Melanie Colón

Tim's passion ran so deep and touched so many people's lives that we know it must live on. With this in mind, the Tim Schantz Memorial Foundation has been established. The Foundation will annually send a scholarship recipient to the Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival in Homer Alaska, in May to help in the student's study of migrating shorebirds. The Kachemak Bay Area, a magnificent setting, is renowned for the diversity and number of shorebird species that pass through each spring. Part of this experience will involve being on the program for the Shorebird Festival and doing an original birding presentation as well as serving as an interpretive guide for the public. For more information on Tim's Foundation or to send a donation write or send email to: Tim Schantz Memorial Scholarship 623 West Hickory Court Louisville, CO 80027

Tim Schantz, well known birder and guide, died suddenly from coronary artery disease in 2001 at the age of 36 while guiding a trip to St. Lawrence Island, Alaska. Tim had a consuming passion for birds and spent his life studying them and sharing his love and knowledge with others. The Tim Schantz Memorial Foundation was established after Tim’s death to honor his passion by promoting interest in birds and birdlife. With these goals in mind, the foundation annually awards a scholarship trip to the Kachemak Bay Shorebird festival held each May in Homer, Alaska. The foundation has also donated Tim’s extensive collection of bird books to the Prince William Sound Science Center, which has established a memorial library in Tim’s name.

In the 1980s, numerous scientific surveys documented both declining bird populations, especially among Neotropical songbirds that winter in the tropics, and the loss of tropical rain forest habitat. Drawing the seemingly obvious conclusion, scientists and environmental activists linked songbird declines to loss of tropical habitats and alerted the world to an impending ecological catastrophe. Their warnings led to the establishment of the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Program, also known as Partners in Flight, the self-proclaimed largest conservation effort in history. Looking back over more than a decade of efforts to save migrant birds, John Faaborg offers the first serious evaluation of the state of songbird populations today, the effectiveness of conservation programs such as Partners in Flight, and the reliability and completeness of scientific research on migrant birds. Taking neither an alarmist nor a complacent approach, he shows that many factors besides habitat loss affect bird populations and that Neotropical migrants as a group are not declining dramatically, though some species adapt to habitat alteration more successfully than others. Faaborg's state-of-the-art survey thus clarifies the kinds of information we will need and the conservation efforts we should undertake to ensure the long-term survival of Neotropical migrant birds.

Charles Darwin's experiences in the Galápagos Islands in 1835 helped to guide his thoughts toward a revolutionary theory: that species were not fixed but diversified from their ancestors over many generations, and that the driving mechanism of evolutionary change was natural selection. In this concise, accessible book, Peter and Rosemary Grant explain what we have learned about the origin and evolution of new species through the study of the finches made famous by that great scientist: Darwin's finches. Drawing upon their unique observations of finch evolution over a thirty-four-year period, the Grants trace the evolutionary history of fourteen different species from a shared ancestor three million years ago. They show how repeated cycles of speciation involved adaptive change through natural selection on beak size and shape, and divergence in songs. They explain other factors that drive finch evolution, including geographical isolation, which has kept the Galápagos relatively free of competitors and predators; climate change and an increase in the number of islands over the last three million years, which enhanced opportunities for speciation; and flexibility in the early learning of feeding skills, which helped species to exploit new food resources. Throughout, the Grants show how the laboratory tools of developmental biology and molecular genetics can be combined with observations and experiments on birds in the field to gain deeper insights into why the world is so biologically rich and diverse. Written by two preeminent evolutionary biologists, How and Why Species Multiply helps to answer fundamental questions about evolution--in the Galápagos and throughout the world.

Renowned evolutionary biologists Peter and Rosemary Grant have produced landmark studies of the Galápagos finches first made famous by Charles Darwin. In How and Why Species Multiply, they offered a complete evolutionary history of Darwin's finches since their origin almost three million years ago. Now, in their richly illustrated new book, 40 Years of Evolution, the authors turn their attention to events taking place on a contemporary scale. By continuously tracking finch populations over a period of four decades, they uncover the causes and consequences of significant events leading to evolutionary changes in species. The authors used a vast and unparalleled range of ecological, behavioral, and genetic data--including song recordings, DNA analyses, and feeding and breeding behavior--to measure changes in finch populations on the small island of Daphne Major in the Galápagos archipelago. They find that natural selection happens repeatedly, that finches hybridize and exchange genes rarely, and that they compete for scarce food in times of drought, with the remarkable result that the finch populations today differ significantly in average beak size and shape from those of forty years ago. The authors' most spectacular discovery is the initiation and establishment of a new lineage that now behaves as a new species, differing from others in size, song, and other characteristics. The authors emphasize the immeasurable value of continuous long-term studies of natural populations and of critical opportunities for detecting and understanding rare but significant events. By following the fates of finches for several generations, 40 Years of Evolution offers unparalleled insights into ecological and evolutionary changes in natural environments.

