Melanie Colón

The Rufford Foundation is a UK based charity. Our main remit is to offer Rufford Small Grants for nature conservation projects in the developing world. There are five stages of funding available.

Since 1991 the Swedish Club300 has contributed more than USD600,000 to bird protection projects all around the world. Projects we have supported include conservation and research on many rare, threatened or little known species like Guerney's Pitta, Hawaiian Crow, Fatu Hiva Monarch, Puaiohi, Juan Fernández Firecrown and Sumatran Ground Cuckoo. The majority of the contributions come directly from our Swedish members. The foundation is also distributing funds collected at bird fairs, or donated by persons or associations. During the last five years we have on average donated around USD5,000 to 8,000 annually. Since our funds are limited our focus is to contribute money to highly threatened or poorly known species. Below are the criteria and guidelines on how to apply for funding. We urge you to read these through carefully since failure to abide by any of the criteria may lead to the application not being considered for funding. GENERAL GUIDELINES: Only applications concerning projects aimed at birds listed as Critically Endangered (CR), Endangered (EN), Extinct in the Wild (EW) or Data Deficient (DD) on the IUCN Red List of threatened species are eligible for funding. These categories comprise about 590 of the worlds most threatened or least known species. A list of these species can be generated on the Birdlife International Data zone. Ongoing projects that receive or previously have received support from Club300 are excepted from the above criterion. The maximum annual amount granted to a single project is USD 5,000. Applications are accepted on a yearly basis. Club300 will monitor the progress in all projects that are granted financial support. HOW TO APPLY: Applications for each year must be received by July 31st. Which applications are granted will be decided by the board of Club300 at their autumn meeting and communicated to the applicants before the end of each year. Decisions by the Club300 board on which projects to support are final and cannot be appealed by the applicant. Applications are only accepted as a single PDF file sent via e-mail to birdprotection@club300.se. Applications sent by physical mail or courier are not accepted. The application must be written in English or Swedish and contain a maximum of five pages. THE APPLICATION MUST INCLUDE: Name, physical address and e-mail of the applicant. A detailed description of the project, including information on which bird species will benefit from the project, and their IUNC Red List categorization. Geographic position of the project site, please include map if needed. Budget and an estimate of costs, which should include a detailed breakdown of expenses. The amount requested from Club300 (in USD, EUR or SEK). A detailed specification on how the requested money will be used. A long term plan for the project, including planned follow-up etc. A list of other consulted donors, or sources of financial support. A note on how Club300 will be acknowledged if we decide to support the project. If you have any further questions concerning Club 300 Bird Protection, please contact us. Good luck with your application! Contact: birdprotection@club300.se

Since 1991 the Swedish Club300 has contributed more than USD600,000 to bird protection projects all around the world. Projects we have supported include conservation and research on many rare, threatened or little known species like Guerney's Pitta, Hawaiian Crow, Pale-headed Brush-finch, Puaiohi and Sumatran Ground Cuckoo. The majority of the contributions come directly from our Swedish members. The foundation is also distributing funds collected at bird fairs, or donated by persons or associations. During the last five years we have on average donated around USD8,000 annually. Since our funds are limited our focus is to contribute money to highly threatened or poorly known species.

African Bird Club Conservation Programme Please note that some of the details on this page and in particular the deadlines for the receipt of applications for awards have changed as of February 2010. The ABC's Conservation Programme supports small to medium sized conservation projects in Africa. Since 1996, it has supported a wide variety of projects including training courses, research into threatened species and promotion and awareness of conservation issues in Africa. The full list of past projects and some of the final reports can be seen here. We currently raise money from sales, donations and corporate sponsorship. Our current budget stands at over £10,000 per annum and the Club welcomes applications for Conservation Awards from individuals or institutions and for the annual Expedition Award. However because demands on the fund are great we do have to turn some proposals down so it is important that applications follow the guidelines below. ABC Expedition Award - Maximum Grant £2,000 The African Bird Club gives one annual Expedition Award for larger, more ambitious projects. Funding for these projects is often available from a number of sources. Applications for Expedition Awards must be received by the cut off dates shown below. Please download the full guidelines by clicking 'How to apply'.

