View the general schedule for the American Ornithological Society (AOS) 2025 meeting, 11–15 August 2025, at the Hyatt Regency at the Arch St. Louis, Missouri, USA.
Note: All times listed are local time, tentative, and subject to change.
AOS 2025 Check-In/Registration Desk Hours
Our AOS 2025 Registration Desk/Check-In Stations will be open daily:
- Monday, 11 August: 12:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, 12 August: 7:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, 13 August: 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
- Thursday, 14 August: 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
- Friday, 15 August: 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
AOS 2025: Avian Gateways: Connecting Ornithology and Conservation — General Schedule
NOTE: General Schedule is subject to change.
| 10 August | 11 August | 12 August | 13 August | 14 August | 15 August | |
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |
| Local Time (24-hour format) | ||||||
| 6:00 | Local bird walk | Local bird walk | Local bird walk | Local bird walk | ||
| 6:30 | • Arch March 5K | |||||
| 7:00 | 7 am Rainbow Lorikeets Sunrise Social | |||||
| 7:30 | ||||||
| 8:00 | • Workshop participants arrive • Councilors arrive • AV / Room set up • Registration Set up | *Exhibitor Set up *Poster Board set up | ||||
| 8:30 | • Conference workshops • AOS Council Meeting (full day) | Plenary Grand Ballroom DE | Plenary Grand Ballroom DE | Plenary Grand Ballroom DE | Plenary Grand Ballroom DE | |
| 9:00 | ||||||
| 9:30 | ||||||
| 10:00 | Break | Break | Break | Break | ||
| 10:30 | Paper session 1 | Paper session 1 | Paper session 1 | Paper session 1 | ||
| 11:00 | ||||||
| 11:30 | ||||||
| 12:00 | Lunch Roundtable | Lunch Roundtable Associate Editors Luncheon | Lunch Roundtable Golden Auks Luncheon | Lunch Roundtable Meet the Editors Exhibitors Teardown Poster Boards Teardown | ||
| 12:30 | ||||||
| 13:00 | ||||||
| 13:30 | Paper session 2 | Paper session 2 | Paper session 2 | Paper session 2 | ||
| 14:00 | AOS Council Meeting (by invitation only) | |||||
| 14:30 | ||||||
| 15:00 | • Student/EP Mixer (3pm) • AOS Fellows Meeting (3:30pm-5pm) | Break | Break | Break | Break | |
| 15:30 | Paper Session 3 | Paper Session 3 | Paper session 3 | Paper session 3 | ||
| 16:00 | ||||||
| 16:30 | ||||||
| 17:00 | AOS Fellows Dinner (5pm-6:30pm) | Dinner break | Dinner break | Dinner break | ||
| 17:30 | ||||||
| 18:00 | Informal Council Dinner (6pm-8pm; by invitation only) | Closing Reception – St. Louis Zoo (6pm-9pm) | ||||
| 18:30 | ||||||
| 19:00 | • Keynote Speaker elin kelsey (7pm-8pm) • Opening Reception (8pm-9:30pm) | • Optional Cardinals baseball game (6:45pm start) • Poster session 1 (7pm-9pm) • Silent Auction | • Poster session 2 (7pm-9pm) • Silent Auction (5pm–9pm) • A Wandering Chat (6:30pm–7:30pm) | Quiz Bowl (8pm-9:30pm) | ||
| 19:30 | ||||||
| 20:00 | ||||||
| 20:30 | ||||||
| 21:00 | ||||||
| 21:30 | ||||||
| 22:00 |
Daily Program At-a-Glance
All dates and times are local time and are subject to change. Daily schedule changes will be posted at the conference; this daily schedule is still being updated and is subject to change.
