Adams County Bird Symposium logo

the Adams County Nature Society presents the 

Adams County Bird Symposium

Celebrating birds and bird‐watching in Adams County, Ohio since 2004.

The Adams County Bird Symposium is an annual gathering that brings together bird enthusiasts from across the region – both Amish and “English” – to celebrate the joy of birds and birdwatching. It started as an idea in 2004 by Cincinnati Museum Center’s Edge of Appalachia Preserve and local Amish bird watchers to bring birding to the Adams County Wheat Ridge Amish Community. The symposium has grown from its humble beginnings in the basement of an Amish farmhouse into an annual sold-out event. Originally hosted by the Cincinnati Museum Center and the Adams County Travel Bureau, a new organization was formed dedicated to organizing nature events in Adams County. As of 2026, the Bird Symposium will be hosted by the Adams County Nature Society, Inc.  

2027 Adams County Bird Symposium
Registration is Closed

The next Adams County Bird Symposium, hosted by the Adams County Nature Society, Inc., will take place the first Saturday on March 6, 2027.


Registration: will open December of 2026  and will remain open until the event is full.
Once open, registration is first-come, first-served – so be sure to sign up early, as the symposium typically sells out within a few weeks. Subscribe to join our email list for first updates.  The registration link will be sent to everyone on the email list first. Attendees and Vendors may sign-up using the same link for 2027.


Location: Wheat Ridge Community Building, 3735 Wheat Ridge Road, West Union, OH


Agenda:

  • Registration opens at 9:15 am.
  • Featured presentations morning and afternoon.
  • Lunch is served between noon and 1:00 pm.
  • Symposium ends at 3:30 pm with an optional  trip to nearby Adams Lake led by local birders. Shop and visit symposium vendors all day. A special display with wild birds of prey by Raptor, Inc., a rehabilitation center located in Milford, OH.


The $55.00 registration fee includes:

  • Access to all vendors and speaker presentations throughout the one day event
  • An optional guided birding hike to Adams Lake
  • Morning coffee and donuts for breakfast
  • A delicious lunch provided by the local Amish community
  • Live birds of prey presented by Raptor, Inc.
  • Children under 18 are free with an adult


Here is the lineup of the symposium's fabulous speakers. 

  • Richard Amable, Birding in Peru
  • Jamey Emmert, Birding the Ohio River: A Trail Takes Flight
  • Bill Gordon, Finding Owls
  • Robert Hershberger,
  • Joseph Raber,  Symposium Chair, Updates from the Adams County Wheat Ridge Birders Community

        



Vendors & Exhibitors

The following vendors and exhibitors have participated in recent symposiums. We will update this list to reflect the current participating vendors when registration opens.

If you are interested in being a vendor or exhibitor at a future event, please note that space is limited and tends to sell out quickly. The date and links for registration for vendors and attendees will be announced by email in the Fall of 2026.  For more information, contact whocooksforyou@gmail.com.


  • Ann Geise Art – Ann Geise is a landscape, wildlife, and nature artist from the Cincinnati, OH area who works in oils and watercolors.
  • Red Oaks Forest School
  • Adams County Art Council
  • Adams County Travel & Visitor Bureau
  • Bill Dreger Art – Handmade, unique rustic birdhouses.
  • High Adventures Wilderness School – Nest and bird boxes.
  • Feather Inc.
  • Ohio Elderberry – Specializes in elderberry products.
  • Ohiyo Jewelry
  • OOS – Ohio Ornithological Society – Ohio’s statewide birding network and organization for bird enthusiasts.
  • Raptor, Inc. – Raptor rehabilitators and educators in southwest Ohio.
  • Ride the Wind Wild Bird Rehab Center (New Richmond, OH) – Wildlife rehabilitators specializing in birds; connect with them on Facebook.
  • Rob Liptak Art – Hand-carved bird sculptures.
  • The Nature Conservancy of Ohio – Conservation organization preserving lands and waters across Ohio (local chapter of TNC Adams County).
  • Edge of Appalachia Preserve System (Adams County) – A network of nature preserves in Adams County managed for conservation and education.
  • Time & Optics – Binoculars, spotting scopes, tripods, and accessories. A family business for 43 years supplying birders and nature enthusiasts with high-quality optics. Buy from the people who know their product!


Symposium Supporters

Thank you to our Supporters!

None of these annual events would have been possible without the support of our sponsors and the help of local organizations and individuals. A special thank you to the following for their support.

  • Adams County Nature Society, Inc. - hosting the event
  • Adams County Travelers & Visitors Bureau
  • Wheat Ridge Amish Community
  • Murphin Ridge Inn
  • The Ohio Nature Conservancy (TNC)
  • Edge of Appalachia Preserve System: Cincinnati Museum Center
  • Midwest Native Plant Society, Inc.
  • Pennington Products
  • Time N' Optics
  • Yoder's Furniture and Bakery
  • Mary Ann Keim and Family
  • Jay and Joanne Smale

A list of all donors and sponsors will be displayed at the event.

ABS Symposium Team in alphabetical order:


  • Tom Cross, Executive Director, Adams County Travel Bureau
  • Marty Dermody
  • Ann Geise
  • Ned Keller
  • Martin McAllister, Ohio TNC
  • Kathy McDonald
  • Linda Richey
  • Joseph Raber
  • Mary Tenoever


Interested in helping with the symposium?
The Bird Symposium is always looking for new people who are interested in the natural world in Adams County to help with events, lead trips, and more! Join us! Email the team for more information at whocooksforyou@gmail.com.

Other Events

Other Nature Events

The Adams Nature Society may plan other events outside of the Birding Symposium. Future events such as field trips, programs and workshops will be posted here.   

Visiting Adams County

For more information about Adams County, we suggest following these informational links:

  • Adams County Travel & Visitors Bureau: You will find a wealth of information about Adams County on their website – including local history, upcoming events, places to stay, and things to do during your visit.
  • Ohio TNC/Edge of Appalachia: For outdoor adventures, consider hiking one of the many trails in the Richard and Lucille Durrell Edge of Appalachia Preserve system that encompasses 20,000-acres, often referred to as "The Edge", in Adams County.  Located just 75 miles east of downtown Cincinnati in Adams County, Ohio, this remarkable preserve system is the undisputed crown jewel of biological diversity in Ohio.
  • Arc of Appalachia: The Arc of Appalachia, a land trust, Our task is straightforward – to buy and preserve the most intact wildlands remaining in the heartland of Appalachia.    Properties in Adams County owned by the Arc are open for exploration. https://www.arcofappalachia.org/preserves-map.
  • Below, we invite you to enjoy this beautiful nature video showing the amazing sights and wildlife found in Adams County by local naturalist John Howard.

    We look forward to seeing you at an event and hope you take some time to enjoy all that our area has to offer!