Ohio Avian Research Conference
We are happy to announce that the Ohio Avian Research Conference will be returning on Saturday, November 22nd, 2025. The full-day event will be hosted by the Grange Insurance Audubon Center, in Columbus, OH, and will include a full day of scientific presentations, and a keynote presentation. Complete details for the conference will be available in the future.
Important Dates:
- October 24: Submission deadline for oral and poster presentations
- November 13: Registration deadline (registration closes at 12:00pm on 11/13/2025)
Click on a heading below for more information:
Program Overview
Keynote Presentation
Dr. Michael P. Ward
Professor and Levenick Chair in Sustainability
College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
The Disappearance of the Whip-poor-will: Understanding and Conserving a Vanishing Forest Bird
Eastern Whip-poor-wills are an iconic species of eastern North American forests, yet their populations have declined rapidly in recent decades. This decline has prompted extensive research into the factors driving their losses. In this talk, I will present findings on how forest structure, food availability, wintering habitat, and nesting success influence the species’ decline. I will conclude by discussing the actions likely needed to support the recovery of the species.
Dr. Mike Ward, originally from Jacksonville, Illinois, earned his Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign in 2004. He is currently the Stuart L. and Nancy J. Levenick Chair in Sustainability in the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences within the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois, and an Ornithologist with the Illinois Natural History Survey. Dr. Ward’s research focuses on avian ecology and conservation across the Midwest, as well as in Texas, Florida, Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Cuba. He is a global leader in the use of automated telemetry to study bird movements, including migration and behavioral ecology. He has published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers and received multiple awards recognizing his research excellence. In addition to his research, Dr. Ward serves on numerous technical committees dedicated to informing environmental management and conservation policy. His work seeks to understand the ecology and behavior of birds in both natural and human-altered ecosystems to guide conservation and management strategies.
Location
Grange Insurance Audubon Center
505 W Whittier St,
Columbus, OH 43215
Submit an Abstract
The scientific committee of the Ohio Avian Research Conference invites you to submit an abstract for consideration as an oral presentation or poster. Submissions are open through 5 PM on Friday, October 24th, 2025. Abstracts are limited to 250 words and should have a concise and informative title of no more than 100 characters. We have limited space for oral presentations, thus, depending on the number of submissions, posters may be recommended for some presenters. Oral presentations are limited to 15 minutes in length. Formatting details for the posters will be provided soon. Questions on the scientific program can be directed to Matthew Shumar at obcicoordinator@gmail.com.
Mentor/Mentee Lunch
This year we are organizing a mentor/mentor lunch program to connect attending students with natural resource professionals across a broad range of careers from academia, to government agencies and NGOs. Whether you are a student planning on attending, or an established professional, sign up today for this great opportunity!
Registration
Registration comes with a boxed lunch of your choice. If you are a student and interested in volunteering to assist with the conference, we will cover your registration. Please email Matthew Shumar at obcicoordinator@gmail.com for more information.
Registration rates:
- General registration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $40
- Student registration (high school – PhD) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $20
Past Conferences
2024
The 2024 Ohio Avian Research Conference took place on Saturday, November 16th, 2023. Dr. Ronald Mumme, Professor Emeritus at Allegheny College, presented his long-term research with Hooded Warblers to nearly 140 attendees. The conference included nine oral and nine poster presentations as well as a broad range of exhibitors that included artists, bird observatories and wildlife agencies.
Photos courtesy of Jessica Caton Diefenbach and Matthew Shumar
2023
The 2023 Ohio Avian Research Conference took place on Saturday, October 14th, 2023. Dr. Nathan Cooper, Research Ecologist with the Migratory Bird Center at Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute gave an amazing keynote presentation to more than 100 attendees. Additionally, the conference included seven oral and seven poster presentations, and a career panel for students.
Photos courtesy of Jessica Caton Diefenbach