African Bird Club Conservation Programme Please note that some of the details on this page and in particular the deadlines for the receipt of applications for awards have changed as of February 2010. The ABC's Conservation Programme supports small to medium sized conservation projects in Africa. Since 1996, it has supported a wide variety of projects including training courses, research into threatened species and promotion and awareness of conservation issues in Africa. The full list of past projects and some of the final reports can be seen here. We currently raise money from sales, donations and corporate sponsorship. Our current budget stands at over £10,000 per annum and the Club welcomes applications for Conservation Awards from individuals or institutions and for the annual Expedition Award. However because demands on the fund are great we do have to turn some proposals down so it is important that applications follow the guidelines below. ABC Conservation Awards - Maximum Grant £1,500 The Club aims to encourage as wide a range of ideas as possible, and funds approximately ten Conservation Awards each year. Many different types of project can be considered so long as there is a clear conservation objective. These could include: survey and research into African birds; educational projects or training courses; production of guides to the common birds of a country in local languages; interpretation material for nature reserves; other ideas will be considered. As the fund is small, several restrictions will apply: applicants must be normally resident in Africa; ideally, the requested grant from ABC should be a major part of the project budget; requests for contributions towards academic fees will not normally be considered; however funding for field projects that are being carried out as part of an academic study may be considered if funding from the academic institution is not available; We will also ask for interim and final project reports which we may choose to publish on our website or in our bulletin. Applications for Conservation Awards must be received by the cut off dates shown below. Please download the full guidelines by clicking 'How to apply'.

The Foundation's mission as set forth in Robert H. Welder's will is to conduct research and education in wildlife management and conservation. Since 1954 the Rob & Bessie Welder Wildlife Foundation has operated as a 501©(3) operating foundation. Throughout this time we have funded wildlife research and conservation education and carried out the daily operations of the Foundation and Refuge through this original foundation. For over 50 years the Welder Wildlife Foundation has provided excellence in research and education throughout Texas and the nation. We eagerly look forward to the next half century of providing outstanding wildlife research and conservation education to the public. Rarely during this time have we sought outside funding for education or research projects and never for operations. In 2009 the Rob & Bessie Welder Wildlife Foundation Trustees formed a new, non-profit foundation - The Rob & Bessie Welder Wildlife Conservation Foundation, a 501©(3) charitable foundation.

The Western Bird Banding Association (WBBA) was founded in 1925 to provide guidance and assistance to a relatively small number of western bird banders, located then primarily in Southern California. WBBA’s archives, including a photo album, were destroyed by fire in 1991; beyond what was published in WBBA's periodicals, little information survives on the organization’s history. Since 1999, WBBA has been active in facilitating the development of bander evaluation procedures through the North American Banding Council (NABC), an organization promoting sound and ethical banding principles and techniques. Many WBBA annual meetings are now preceded by NABC evaluation sessions.

The Eastern Bird Banding Association was founded in 1923:"... to encourage investigations into the biology and migration of birds by banding.... to encourage its members and other interested persons in other ornithological studies.... to encourage the cooperation of its members in the pursuit of such purposes." As of EBBA's 2007 annual meeting, the Association adopted the emblem above. ARTICLE III Emblem of the Association: The emblem of the Association shall be six birds in silhouette with two passerines, a hawk, a hummingbird, a shorebird, and duck in a circle with the Eastern Bird Banding Association, Inc., 1923 around the edge--displaying the outline of 17 eastern states of the United States of America (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida) and the District of Columbia and six eastern provinces of Canada (Ontario, Quebec, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador) symbolizing the territory of the Association.