Sunday, 10 August
| Time | Event Name | Location (subject to change) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14:00-18:00 | AOS Council Meeting | Location info will be provided to Council members. | |
| 18:00-20:00 | AOS Council Dinner (informal) | Location info will be provided to Council members. |
Monday, 11 August
| Time | Event Name | Location (subject to change) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07:00 | Morning Bird Walk Gateway Arch National Park | See Morning Bird Walks for info. | Join us for a one-hour walk through the Gateway Arch National Park with views of the Gateway Arch and the magnificent Mississippi River. We will walk around the park’s ponds, forests, and riverfront to search for lingering breeders, local year-round residents, and potentially an early migrant or two. We should see Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Eastern Kingbirds, Peregrine Falcons, Mississippi Kites, and Indigo Buntings, but we could see more than a couple dozen species on this morning walk! |
| Various times | Conference Workshops | Locations info will be provided to workshop registrants. | Pre-registration required. The workshops and training sessions at AOS 2025 offer opportunities both for hands-on learning exercises, where participants engage in a mix of lectures and activities, and for panel discussions on a wide range of timely topics highlighting exciting advances in ornithological research, management, social justice, education, and conservation. |
| 08:30 | AOS Council Meeting (by invitation only) | Location info will be provided to Council members. | |
| 15:00 | Student/Early Professional Mixer | Gateway East | The Student-Early Professional Mixer is an opportunity for students to connect with early professionals both inside and outside academia in a casual setting. Students and early professionals will be matched in small groups based on their research interests and career goals. |
| 15:30 | AOS Fellows Meeting (by invitation only) AOS Fellows Dinner (by invitation only) | Meeting: Grand Ballroom B Dinner: Gateway West | The annual meeting of the AOS Fellows will take place Monday, 11 August at 3:30 p.m. Invitees will receive a separate email with the agenda and other documents. Following the Fellows’ meeting, there will be a dinner for Fellows and their guests beginning at 5:00 p.m. in Gateway West. Tickets are $75.00 each and can be purchased through the online AOS Member Portal. |
| 17:00 | Conference 101 | Grand Ballroom F | Are you a first-time attendee looking to network and learn the ropes of a professional conference? Do you want to get the best out of this conference but are afraid of being alone? Join us for a Conference 101 event and sign up for the Conference Buddy Program. Conference Buddy is for everyone who wants to attend the conference but is not comfortable being on their own all the time. It’s for all first-timers, introverts, socially awkward, timid, and shy people out there like rails and coots. We will pair you with one or more persons with whom you can attend the conference together. Support each other and find a familiar face between all strangers. You will feel more at ease and comfortable just knowing you’re not alone. At the same time, you have the opportunity to help others to feel better! |
| 19:00 | Keynote Address by elin kelsey, Ph.D. Opening Reception | Grand Ballroom DE | Our meeting kicks off with an address from our Keynote Speaker elin kelsey, Ph.D. from 7:00–8:00 p.m. Immediately following the address, we will move to the opening reception where we will greet old friends and colleagues and meet new ones as we look forward to the week’s programming of science, professional development, and community building. |
Tuesday, 12 August
| Time | Event Name | Location (subject to change) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 07:00 | Morning Bird Walk Forest Park | Forest Park is one of the largest and oldest urban parks in the U.S. at 1,300 acres (larger than New York City’s Central Park!). The park’s diverse habitats support a wide array of bird species throughout the year. Join us for an approximately one-hour bird walk through Deer Lake Savanna and the forests on the northeast side of the park to the Fish Hatchery. Species such as Eastern Wood-Pewee, Warbling Vireo, Baltimore Oriole, and plenty of others (maybe an early migrant or two) will likely be found in the forests during the first part of the walk. The group will then walk to the Fish Hatchery which provides ample habitat for aquatic species such as Little Blue Heron, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, and Mississippi Kites. | |
| 08:30 | Plenary Address | Grand Ballroom DE | |
| 10:00 | Coffee Break | ||
| 10:30 | Paper Session 1 | ||