EFN’s Professional Development Grants (PDGs) provide support for mid-career conservationists to pursue short-term, non-degree training to upgrade their knowledge and skills through short courses, workshops, symposiums, conferences (if presenting), and professional exchanges. A limited number of PDGs are awarded throughout the year on a rolling basis to candidates that most closely meet EFN’s eligibility criteria. EFN PDGs support all training related costs including registration fees and tuition, meals and accommodations, books and materials, international travel, and local transportation. Training may take place anywhere in the world and applicants can request up to $6,500.

The terms of reference for the Dave Ankney & Sandi Johnson Graduate Research Scholarship has been developed (attached) and applications are being accepted for 2014. One MSc and one PhD Scholarship will be awarded annually to students studying any aspect of wildlife ecology or management in North America, with special emphasis on projects focused on wetlands, waterfowl or other game birds. Long Point Waterfowl will administer the scholarship, within an endowment, and an ad hoc committee, comprised of representatives from Canadian and American government and non-government organizations, will select the recipients. Eligibility: The scholarship will be awarded to students studying any aspect of wildlife ecology or management in North America, with special emphasis on projects focused on wetlands, waterfowl or other game birds. The Award may be used for any research expense other than to pay a stipend for the recipient. Frequency and Amount: Two awards of up to $2,000 (adjusted over time for inflation) will be made per year, to be paid directly to the academic supervisors of the successful recipients. The amounts awarded annually will depend on the interest accrued on the endowment and annual contributions. One award will be presented annually to a PhD Candidate and one to a MSc Candidate. Application: Applicants must submit a resume, two letters of reference from persons qualified to assess the candidate, and a research proposal (Maximum 5 pages) which should include purpose and importance of the study, methods, and a budget outlining total costs and other sources of funding received or applied for. All of these files should be combined as ONE PDF and e-mailed to Pat Kehoe: p_kehoe@ducks.ca. Deadline for receipt of applications is 1 March, award decisions will be made by 1 April and cheques will be mailed by 1 May.

Long Point Waterfowl is dedicated to waterfowl- and wetland- research, conservation, education, and the celebration of our hunting heritage. Establishment, Structure and Support for Long Point Waterfowl Long Point Waterfowl was established in the late 1980s through the conservation-minded efforts and funding provided by the Bluff’s Club (a private hunting and conservation organization concerned with long-term welfare of waterfowl at Long Point). Long Point Waterfowl is administered through Bird Studies Canada and governed by a Board of Directors and a Scientific Advisory Committee. Representatives of Bird Studies Canada, the Bluff’s Club, the Canadian Wildlife Service, Ducks Unlimited Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, S. C. Johnson Limited, the University of Western Ontario and other private interests make up the Board of Directors and Scientific Advisory Committee. Long Point Waterfowl is supported through the generosity of conservation-minded hunters as well as through numerous government, non-government and corporate interests.

We strive to preserve, protect, and improve the sport of waterfowling, particularly in the State of Washington. To that end, we are involved in the following activities: We teach respect for all waterfowl species, and improve habitat for them. We conduct educational programs related to waterfowl, conservation, sportsmanship, and hunter safety. We study, advise, recommend, and secure enactment of legislation in the interest of waterfowl hunting. And, we have a lot of fun!