The Rob and Bessie Welder Wildlife Foundation's graduate research fellowship program was initiated in 1956. The program is designed to promote the education of exceptionally qualified students and provide research information to manage wildlife populations. The scientific breadth of the program is suggested by the academic units of previous fellowship recipients, among them: animal behavior, biology, botany, conservation education, ecology, genetics, mammalogy, ornithology, parasitology, range science, veterinary pathology, and wildlife sciences. Fellowships are awarded directly to properly accredited U.S. colleges or universities for bona fide graduate students who are approved candidates for M.S. or Ph.D. degrees after project proposals have been submitted to and approved by the Foundation. For more information please download our Application Procedures and Fellowship Policies forms. Academic institutions are responsible for the competitive selection and supervision of fellowship recipients, subject to Foundation approval. Students working on or near the Refuge are provided dormitory apartment living quarters, utilities, office space, computer access, and such field and laboratory facilities as are available.

The Eastern Bird Banding Association seeks applications for grant awards to be used toward research using banding or other avian marking techniques. From one to five grants of up to $1000 each will be awarded with priority given to research being conducted on species that spend at least part of their life cycle in any U.S. state or Canadian province included in EBBA territory. Research studies with conservation or management implications are particularly encouraged. Applicants should submit a proposal that includes a clear research question, a project plan, a discussion of the ornithological significance of the study, a budget, and a CV. Detailed information on application format and content is available on the EBBA website. Applications that do not meet the guidelines will be rejected. Applications are typically due by February or March 15th of each year, with award announcements made no later than May 1. Grantees are asked to provide EBBA with an interim progress report and a final summary, and they are encouraged to present at least a part of the study at an annual EBBA meeting. Travel Grants for this purpose are available. Grantees are strongly encouraged to become members of EBBA. A list of recent grantees can be found on the EBBA website. Inquiries and questions can be sent to Andrea Patterson. Over 50 years ago EBBA established a Memorial Fund in memory of deceased members with income from the fund to be used to support student research in the field of ornithology using bird banding. The Fund consists of memorial contributions, dues from Life Memberships and other contributions members may make.

AOS’s James G. Cooper Early Professional Award recognizes early-career ornithological researchers for their outstanding contributions in any field of ornithology. It consists of a certificate, $500 honorarium, and a travel stipend of up to $1000 and gratis registration to attend the annual meeting. Awardees are also invited to give a plenary at the annual meeting. The award is named in honor of James G. Cooper, a pioneering naturalist and ornithologist in the western regions of North America. Candidates may nominate themselves for the award, be nominated by another member(s) of AOS, or be added to the slate of candidates by the Early Professional Awards Committee, which selects the annual awardees. The successful nominee will excel in research and show distinct promise for leadership in ornithology within and beyond North America. In addition, they must: Be a current member of AOS. Be within/up to the end of their third year post terminal degree (Master’s or PhD) or in the final nine months of their graduate studies at the time of the annual meeting. (An extra year of eligibility is granted for parental leave.) Have not received the award previously.

This award, formerly recognized by COS, is given in odd-numbered years as a cash prize of at least $1000. It is presented to the author of an outstanding paper published in the four preceding years in The Condor. The society may choose not to grant an award. Funds for the award come from a bequest from Mr. Painton. A summary of this award, with winners from 1961-1993, is published in The Condor.

At its 1993 Annual Meeting, the Cooper Ornithological Society initiated the Loye and Alden Miller Research Award, which is given for lifetime achievement in ornithological research. Loye Holmes Miller (1874-1970) began his teaching career in 1904 at the Los Angeles State Normal School which later became UCLA, and he retired in 1943. It was only in the last nine years of his active service that the Ph.D. degree was awarded and, in that time, he had two M.A. and two Ph.D. students. Alden Holmes Miller (1906-1965), Loye's son, began his teaching career in 1931 in the Department of Zoology and Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at the University of California, Berkeley. He remained on the faculty until his death 34 years later. Miller sponsored 28 Ph.D. students, 26 of them in avian biology. Among their students, those with a Ph.D. in avian biology total 166. Additionally, there are at least 40 whose Ph.D. topics were non-avian.

