-naped Sapsucker | Devonyu – Getty Images
Western Grebe | BirdImages – getty Images
Brewer’s Sparrow | ChuckSchugPhotography – Getty Images
Violent-green Swallow – BirdImages – Getty Images
American Avocet | BirdImages – Getty Images
Wilson’s Phalarope
Black-chinned Hummingbird | birdImages – Getty Images
Northern Harrier – Peter Accordino – Getty Images
Mountain Bluebird – StefonLinton | Getty Images
Sandhill Crane | JHWilliams – Getty Images
Northern Pintail | Banu R – Getty Images
Sora | Passion4nature – Getty images
Broad-tailed Hummingbird | Xiao Zhu – Getty Images
THIS CONFERENCE IS SPONSORED BY:
Join us for this celebration of science and ornithology.
We hope to see you there!
July 29 – August 1, 2025
CURRENT OPEN CALLS
REGISTRATION
Registration is OPEN! Early Bird prices are available until May16.
See you in Ogden!
Register here: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/afo-2025-registration
MERCH
Information about merch is coming soon.
LOCATION AND VENUE
After flying into Salt Lake City (SLC), Ogden is a ~40 minute drive north, accessible by train, rental car, or rideshare. The conference will be held in downtown Ogden at the Ogden Eccles Conference Center (OECC).
The OECC is just off of Historic 25th street, a vibrant downtown community full of brew pubs, coffee shops, restaurants, galleries, and more. This street was recently named in the top 3 best Main Streets in the US for the 3rd year in a row!
Ogden is located 10 miles east of the Great Salt Lake, nestled at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains. This region of northern Utah serves as a gateway to several national parks including Grand Teton and Yellowstone to the north and Arches, Zion, and Bryce Canyon to the south. Locally, Antelope Island State Park and Bear River Wildlife Refuge host millions of shorebirds during the breeding season making this an excellent staging area for birders.
For more information on Ogden, please visit: https://www.visitogden.com/.
David Eccles Conference Center
Historic 25th Street
ACCOMMODATION
We have blocks of rooms established at three hotels downtown within walking distance of the conference center. These rooms are first come, first served with each hotel having different room availability and nightly rates. Please use the links provided to book your room in one of the reserved blocks by the date listed.
Hampton Inn (attached to OECC), 77 rooms at $169/night if booked by 6/29/2025: click here to book
Courtyard Marriott, 30 rooms at $169/night if booked by 7/8/2025: click here to book
Tru by Hilton, 50 rooms at $159/night if booked by 6/29/2025: click here to book
The discounted rates are only good for 7/28-8/1; if you plan to extend your stay beyond those dates, you will need to call the hotel directly to ensure you get the discounted rate during the conference dates.
TRAVEL INFORMATION
The Salt Lake City (SLC) airport is the closest to Ogden (40-minute drive) and is the best option. There is a new, smaller airport in Provo (PVU) which is an hour and 15 minutes away that is serviced by a smaller number of carriers (Allegiant, Breeze, American Eagle); however, it can offer great rates. SLC has many rental car options and it is easy to get rideshare (Lyft, Uber) any time of day. There is also a commuter rail (Frontrunner) system that runs from SLC to downtown Ogden every 30-60 minutes.
Once you reach downtown Ogden, all hotels listed (and a few others), restaurants, bars, and coffee shops are within a few blocks of the conference venue. If you choose to bring a vehicle there is both free and paid parking available in downtown Ogden, it just depends on how long you intend to park and where. Please see the policy of each hotel regarding long term parking in this regard.
Here you will find information on symposia, workshops, special events, field trips, plenary speakers, field trips, oral presentations, and posters. The full conference program and schedule will be ready a few days before the conference starts.
We will update this page as new information becomes available.
TENTATIVE SCHEDULE
To help with travel plans, we have put together a tentative schedule of events for the conference. Exact times are subject to change; additional events will be added as more information becomes available.
All registered attendees are welcome to attend the following events: opening reception, evening at Ogden Nature Center, and the ending banquet. Information on all other aspects of the schedule can be found on the website.
| July 29 | July 30 | July 31 | Aug 1 | Aug 2 | Aug 3 | |
| 6:30 AM | Workshops, Council meeting | Field trips | Field trips | Field trips (half and full day) | Multi-day field trips | |
| 7:30 AM | ||||||
| 8:30 AM | ||||||
| 9:30 AM | Plenary | Plenary | Plenary | |||
| 10:30 AM | Scientific program | Scientific program | Scientific program | |||
| 11:30 AM | ||||||
| 12:30 PM | Lunch | Lunch | Lunch | |||
| 1:30 PM | Scientific program | Scientific program | Scientific program | |||
| 2:30 PM | ||||||
| 3:30 PM | ||||||
| 4:30 PM | ||||||
| 5:30 PM | Poster session | Evening at Ogden Nature Center | ||||
| 6:30 PM | Opening reception: Union Station | Ending banquet and awards | ||||
| 7:30 PM | ||||||
| 8:30 PM | ||||||
| 9:30 PM |
PLENARY SPEAKERS
We are thrilled to host the following plenary speakers. All three of them are accomplished ornithologists working in diverse aspects of avian science.
