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Forest Management for Neotropical Migratory Birds

Taylor County, Wis.

Forest Management for Neotropical Migratory Birds

May 15, 2025 | 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

In this workshop, we focus on the biology, habitat requirements, and tools to implement forest management that enhances habitat for neotropical migratory birds. By focusing on a handful of important species, we’ll walk through their identification, habitat needs, and ideal silvicultural prescriptions. Through a combination of presentations, case studies, and field tours, we will cover: basic biology of neotropical birds; forest habitat considerations; early- and mid-successional forest habitat management; and adapting silvicultural prescriptions to benefit specific bird species. The specific location for the training will be announced soon.

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WORKSHOP DETAILS

Registration available this coming winter. To be notified when registration opens, join our mailing list!

Registration Fee

TBD

Registration Deadline

TBD

Cancellation Policy

Requests received prior to the registration deadline will be granted a full refund. No refunds will be granted to requests received after the registration deadline. To receive a refund, a request must be made to the Wisconsin Forestry Center.

Target Audience

This workshop is designed for professional foresters and natural resource professionals. This workshop counts toward the Forest Management for Wildlife Certificate.

Workshop Agenda

Draft agenda will be available Spring 2025. View the 2024 workshop agenda.

Continuing Education Credit

The workshop counts towards the Forest Management for Wildlife Certificate program and we are seeking pre-approval for the following:

               

This workshop is designed for natural resource professionals. However, it is open to all interested participants. It counts toward the Forest Management for Wildlife Certificate.

WORKSHOP INSTRUCTORS

Additional Instructors TBA

Mike Demchik

Professor of Silviculture, UW-Stevens Point

Michael Demchik is a professor of forestry at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. He teaches a wide range of courses at UWSP and is involved in research that addresses using silviculture to reach landowner goals. He is particularly obsessed with developing methods to teach students to mark timber better, faster, and with more confidence in their decisions. He has had several jobs across federal, state, and private natural resource management in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Minnesota, and Wisconsin.

Jason Riddle

Endowed Professor of Wildlife, UW-Stevens Point

Jason Riddle is a professor of wildlife ecology and management at UW-Stevens Point. He teaches courses on wildlife research and management techniques. He is especially interested in bird sampling and monitoring methods and has worked with game and non-game species in a variety of environments. Most of his work with universities, state agencies, and federal agencies has been in the Southeast and Midwest.

Pat Weber

Wildlife Habitat Specialist, American Bird Conservancy

Pat Weber is a wildlife habitat specialist with the American Bird Conservancy where his primary responsibilities are working with private landowners and public land managers to create breeding habitat for neotropical migratory songbirds in Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Pat earned an M.S. in environmental science and policy from UW-Green Bay where his thesis assessed increasing upland bird habitat by substituting annual row crops with perennial hybrid hazel shrublands in northeastern Wisconsin.​

Randee Smith

Coordinator, Wisconsin Young Forest Partnership

Randee Smith is the coordinator for the Wisconsin Young Forest Partnership, where she unifies the efforts of 14 federal, state, and nonprofit organizations to assist private landowners in managing their forests for wildlife by providing technical and financial assistance. Randee specializes in early successional habitat. Before WYFP, Randee was involved in research to evaluate songbird usage post-management in aspen and alder stands and genetic research to locate cryptic hybrids in Michigan’s golden-winged warblers. When not working, Randee enjoys taking care of her hobby farm, creating art with feathers, and bird hunting with her husband and bird dog, Kimber.

WORKSHOP PARTNERS