Melanie Colón

As natural habitat continues to be lost and the world steadily becomes more urbanized, biologists are increasingly studying the effect this has on wildlife. Birds are particularly good model systems since their life history, behaviour, and physiology are especially influenced by directly measurable environmental factors such as light and sound pollution. It is therefore relatively easy to compare urban individuals and populations with their rural counterparts. This accessible text focuses on the behavioural and physiological mechanisms which facilitate adaptation and on the evolutionary process that ensues. It discusses topics such as acoustics, reproductive cues, disease, and artificial feeding, and includes a series of case studies illustrating cutting edge research on these areas. Avian Urban Ecology is suitable for professional avian biologists and ornithologists as well as graduate students of avian ecology, evolution, and conservation. It will also be of relevance and use to a more general audience of urban ecologists and conservation biologists.

Neotropical Grassland Conservancy helps launch careers in conservation by providing grants and equipment to students and scientists working in grassland habitats in Central and South America. MEMORIAL GRANTS Unrestricted funds for graduate students or early career professionals for conservation research. RESEARCH EQUIPMENT Basic science equipment for scientists and students to improve their research efforts. STUDENT GRANTS Funds for graduate students to cover research expenses such as transportation and consumables.

The National Geographic Society awards grants for scientific field research and exploration through its Committee for Research and Exploration. All proposed projects must have both a geographical dimension and relevance to other scientific fields and be of broad scientific interest. Applications are generally limited to the following disciplines: anthropology, archaeology, astronomy, biology, botany, geography, geology, oceanography, paleontology, and zoology. In addition the committee is emphasizing multidisciplinary projects that address environmental issues (e.g., loss of biodiversity and habitat, effects of human-population pressures). Funding is not restricted to United States citizens. Researchers planning work in foreign countries should include at least one local collaborator as part of their research teams. The committee will not consider applications seeking support solely for laboratory work or archival research. While grants are awarded on the basis of scientific merit and exist independent of the Society's other divisions, grant recipients are expected to provide the Society with rights of first refusal for popular publication of their findings. Grants to PIs in Developing Countries: While the first priority of the CRE is to fund high-quality scientific research, there is also a particular interest in funding projects that promote the growth of scientific infrastructure in geographic locations where such infrastructure is lacking. This grant program does not pay educational tuition, nor does it offer scholarships or fellowships of any kind. Eligibility Applicants are expected to have advanced degrees (Ph.D. or equivalent) and be associated with an educational organization or institution. Independent researchers or those pursuing a Ph.D.-level degree may apply, but awards to non-Ph.D. applicants are rare. As a general rule, all applicants are expected to have published a minimum of three articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Grant Amounts While grant amounts vary greatly, most range from U.S. $15,000 to $20,000. There is no set quantity of grants awarded, but budget constraints keep the number to approximately 250 per year. As National Geographic Society funds are intended to function as complementary support, the committee strongly encourages applicants to seek additional, concurrent funding from other funding agencies. Committee grants tend to act as seed money and are given for one year's research. Sometimes, but rarely, the committee will fund a maximum of two years of research. If the project director in your project feels that there are distinctive and substantive reasons for submitting a two-year application, he or she should understand that competition is keen, and awards for two years are scarce. Grant Restrictions National Geographic Society grants may not be used for indirect costs, overhead, and other expenses not directly related to the project. Fringe benefits are also excluded, as are salaries. Funds may not be used for travel to scientific/professional meetings or conferences, legal actions, land acquisition, endowments, construction of permanent field stations, or publishing research results. Grant recipients are expected to provide the National Geographic Society with rights of first refusal for popular publication of their findings. Obtaining an Application Form Applying for a grant from the Committee for Research and Exploration is a two-step process. Step 1: Pre-Application Before receiving an application form, each project director must submit a pre-application form online. There are a few things you should know before doing so: The pre-application form can be completed in multiple sessions. You will be allowed to save your work and complete it at another time. You will be asked to upload an electronic copy of your curriculum vitae (CV) while completing the form. Instructions will be provided. Please make sure that your browser is configured to receive cookies. This system works best on Internet Explorer 5.5 and Netscape 6.0 or higher. If you have any questions about the online pre-application form, please email cre@ngs.org. The Committee for Research and Exploration accepts pre-applications throughout the year. Please submit your pre-application at least ten months prior to anticipated project dates. Within eight weeks, the committee will send a decision to the project director. If the pre-application is approved, the committee will send the project director an email with a link to the full application online. If you are a resident of Northern Europe please apply to the Global Exploration Fund. Find out more and submit an application here. Fill out pre-application. Login to access your saved application. Step 2: Application After receiving the application, the project director must complete and submit his or her application online. There are a few things he or she should know before doing so: The Committee for Research and Exploration accepts applications throughout the year. However, please allow eight months from the committee's receipt of your application for the committee to formally review and consider it. Previous grantees must first comply with all prior reporting and financial-accounting obligations before submitting applications for additional support. Grants funded by the committee are generally for one year's work in the field and laboratory. We strongly encourage electronic submission of all documents. If this is not possible, please submit your information to the following address: Committee for Research and Exploration National Geographic Society 1145 17th Street NW Washington, DC 20090-8249 U.S.A.