This award, formerly given by COS, was sponsored by Dr. Robert W. Storer and is intended to encourage the formulation of new ideas that could change the course of thinking about the biology of birds. It is given to the author(s) of scientific research articles, short communications, or commentaries (e.g., editorials, reviews) that offer unconventional ideas or innovative approaches, backed by a well-reasoned argument. The Katma Award is given only when it is merited, no more than once a year. The award consists of approximately $2500 plus a certificate, and is given at the annual meeting. Katma funds also may be used for activities that are consistent with the award, such as plenary lectures, symposia, and support of publication. A full explanation of the Katma Award was published in 2003, Volume 105(4):843 of The Condor.

This award, formerly recognized by AOU, is given to an individual who has performed continued extensive service to the society, which includes holding elected offices but emphasizes volunteered contributions and committee participation. Recipients are selected by the society's Executive Committee. The award consists of a framed certificate and honors Marion Jenkinson Mengel, who served the AOU as Treasurer and in other capacities for many years.

This award, consisting of a framed certificate and honorarium, honors extraordinary scientific contributions to the conservation, restoration, or preservation of birds and/or their habitats by an individual or small team. Schreiber was a prominent figure in the AOU, known for his enthusiasm, energy and dedication to research and conservation, particularly of seabirds.

This award recognizes outstanding and innovative contributions to ornithological research. The award consists of a medal and an honorarium. The award is named in honor of Elliott Coues, a pioneering ornithologist of the western United States and a founding member of the AOU.

This award recognizes the most outstanding article by a single or multiple authors published in The Auk over the preceding two-year period. The award will be made in even-numbered years to complement the Painton Award, which is given in odd-numbered years for the best paper published in The Condor during the preceding two-year period. The award as presented in its inaugural year consisted of a $1,000 prize. It is given in honor of Brina Kessel, former President of the AOU (1992-94) and beloved leader and mentor in ornithology.

AOS awards one year of gratis student membership to students from anywhere in the world interested in pursuing a career in ornithology. Student Membership Award winners receive the full benefits of AOS membership. These awards are administered by the Student Membership Awards Committee. Successful applicants will be notified that they are receiving a Student Membership Award in time to register early for the annual meeting and to apply for Student Travel Awards, the Student Presentation Award competition, and Student Research Awards. See the AOS Calendar for a complete list of award deadlines. Eligibility Applicants must not have previously been members of AOS (including either AOU or COS). Applicants must be (1) currently enrolled students at any level from any country, or (2) students between degree-seeking programs with intent to re-enter a degree program in the future. If you are between degree-seeking programs with intent to re-enter a degree program in the future, you should indicate this in your application, and your faculty indication of support should come from your previous supervisor and include their confirmation that you intend to re-enter a degree program in the future.

Each year, AOS confers several prestigious Student Presentation Awards to students (undergraduate, masters, and doctoral) who present an outstanding poster or oral paper at the society’s annual meeting. Each award consists of a $500 honorarium. These awards are administered by the Student & Postdoc Travel and Presentation Awards Committee. Individuals wishing to be considered for a Student Presentation Award will be required to 1) submit an abstract for the general scientific sessions and then 2) complete a separate student presentation award application through the AOS Member Portal. The Awards The Nellie Johnson Baroody Award, given for the best presentation on any topic in ornithology. The Robert B. Berry Student Award, given for the best oral presentation on a topic pertaining to avian conservation. The Mark E. Hauber Award, given for the best oral presentation on avian behavior. The A. Brazier Howell Award, given for the best presentation on any topic in ornithology. The Frances F. Roberts Award, given for the best presentation on any topic in ornithology. The AOS Council Awards, given for the best presentations on any topic in ornithology.

