Whether you’re an undergraduate student or graduate student, the society offers opportunities to connect, learn, and grow within a supportive community. Ways to get involved and build your professional network:

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1. Join as a Student Member 

2. Participate in the Mentorship Program

3. Attend Workshops

4. Join one of our Committees

5. Share Your Work in Picoides 

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1. Student Membership (learn more »)

​Join the society as a student member for only $15 CAD per year, or free for members who identify as part of an underrepresented group. Being a student member allows you to:

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🏆 Apply for student research, travel, and presentation awards (learn more »)

💸 Receive discounted registration for the annual meeting (learn more »)

📰 Stay informed through our membership emails, featuring upcoming workshops, job postings, and conference opportunities

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2. Mentorship Program

The mentorship program connects students and early-career ornithologists with experienced professionals to support career development, skill building, and networking. This semi-structured, eight-month program has been offered annually since 2022, typically running from October to May, with applications starting in August or September. Each year we advertise the program on our social media, membership emails, and in Picoides newsletter. Being part of the program allows you to:

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🤝 Build meaningful connections with established ornithologists

🎯 Receive personalized guidance on academic and career goals

💬 Participate in structured check-ins and professional development activities

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3. Workshops

The society offers workshops designed to support students and early-career ornithologists in developing professional and research skills. Announcements are shared on our social media, membership emails, and in Picoides. Previous topics included:

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🏢 Tips for applying to Canadian government jobs

⚒️ Skill development

🏋️ Work-life balance

#️⃣ Statistical techniques

📝 Science communication

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Inclusive Ecology in Action

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4. Committees (learn more »)

The Society is supported by several committees that keep our community active, inclusive, and forward-looking. We are always looking for students to join our committees. Your perspectives help us broaden our reach and diversify our events. If you’re interested in getting involved, reach out to the committee chairs to learn more. Some of our committees include: 

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🌈 Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee

💬 Social Media Committee

🎓 Student Affairs Committee

🧠 Occasionally, ad-hoc committees work on specific projects. Past ad-hoc committees include Workshop and Website Committees

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5. Share your work (learn more »)

The society encourages students to share their research and experiences by contributing to Picoides, our society newsletter. Submitting to Picoides is a great way to highlight your work, gain writing experience, and connect with the broader ornithological community. We especially welcome:

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📚 Thesis abstracts (250–400 words): Including one or two relevant photos is encouraged.

🔍 Research or feature articles (up to 1,000 words): Include references, and, if possible, one or two accompanying photos.