Gail L. Patricelli
Professor, Department of Evolution and Ecology
University of California Davis
Robots, telemetry, and the sex lives of wild birds: using technology to study courtship and conservation
Ignacio “Kini” Roesler
CONICET
Scientific Dept, Aves Argentinas
Biodiversity and Conservation Program
Complex Systems Analysis Dept., Fundación Bariloche, Argentina
From the Hooded Grebe Project to the Patagonia Program: Scaling Up Conservation efforts through Flagship Species
Mark E. Hauber
Professor, Biology, Psychology
Executive Director, Advanced Science Research Center
The City University of New York
Learning from the birds across 6 continents: species recognition in brood parasitic cuckoos, cowbirds, and their hosts.
WORKSHOPS
These will be half- or full-day workshops, short courses, or training in field techniques. The goal of a workshop is to provide participants the opportunity to gain experience with a specific skill, field or analytical technique. Workshops will take place the day before the start of the scientific program (July 29, 2025).
Western Bird Banding Association (WBBA) Workshop: Bird banding demonstration and discussion of techniques
The WBBA will be offering a half-day banding workshop the morning of Tuesday, July 29, 2025 (exact start time TBD). The workshop will be held at the Ogden Nature Center. Participants will need to provide their own transportation to the nature center, but WBBA will assist in facilitating carpooling. The workshop will be limited to 20 people (registration is required, first come first served: ). There is no cost associated with this workshop.
Registration form: https://forms.gle/xkebnmGTywDbZgoc8
The workshop content will be tailored to the skill levels of the participants who sign up, offering a more catered, hands-on learning experience. We assume that participants have some passerine banding experience and the workshop will focus on expanding the skill set of participants. The workshop will include explanation, demonstration, and mentoring on skills such as the body grasp extraction technique, skulling, seeing molt and molt limits, and utilizing these characteristics to age birds using the Wolfe-Ryder-Pyle (WRP) plumage coding. We will also discuss bird safety, ethics, and interacting with the public when working with birds.
Because this workshop will be tailored to the individuals participating, participants should not expect to handle large volumes of birds. Instead, they will handle a few birds and examine them intensively, with a few people observing each bird. Safety of the birds will be of the utmost importance, and their condition will determine the length of time each individual is handled.
Additional observers (non-registered participants) are welcome to attend and observe the handling and banding process. However, they should not expect to handle any birds. Their role will be to learn from the process and contribute to the discussion.
Please note that registration for the AFO conference is required for participation in workshops.
Motus tagging workshop: Snowy Plovers on the Great Salt Lake
This workshop will provide hands-on experience in the proper application of Motus telemetry tags to shorebirds. This workshop will take place on Tuesday, July 29, 2025 (5:30-10:00AM). Motus tags and bands will be applied to Snowy Plovers (Charadrius nivosus) breeding on South Great Salt Lake. This workshop will be led by biologists from Tracy Aviary and Great Salt Lake Audubon. The group will head out into the playa and use bownets to capture nesting adult Snowy Plovers. This workshop is limited to 5 participants (first come, first served), a waitlist will be curated as well.
Registration form: https://lu.ma/gmeu8j0l
Transportation will be provided from the conference venue. Specific pickup location to be confirmed by email the week of the event.
Please note that registration for the AFO conference is required for participation in workshops.
Contact: Tully Frain, tullyf@tracyaviary.org.
Pictures provided by Tully Frain
SPECIAL EVENTS
Opening reception at Union Station (July 29)
First constructed in 1870, Union Station brought the Transcontinental Railroad to Ogden and functioned as the “hub” of western rail travel for decades. Today, Union Station, and its associated museums, guides guests through the history of Utah’s railroads and of Ogden itself. Located at the west end of Historic 25th Street, our opening reception is just a few minute’s walk from the conference center and hotels. Our event will take place in the Grand Lobby and guests will have access to the Utah State Railroad Museum throughout the evening. All conference attendees are invited to open the 2025 annual meeting by joining us for food, drinks, and a formal introduction to the host city!
An evening at the Ogden Nature Center (July 31)
After what are sure to be days of rigorous science, attendees are invited to gather at the Ogden Nature Center (ONC) for an evening of music, refreshments, and maybe even a little birding! The ONC is a 152 acre nature preserve nestled in the heart of Ogden. One and a half miles of walking trails wander past natural wetlands and created marshes and canals–all perfect for wildlife viewing as the sun sets. Transportation from the conference center will be provided. Don’t forget your binoculars!
TRAVEL AWARDS
Funds are available for partial financial support to students and early professionals (see definitions in the application form) presenting at the meeting.
The maximum award is $1000 (USD); however, as funds are limited most applicants will receive partial award amounts
The call for travel awards closed on March 31st, 2025.
STUDENT AND PRESENTATION AWARDS
At the end of the conference, awards will be given for the best student oral presentation and the best student poster presentation. Students can be undergraduate or graduate students and must be the first author/presenter to be eligible for the award.