AOS provides travel awards for students (undergraduate, masters, and doctoral) as well as postdocs to help defray expenses to attend our annual meeting. These awards, made possible by endowed funds established through the generosity of Marcia Brady Tucker (in 1978) and Brina Kessel (in 2017), are administered by the Student & Postdoc Travel and Presentation Awards Committee. To be eligible for an award, a student must present an oral or poster presentation and must be the sole author or presenting author on co-authored presentations. Student applicants need not be members when they apply; however, awardees must be AOS members in order to receive their awards. Post-doc applicants must be members of AOS when they apply and be generally ineligible for institutional student travel awards (e.g., graduated more than a semester prior to the meeting). Students between degree-seeking programs who intend to re-enter a degree program in the future may also apply for these awards. As part of our ongoing efforts to foster a diverse and inclusive community, AOS is proud offer additional travel awards supporting individuals from underrepresented groups and/or those who have made significant contributions towards fostering a diverse and inclusive community. Membership in AOS is not required to be eligible for these awards. Students and post-docs (as described above) that wish to be considered for these awards should select the appropriate option in the application process. Applicants for travel awards under the auspices of diversity and inclusion may also apply for the general travel awards; however, to receive a regular travel award you must be a student member of AOS as described above. Awardees will not be able to receive funding for both.

The AOS Ned K. Johnson Early Investigator Award recognizes outstanding and promising work by a researcher early in their career in any field of ornithology. It consists of a certificate, $1,500 honorarium, and gratis registration to attend the annual meeting (August 9, 2021). Awardees are also invited to give a plenary at the annual meeting. The Ned K. Johnson Early Investigator Award is funded through a gift to the AOS endowment honoring Ned K. Johnson, a lifelong supporter and former AOU President (1996-1998). Candidates may apply for the award themselves, be nominated by another member(s) of AOS, or be added to the slate of candidates by the Early Professional Awards Committee, which selects the annual awardees. The successful nominee will excel in research and show distinct promise for leadership in ornithology within and beyond North America. In addition, they must: Be a current member of AOS. Have received their doctorate degree within seven years of the annual meeting (9 August 2021). (An extra year of eligibility may be granted for parental leave.) Have not received the award previously. Submit a Nomination for the Johnson Award Nominations for the Johnson Award are open. The deadline to apply is 15 January 2021, 11:59 p.m. (EST)

One of the most striking and persistent ways humans dominate Earth is by changing land-cover as we settle a region. Much of our ecological understanding about this process comes from studies of birds, yet the existing literature is scattered, mostly decades old, and rarely synthesized or standardized. The twenty-seven contributions authored by leaders in the fields of avian and urban ecology present a unique summary of current research on birds in settled environments ranging from wildlands to exurban, rural to urban. Ecologists, land managers, wildlife managers, evolutionary ecologists, urban planners, landscape architects, and conservation biologists will find our information useful because we address the conservation and evolutionary implications of urban life from an ecological and planning perspective. Graduate students in these fields also will find the volume to be a useful summary and synthesis of current research, extant literature, and prescriptions for future work. All interested in human-driven land-cover changes will benefit from a perusal of this book because we present high altitude photographs of each study area.

Paul A. Johnsgard's first glimpse of a North American ruddy duck a chestnut-brown bird with a blue bill, black head, and white cheeks led to decades of observing the eight extant species of stiff-tailed ducks. In Ruddy Ducks and Other Stifftails, he and Montserrat Carbonell introduce general readers and ornithologists to the ruddy's morphology, behavior, ecology, and diverse relatives. This richly illustrated volume highlights these unique species at a critical time, when their wetlands habitats are increasingly at risk.

The American flycatchers, also known as the tyrant flycatchers, are the largest New World family of birds. In this book, Skutch draws upon personal observations and extensive research to portray this family over its vast range, from the Canadian Arctic to Tierra del Fuego, and within their diverse habitats, to give an insight into the behaviour of the family which is more sophisticated than previously thought.