In 2001, the Grand National Waterfowl Educational Trust was formed as a separate 501©3 tax exempt organization to facilitate and give emphasis to educational activities. The Trust provides scholarships to assist qualified undergraduate students studying at accredited colleges and universities offering degrees in the field of natural sciences. The Trust also encourages a better understanding of habitat preservation and wildfowl management through grants and loans to graduate students conducting wildlife research. Grand National Waterfowl Educational Trust The Trust has no salaried executives, with all of its funding dedicated to tax-exempt educational programs. The Trust receives funding and support from a variety of sources to maintain its educational and research objectives. Trust benefactors include individuals, non-profit conservation organizations, corporations and public sector agencies. All share a common interest in the future of the country’s natural resources and wildlife management. Since the scholarship program was first initiated in 1987, over $200,000 in scholarship money has been awarded to local students.

The Grand National is a non-profit Dorchester County Maryland organization founded in 1982 by a group of local men and women dedicated to promoting sound conservation practice compatible with business interest on Maryland's Eastern Shore.

Bruce Bergbom proposed a scholarship program and agreed to work up a proposal to present to the APWS Board in 1989. Bruce announced information about the American Pheasant and Waterfowl Scholarship/Grant Program in the January-February, 1992, issue of the APWS Magazine. The program was open to all individuals interested in pursuing studies in avicultural or a closely related biological field. The amount of the scholarship/grant is decided yearly by the Board of Directors and is based on available funds. Funds for the scholarships and grants are raised by participation in the annual mail raffle, donations to the annual scholarship auction held during the convention, and donations by members. The first scholarships for students were awarded in 1992. The name of the program was changed to the Charles Sivelle Scholarship/Grant Program in 1994.

The Foundation was established in October, 2000, with a generous donation from Mr. Leslie E. Tassell, a retired businessman from Grand Rapids, Michigan. At their annual meeting, the Board of Directors approved a motion that only the interest from the fund be used for projects such as protecting endangered species, establishing breeding centers, legislative issues, or other avicultural projects. A committee was appointed to oversee the fund. Members of the committee were Bernie Jager, chairman; Bev Ure, Lloyd Ure, and Don Bruning. Bernie Jager continues as chairman of the APWS committee overseeing the Leslie E. Tassell Avicultural Foundation. Other members of the committee are: Don Bruning, Edmund Newton, Bill Branch, and Don Steurer. Since 2000, the Leslie E. Tassell Avicultural Foundation has awarded $9,000.00 in scholarships and grants. A small or large donation to the Leslie E. Tassell Avicultural Foundation will help insure the freedom of aviculture for those interested in conservation, propagation, and raising endangered species in captivity. This can be done through research and the education of our young people. We hope individuals, local, and state clubs will join us in this endeavor.

This Fellowship was established in 2000 to support graduate students engaged in important waterfowl research. This competition is open to graduate students enrolled at any North American University. Subject matter for the student's research can deal with any aspect of waterfowl or wetland biology that promises to advance conservation. Fellowships will be awarded based upon: the qualifications of the applicant; the scientific soundness of the student's research proposal; originality and creativity in study design; expected contributions of the research to furthering waterfowl conservation; and the achievability of the work. One award of up to $7,000/year (U.S. funds) is available to provide personal or research support for the successful applicant. The award is renewable for up to two additional years for PhD students, once for M.Sc. students, assuming annual approval of a satisfactory progress report and the need for continuing financial support.

The purpose of the Edward D. and Sally M. Futch Graduate Fellowship is to assist in the development of talented young professionals who are dedicated to furthering the conservation of wetlands and wetland wildlife, while also advancing scientific understanding of the biology of waterfowl and wetlands in North America. This competition is open to graduate students enrolled at any North American University. Subject matter for the student's research can deal with any aspect of waterfowl or wetland biology that promises to advance conservation. Fellowships will be awarded based upon: the qualifications of the applicant; the scientific soundness of the student's research proposal; originality and creativity in study design; expected contributions of the research to furthering waterfowl conservation; and the achievability of the work. One award of up to $7,000/year (U.S. funds) is available to provide personal or research support for the successful applicant. The award is renewable for up to two additional years for PhD students, once for M.Sc. students, assuming annual approval of a satisfactory progress report and the need for continuing financial support.