| 12:00 | Lunch Break Lunchtime Roundtables | Various locations | Roundtables and working groups are forums for discussions centred on current or emerging issues and their future directions; alternatively, they can be used as a venue to gather information for generating planning documents, or to share information broadly. |
| 13:30 | Paper Session 2 | ||
| 15:00 | Coffee Break | ||
| 15:30 | Paper Session 3 | ||
| 17:00-21:00 | Silent Auction | Poster Hall | The Student Affairs Committee is organizing a Silent Auction again this year! Attendees can browse and bid on auction items in the poster hall from 5pm–9pm on Tuesday and Wednesday. Proceeds will support the activities of the Student Affairs Committee. Winning bidders will be contacted directly and can pay for and pick up their prizes at the auction table beginning on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. following the plenary session. |
| 18:45 | Baseball Game St. Louis Cardinals versus Colorado Rockies | Busch Stadium | Take me out to the ballgame! Join fellow conference attendees for a classic summer evening on Tuesday, 12 August (6:45 p.m.) at the ballpark as we cheer on the St. Louis Cardinals as they take on the Colorado Rockies—just a short walk from the conference venue! Busch Stadium is one of the most iconic in Major League Baseball, offering spectacular views, great food, and a chance to soak up the atmosphere of America’s favorite pastime. Whether you’re a die-hard baseball fan or just in it for the peanuts and camaraderie, this is an unforgettable way to spend your evening. Please note: tickets are non-refundable. Sign up for this event when registering for AOS 2025. |
| 19:00-21:00 | Poster Session 1 | Poster Hall |
Wednesday, 13 August
| Time | Event Name | Location (subject to change) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06:30 | Arch March 5K Fun Walk/Run/Ride | East of the Gateway Arch along the Riverfront Trail | Join us at 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday, 13 August, just east of the Gateway Arch along the Riverfront Trail for the Arch March 5K Fun Walk/Run/Ride (this route is wheelchair accessible)! The out-and-back route will follow the Riverfront Trail, with spectacular views of both the Arch and the Mississippi River. Participants will travel approximately 1.6 miles up the trail, turn around, and come back to the starting location. Refreshments will be provided at the start/finish line including water, fruit, and snacks. Volunteers will be placed along the route to assist participants. Sign up for the Arch March when you register for AOS 2025. |
| 08:30 | Plenary Address | Grand Ballroom DE | |
| 10:00 | Coffee Break | ||
| 10:30 | Paper Session 1 | ||
| 12:00 | AOS Editorial Board Luncheon (by invitation only) | Mills 6 | To thank you for your valued contributions to the AOS, we will be having our joint Ornithology and Ornithological Applications Editorial Board luncheon. Join us for this special gathering of Senior Editors, Associate Editors, Editors-in-Chief, the Managing Editor, and fellow members of the editorial board. This event offers a unique opportunity to discuss submission trends, peer review, and FAQs for Associate Editors – while fostering connections with colleagues who typically interact only via email. Invitations will be sent by email to members of the AOS Editorial Board. |
| 12:00–13:30 | Lunch Break Lunchtime Roundtables | Various locations | Roundtables and working groups are forums for discussions centred on current or emerging issues and their future directions; alternatively, they can be used as a venue to gather information for generating planning documents, or to share information broadly. |
| 13:30–15:00 | Paper Session 2 | ||
| 15:00 | Coffee Break | ||
| 15:30–17:00 | Paper Session 3 | ||
| 17:00–19:00 | Dinner Break | ||
| 18:30– 19:30 | A Wandering Chat | Grand Ballroom H | Research from outside the academy is an important component of advancing ornithological science and conservation. If you are somebody who has wandered outside of academia for your research career (or are interested in learning more about these career paths), consider joining our community for our meeting. This is an informal social to build relationships, expand networks, and foster new collaborations. |
| 19:00–21:00 | Poster Session 2 | ||
| 17:00-21:00 | Silent Auction | Poster Hall | The Student Affairs Committee is organizing a Silent Auction again this year! Attendees can browse and bid on auction items in the poster hall from 5pm–9pm on Tuesday and Wednesday. Proceeds will support the activities of the Student Affairs Committee. Winning bidders will be contacted directly and can pay for and pick up their prizes at the auction table beginning on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. following the plenary session. |
Thursday, 14 August