If you recently graduated (Spring/Summer 2025) you are still eligible for this award. To have your presentation or poster scored at the conference, please state so in the abstract submission application form.
You can check out past Student Presentation Awards winners here.
FIELD TRIPS
We have partnered with Pitta Tours to bring you a fantastic line-up of field trips options during and after the conference. There are several early morning trips and evening owling options during the conference followed by half day, full day, or overnight trips after the conference.
Owner Tim Avery and his team have repeatedly won Trip Advisor Traveler’s Choice Awards as well as being named the Top Wildlife Tour in Salt Lake City. They have been guiding in Utah and the mountain west for over 15 years, recently expanding to offer international birding tours. Pitta tours has the motto “We. Find. Birds.” and we are excited to have them on our team this year!
Pitta will offer a variety of tours for registered attendees from July 31 through August 5, 2025. All meeting tours are specially priced and designed to focus on some of the best birding and locations the state of Utah has to offer! Each tour includes transportation and knowledgeable local guides; full day and overnight trips include additional amenities as described on the website.
You can view all field trip options and reserve your space using this link: https://pittatours.com/tours-afo.
All reservations are first come, first served and made directly with Pitta Tours. Questions about the trips should be directed to Pitta Tours directly.
BIRDING IN OGDEN
One of the best ways to find local birding hotspots near the conference venue is to use eBird. Just north of the conference center, in downtown Ogden, is the Ogden River. There are many parks and access points along the river that offer riparian birding within 10-15 minutes of downtown; the Two Rivers Trail and 21st Street pond are popular.
The Ogden River Parkway is a multi-use trail that follows the river from the mouth of Ogden Canyon, west towards downtown, meeting up with the Weber River Greenbelt as it turns south. Along the Weber River Greenbelt there is also extensive riparian habitat; you can access this area from multiple locations downtown as well as parking at Fort Buenaventura (be sure to add in the Kingfisher Wetland Loop to your walk!). To the east, you can access a series of trails, including the popular Bonneville Shoreline Trail, via the 36th Street trailhead–though this is certainly a steeper climb!
- Ogden River Parkway – eBird hotspot
- Fort Buenaventura – eBird hotspot
- Kingfisher Wetland Loop – eBird hotspot
The Ogden Nature Center is a wonderful place to spend several hours birding along the miles of trails that meander through open habitat and created wetlands and canals. We will have an evening event at the nature center, but encourage you to visit on your own time as well (there is a $6 entry fee)! You can also drive through Ogden Canyon and head to Pineview Reservoir to scope out western grebes, osprey, and other water birds. Moving a little further away from downtown there are wonderful wetlands perfect for a morning or evening bird walk.
Willard Bay State Park is a freshwater reservoir 12 miles north of Ogden (there is a small fee associated with this area) with several birding hotspots. Further north in Brigham City is Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, the largest freshwater wetland area in the Great Salt Lake ecosystem. Bear River has a short boardwalk trail and a 12-mile auto tour route that winds through the wetlands offering excellent birding opportunities. Over 600 bird species use this refuge, 67 of which breed there–this area is not to be missed! If you spend time closer to Salt Lake City, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area is an excellent wetland birding location as well.
- Willard Bay State Park – eBird hotspot
- Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge – eBird hotspot
- Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area – eBird hotspot
If you are interested in gaining a little elevation, and cooling off, drive up towards Snowbasin Ski Resort. On the way you will come to the Green Pond Trail. This moderate trail winds up through mixed forest and temperatures are certainly much cooler than down below. There are great trails accessible from the Maples parking lot at Snowbasin Resort where you pass through green spaces intersected by beaver ponds before gaining significant elevation. It is free to park and wander through the resort property, but the facilities are not open during the week (limited openings on weekends).
One of the most remarkable parks in the area is Antelope Island State Park, the largest state park in Utah, located in the Great Salt Lake. We can’t recommend this location more highly. Millions of shorebirds congregate here during the summer months: pelicans, avocets, phalaropes, gulls, and plenty of peeps! Stop anywhere along the causeway leading onto the island and you may not ever leave. But, you should! Make your way onto the island and bird along White Rock Bay or follow the winding road to the Garr Field Ranch where a small freshwater spring always brings in unique species. The island is primarily grassland habitat full of songbirds and breeding burrowing and great horned owls. Come for the birds, stay for the bison and pronghorn…and be sure to bring bug spray!
Be sure to arrive early or add a few days after the scientific program to enjoy all the region has to offer in terms of nature and wildlife!
Your sponsorship would provide vital support for this important scientific conference, but also offer your organization unique opportunities for visibility and engagement with an audience deeply committed to environmental and wildlife conservation. This is our first conference in the western US in 15 years and we expect approximately 200 attendees, most of whom will be from out of state.
We offer a range of sponsorship levels, each with tailored benefits such as logo placement in conference materials and website, exhibit space in our sponsors hall, and more. More details on each sponsorship package are available in our sponsorship packet.