All events are at the Ithaca Downtown Conference Center (IDCC)

Friday, September 19, 2025

1:00 - 7:00 pm

• Check in, pick up your gift bag, name tag, and conference materials, and get all your questions answered at the welcome table.

• Visit a wide variety of Vendor Display Tables featuring birding supplies, optics, art, books, gifts, and more.

• View entries in our Silent Auction and place your bids. Items have been kindly donated by our vendors and local community, with proceeds supporting the conference.  Winners will be announced during social time on Saturday at 5:30 pm.

2:00 - 4:00 pm

• • • Take a Field Trip to a prominent birding hotspot, led by experienced local birding leaders. Transportation is not provided; carpooling is encouraged.

OR

• Visit the world-renowned Cornell Lab of Ornithology - located 15 minutes from downtown - and choose from these activities:

  • Take a 30-minute tour (Offered at 2:00, 2:30, 3:00 and 3:30 pm. Space is limited, so make sure you pre-register.)

  • Visit the newly renovated Visitors Center featuring views of the pond and feeder garden, a video theater, a hands-on bird discovery lab, murals and incredible art.  

  • Browse the Wild Birds Unlimited Store.

  • Join Cayuga Bird Club volunteers on a guided 3/4 mile loop walk through Sapsucker Woods Sanctuary  (50 minutes, available at 2:00 and 3:00 pm), or explore Sapsucker Woods on your own.

5:00 - 6:45 pm

• Attend the Welcome Reception to renew friendships and make new ones.  Enjoy appetizers from 5:00 -6:00 pm. Beer and wine will be available for purchase. Followed by Dr. Adriaan Dokter's presentation, BirdCast - a Large-scale Perspective on Bird Migration”.  Cost: $20

Saturday, September 20, 2025

6:30 am - 6:00 pm 

• • • Check in, pick up your gift bag, name tag, and conference materials, and get all your questions answered at the welcome table.

7:00 - 11:00 am

• • • Take a Field Trip to prominent birding hotspots, led by experienced local birding leaders. Transportation is not provided; carpooling is encouraged.

11:00 am - 6:00 pm

• • • Visit our Vendor Display Tables featuring birding supplies, optics, art, books, gifts, and more.

    • View items in our Silent Auction and place your bids! Items have been kindly donated by our vendors and the local community, with proceeds supporting the conference.  Winners will be announced during social time on Saturday at 5:30 pm.

11:30 am - 12:45 pm

• • • New York Breeding Bird Atlas Celebration and Lunch hosted by Julie Hart, Atlas Project Coordinator.  Features preliminary Atlas results, awards, photos, and a thank you to participants.  Cost: $15

OR

• • • Lunch on your own.

1:00 - 3:15 pm

• • • Attend the Paper Session showcasing short presentations on bird-related topics.

3:20-3:50 pm

• Test your skills at the fun Bird ID Challenge, presented by the NY State Young Birders Club. One of our most popular events!

4:00 - 5:00 pm

• • • NYSOA 78th Annual Business Meeting for delegates of NYSOA-member bird clubs. Will be held in Meeting Room A.

4:30 - 5:45 pm

• • • Social Time.  Wine and beer will be available for purchase. Silent Auction winners will be announced at 5:30 pm.

5:45 - 8:45 pm

• • • Enjoy good company at Saturday Evening’s Banquet featuring a buffet dinner, NYSOA award presentations, and our very special Keynote Presentation by Peter Kaestner,  “In Search of the Orange-tufted Spiderhunter”.  Peter is the first person to have seen 10,000 birds around the world, and an active bird conservationist.  Cost: $75

Sunday, September 21, 2025

7:00 - 11:30 am

• Take a Field Trip to prominent birding hotspots, led by local birding leaders. Transportation is not provided; carpooling is encouraged.