| Time | Event Name | Location (subject to change) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06:45–07:45 | Morning Bird Walk Forest Park | Forest Park | Forest Park is one of the largest and oldest urban parks in the U.S. at 1,300 acres (larger than New York City’s Central Park!). The park’s diverse habitats support a wide array of bird species throughout the year. Join us for an approximately one-hour bird walk through Deer Lake Savanna and the forests on the northeast side of the park to the Fish Hatchery. Species such as Eastern Wood-Pewee, Warbling Vireo, Baltimore Oriole, and plenty of others (maybe an early migrant or two) will likely be found in the forests during the first part of the walk. The group will then walk to the Fish Hatchery which provides ample habitat for aquatic species such as Little Blue Heron, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, and Mississippi Kites. |
| 07:00 | Rainbow Lorikeets Sunrise Social | Mills 6 | The Rainbow Lorikeets are organizing a networking social for 2SLGBTQIA+ (two spirit, lesbian, gay, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, and asexual) attendees in our AOS 2025 community. This will be the main event for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community and allies to meet and network at our meeting. |
| 08:30– 10:00 | Plenary | Grand Ballroom DE | |
| 10:00–10:30 | Coffee Break | ||
| 10:00 | Silent Auction Pick-Up | Poster Hall | Winning bidders will be contacted directly and can pay for and pick up their prizes at the auction table beginning on Thursday at 10:00 a.m. following the plenary session. |
| 10:30–12:00 | Paper Session 1 | ||
| 12:00–13:30 | Lunch Break Lunchtime Roundtables | Various locations | |
| 12:00–13:30 | Golden Auks Luncheon | Mills 6 | The Golden Auks luncheon is an informal gathering for senior ornithologists who want to connect with colleagues. Please sign up to attend this luncheon when registering for AOS 2025 through the registration form. $40 per person |
| 13:30–15:00 | Paper Session 2 | ||
| 15:00– 15:30 | Coffee Break | ||
| 15:30–17:00 | Paper Session 3 | ||
| 17:00–18:30 | Dinner Break | ||
| 20:00–21:30 | Quiz Bowl | Grand Ballroom DE | The Student Affairs Committee will be hosting its annual bird-themed trivia Quiz Bowl. Participants will form teams of three and compete to win prizes. You do NOT have to assemble your team beforehand. Groups can be formed at the beginning of the event. The Quiz Bowl will consist of rounds of pub trivia followed by Final Jeopardy. Student teams will be eligible to advance to the Final Jeopardy round. |
Friday, 15 August
| Time | Event Name | Location (subject to change) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06:45 | Morning Bird Walk Gateway Arch National Park | Gateway Arch National Park outside the main entrance (right across the street from the Hyatt Regency) | Join us for a one-hour walk through the Gateway Arch National Park with views of the Gateway Arch and the magnificent Mississippi River. We will walk around the park’s ponds, forests, and riverfront to search for lingering breeders, local year-round residents, and potentially an early migrant or two. We should see Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Eastern Kingbirds, Peregrine Falcons, Mississippi Kites, and Indigo Buntings, but we could see more than a couple dozen species on this morning walk! |
| 08:30–10:00 | Plenary | Grand Ballroom DE | |
| 10:00–10:30 | Coffee Break | ||
| 10:30–12:00 | Paper Session 1 | ||
| 12:00–13:30 | Lunch Break Lunchtime Roundtables | ||
| 12:00–13:30 | Meet the AOS Editors | Mills 6 | Everyone is welcome to this session to meet the Editors-in-Chief, Senior Editors, and Managing Editor for the AOS journals Ornithology and Ornithological Applications. This session should be particularly helpful for students and early-career professionals. The editors will discuss what they are looking for in submitted manuscripts, the review process from submission to revision, and how to increase the chances that your manuscript will be reviewed favorably. After comments by the editors, the session will be devoted to questions from the audience. Snacks and refreshments will be provided. |
| 13:30–15:00 | Paper Session 2 | ||
| 15:00–15:30 | Coffee Break | ||
| 15:30–17:00 | Paper Session 3 | ||
| 18:00–21:00 | Closing Reception | St. Louis Zoo | Join us for a memorable evening at the renowned St. Louis Zoo as we celebrate the conclusion of our conference. Guests will have the opportunity to explore iconic attractions, including the Historic Bird House, the Penguin and Puffin Coast, and the Historic 1904 Flight Cage, through guided small-group tours. Wander the zoo’s scenic pathways between tours, take in the sights, and connect with fellow attendees in a relaxed atmosphere surrounded by remarkable wildlife. Enjoy a delicious selection of food and beverages at our designated dining area, with cash bars available. It’s the perfect way to unwind and reflect on an inspiring conference. |
English 
Spanish 
French