Dr. Bruce Batt has retired as DU Chief Biologist after a long and productive career in waterfowl research and conservation. During his 41-­‐year career, Dr. Batt was involved in a greater diversity of issues and a broader number of landscapes important to North American waterfowl than any biologist of his generation. He made significant contributions to understanding waterfowl breeding biology, wintering ecology and wetland ecology, and he positively influenced an entire generation of waterfowl professionals. During his two decades with DU, Dr. Batt: helped establish the Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl Research; contributed to important work on mid-­‐continent ducks, Arctic geese and northern habitats; supervised DU’s initiatives in Latin America and Mexico; and helped lead DU’s conservation administration and communication efforts. In recognition of his many accomplishments, particularly his passion for the role of sound science in guiding conservation, DU has established the Dr. Bruce D. J. Batt Fellowship in Waterfowl Conservation. The purpose of this fellowship is to provide financial assistance to deserving graduate students conducting waterfowl or wetland research in North America. The competition is open to graduate students based at any North American university. It will be awarded based upon: the qualifications of the applicant; the scientific soundness of the student's research proposal; originality and creativity in study design; expected contributions of the study to wetland or waterfowl ecology; the importance of the proposed research to conservation; and achievability of the work. One award of up to $5,000/year (Canadian funds) is available to provide personal or research support for the successful applicant. The award is renewable for up to two additional years for PhD students, once for students pursuing a M.Sc. degree, assuming annual approval of a satisfactory progress report and the need for continuing financial support.

The purposes of the DUC-­‐MBNA Conservation Fellowship are to assist in the development of talented young professionals who are dedicated to furthering the conservation of wetlands and wetland wildlife, and to advance scientific understanding of the biology of waterfowl and wetlands in Canada. MBNA, a Bank of America company and a long-­‐time corporate partner of Ducks Unlimited Canada, has demonstrated a strong legacy commitment to wetland and waterfowl conservation through its sponsorship of this exciting fellowship. This fellowship program contributes greatly to DUC’s ongoing objective of helping to develop tomorrow’s conservation leaders while providing new information that DUC can apply today. The fellowship is open to Canadian graduate students enrolled at a university in Canada or abroad. Subject matter for the student's research can deal with any aspect of waterfowl or wetland biology that promises to advance conservation in Canada. Fellowships will be awarded based upon: the qualifications of the applicant; the scientific soundness of the student's research proposal; originality and creativity in study design; expected contributions of the research to furthering waterfowl conservation; and the achievability of the work. Preference will be given to proposals with demonstrable management applications. One award of up to $10,000/year (Canadian funds) is available to provide personal or research support for the successful applicant. The award is renewable for up to two additional years for PhD students, once for M.Sc. students, assuming annual approval of a satisfactory progress report and the need for continuing financial support.

The Bonnycastle Fellowship for Prairie Ecosystem Studies fosters research in prairie Canada that enhances the scientific understanding of prairie wetlands, associated habitats and wetland-­‐dependent wildlife, and contributes to the protection, restoration, or wise use of this highly altered landscape. The Bonnycastle Fellowship in Wetland and Waterfowl Biology is open to a broad range of innovative proposals for work anywhere in North America, on any aspect of wetland or waterfowl ecology that promises to advance conservation. Qualified applicants will be considered for either award based on a single application. The competition is open to graduate students based at any North American university. It will be awarded based upon: the qualifications of the applicant; the scientific soundness of the student's research proposal; originality and creativity in study design; expected contributions of the study to wetland or waterfowl ecology; the importance of the proposed research to conservation; and achievability of the work. Applications from doctoral candidates are preferred, but strong M.Sc. candidates are also urged to apply. The award of up to $8,000/year (Canadian funds) is available to provide personal or research support for successful applicants. The award is renewable for up to two additional years for PhD students, once for M.Sc. students, assuming annual approval of a satisfactory progress report and the need for continuing financial support.

This easy-to-use identification guide to the 280 bird species most commonly seen in Malaysia (including the state of Sabah and Sarawak on the island of Borneo) is perfect for resident and visitor alike. High quality photographs from some of Malaysia’s top nature photographers are accompanied by detailed species descriptions which include nomenclature, length, plumage, distribution, habits and habitat. The user-friendly introduction covers climate, vegetation, biogeography, opportunities for naturalists and the main sites for viewing the listed species. Also included is an all-important checklist of all of the birds of Malaysia encompassing, for each species, its common and scientific names as well as Malay names, its status in each state as well as its global status.

The first state-wide coverage of all species in 110 years. Status and distribution for all 427 species, seasons of occurrence and abundance. History of New Hampshire Christmas Counts. Summary of New Hampshire Hawk-watching data. Location and identity of over 4,800 museum specimens collected in the state. Summary of over 17,500 bird band returns for New Hampshire. Breeding Bird Survey results since 1966. Bibliography of over 1,200 titles covering the last 200 years

This is the first-time flexi-cover edition of this classic field guide, which is the definitive volume on the region's birdlife. This award-winning book, which was first published in 2000, was fully updated in 2009 to include 76 new species for the region that were recent new discoveries for science, taxonomic 'splits' or had been recorded there for the first time. This comprehensive field guide to the birds of South-East Asia covers all of the 1,327 species recorded in the region and each has been fully illustrated. This edition has many new artworks and 16 more colour plates than the original guide, and the text has been meticulously updated to take in all the most recent information. The vast diversity of South-East Asian birdlife attracts increasing numbers of birdwatchers each year. Covering Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Peninsular Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia, this unique and indispensable guide covers in detail the identification, voice, breeding, status, habitat and distribution of all the species and distinctive subspecies of the region.

An important tool of a birdwatcher is a good identification guide. Most cover the birds of Europe and few deal exclusively with Ireland. This first photographic identification guide to the birds of Ireland has over 1,600 photos of more than 260 species, in an easy, quick-reference format. With eight to fifteen images per species, the key identification features of each bird are shown, with concise descriptions and pointers to indicate important features. This guide is produced in association with BirdWatch Ireland, Ireland’s leading bird-conservation organisation. The purchase of this guide contributes funds to BirdWatch Ireland’s conservation and education initiatives to help protect and promote Ireland’s wild birds and habitats. Ÿ similar to: Ireland’s Garden Birds by Jim Wilson and Oran O’Sullivan.

This unique and spectacular book is the most complete and comprehensive photographic guide to the avifauna of the Western Palearctic. Written by two of the world's most respected ornithologists, this book contains the most up-to-date information available on bird identification covering all aspects of plumage, moult, ageing, sexing, voice, habitat, seasonal and altitudinal movements, distribution and behaviour. The exceptionally well informed and fully referenced text is backed up by a stunning collection of almost 3,000 photographs, illustrating all species and distinct subspecies, in flight and at rest, and in a range of plumages.

This historical survey tells the remarkable story of the development of bird art through the centuries. From the early, skilfully executed and decorative but often fanciful images of birds, to scientific illustrations produced during the ages of exploration, to modern approaches to capturing the essence of these freest of all creatures on the page or canvas. The outstanding selection of images from the unrivalled collection at the Natural History Museum includes exquisitely crafted works from some of the most famous natural history artists ever published including Audubon, Gould, MacGillivray, and Bauer. They are complemented by detailed, lively text, which interweaves ornithological science, art history, biography and travel. With fascinating details of the lives of both the artists and the birds they painted, a vivid picture is revealed. This landmark book will fascinate anyone interested in birds, natural history and art, and it is relaunched in a striking new format for autumn 2013.

Birdwatchers often come across bird names that include a person’s name, either in the vernacular (English) name or latinised in the scientific nomenclature. Such names are properly called eponyms, and few people will not have been curious as to who some of these people were (or are). Names such as Darwin, Wallace, Audubon, Gould and (Gilbert) White are well known to most people. Keener birders will have yearned to see Pallas’s Warbler, Hume’s Owl, Swainson’s Thrush, Steller’s Eider or Brünnich’s Guillemot. But few people today will have even heard of Albertina’s Myna, Barraband’s Parrot, Guerin’s Helmetcrest or Savigny’s Eagle Owl. This extraordinary new work lists more than 4,000 eponymous names covering 10,000 genera, species and subspecies of birds. Every taxon with an eponymous vernacular or scientific name (whether in current usage or not) is listed, followed by a concise biography of the person concerned. These entries vary in length from a few lines to several paragraphs, depending on the availability of information or the importance of the individual’s legacy. The text is punctuated with intriguing or little-known facts, unearthed in the course of the authors’ extensive research. Ornithologists will find this an invaluable reference, especially to sort out birds named after people with identical surnames or in situations where only a person's forenames are used. But all birders will find much of interest in this fascinating volume, a book to dip into time and time again whenever their curiosity is aroused.