From the brilliantly green and glossy eggs of the Elegant Crested Tinamou—said to be among the most beautiful in the world—to the small brown eggs of the house sparrow that makes its nest in a lamppost and the uniformly brown or white chickens’ eggs found by the dozen in any corner grocery, birds’ eggs have inspired countless biologists, ecologists, and ornithologists, as well as artists, from John James Audubon to the contemporary photographer Rosamond Purcell. For scientists, these vibrant vessels are the source of an array of interesting topics, from the factors responsible for egg coloration to the curious practice of “brood parasitism,” in which the eggs of cuckoos mimic those of other bird species in order to be cunningly concealed among the clutches of unsuspecting foster parents. The Book of Eggs introduces readers to eggs from six hundred species—some endangered or extinct—from around the world and housed mostly at Chicago’s Field Museum of Natural History. Organized by habitat and taxonomy, the entries include newly commissioned photographs that reproduce each egg in full color and at actual size, as well as distribution maps and drawings and descriptions of the birds and their nests where the eggs are kept warm. Birds’ eggs are some of the most colorful and variable natural products in the wild, and each entry is also accompanied by a brief description that includes evolutionary explanations for the wide variety of colors and patterns, from camouflage designed to protect against predation, to thermoregulatory adaptations, to adjustments for the circumstances of a particular habitat or season. Throughout the book are fascinating facts to pique the curiosity of binocular-toting birdwatchers and budding amateurs alike. Female mallards, for instance, invest more energy to produce larger eggs when faced with the genetic windfall of an attractive mate. Some seabirds, like the cliff-dwelling guillemot, have adapted to produce long, pointed eggs, whose uneven weight distribution prevents them from rolling off rocky ledges into the sea. A visually stunning and scientifically engaging guide to six hundred of the most intriguing eggs, from the pea-sized progeny of the smallest of hummingbirds to the eggs of the largest living bird, the ostrich, which can weigh up to five pounds, The Book of Eggs offers readers a rare, up-close look at these remarkable forms of animal life.

In every scientific discipline there is an official language formed of words derived from Latin. Ornithology is a perfect example of how these words can be illuminating. Take Anas acuta, better known as the Northern Pintail, whose scientific name means duck and refers to the male bird's tail. Or pelagic (meaning of, related to, or occurring in sea), an important term for ocean-focused bird lovers. Latin for Bird Lovers explores and explains over 3,000 Latin words used to describe birds. It is information that is invaluable to birdwatchers worldwide: the words help define the identity and relationships among the nearly 10,000 known bird species, as well as color, pattern, size, parts of the body, the name of the ornithologist who discovered the bird, where the bird is found, or even specific behavior. The book also profiles twelve great ornithologists, has in-depth features on 20 beloved birds, and is gorgeously illustrated.

From the red grouse to the Ethiopian bush-crow, bird populations around the world can provide us with vital insights into the effects of climate change on species and ecosystems. They are among the best studied and monitored of organisms, yet many are already under threat of extinction as a result of habitat loss, overexploitation and pollution. Providing a single source of information for students, scientists, practitioners and policy-makers, this book begins with a critical review of the existing impacts of climate change on birds, including changes in the timing of migration and breeding and effects on bird populations around the world. The second part considers how conservationists can assess potential future impacts, quantifying how extinction risk is linked to the magnitude of global change and synthesising the evidence in support of likely conservation responses. The final chapters assess the threats posed by efforts to reduce the magnitude of climate change.

This book looks at 100 items that have profoundly shaped how people watched, studied and engaged with the avian world. Each item contains around 500 words on a double-page spread and include an illustration of the object in question. The book includes the objects listed below as well as many more.The range of items is international and cross-cultural. Subjects include: An Egyptian 'field guide' [early tomb decorations of birds, identifiable as species] Ornithologiae libri tres: the first British bird guide [a 1676 publication that attempted to itemise all British birds known at the time] The Dodo specimen held at the Horniman museum Systema Naturae by Carl Linnaeus [the first-ever system of scientific names in 1758, and still the international standard today] The shotgun The book, The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne by Gilbert White [1789] HMS Beagle [the ship on which Darwin made his ground-breaking discoveries] Aluminium bird rings [used to record movement and longevity of individuals and species] along with many more modern innovations including walkie talkies, pagers, radio tags and apps.

The IWLA National Conservation Scholarship program was established in 2005 to promote conservation leadership among future natural resource managers and professionals. This scholarship supports rising junior and senior college undergraduates from recognized conservation or environment-related degree programs. These degree programs may include (but are not limited to) environmental science, natural resource management, forestry, wildlife, fisheries, parks and recreation, range management, and other related sciences such as ecology, biology (conservation/ field/ marine), geology, hydrology, and zoology. The National Conservation Scholarship complements the many scholarships offered annually by IWLA chapters and state divisions.

Founded in 1922, the Izaak Walton League is one of the nation's oldest and most respected conservation organizations. With a powerful grassroots network of more than 250 local chapters nationwide, the League takes a common-sense approach toward protecting our country's natural heritage and improving outdoor recreation opportunities for all Americans. We invite you to learn about our work and to join us in supporting important conservation initiatives in your community.

In a commitment to promote higher education in the natural resources area in South Carolina, the Board of Directors of the Hampton Fund in 1992 established the scholarship program. This scholarship consists of a $2,500 scholarship awarded annually to a S.C. resident student to attend an institution of higher learning in the state with a major area of study in wildlife, fisheries, forestry, biology, zoology, marine science, environmental science or related fields. Applicants are thoroughly screened, interviewed and a winner selected through a comprehensive process established by the Board of Directors. • This fund consists of $2,500 annually, for up to four (4) consecutive years, to help a student further their education in the natural resources discipline. • The applicant must be a full time resident of South Carolina and a senior in a public or private high school in South Carolina. • The recipient must attend an institution of higher learning in South Carolina. • The recipient must have a major in the natural resources discipline such as: wildlife biology, fisheries biology, forestry, marine science or environmental science to qualify. (NOTE: General biology, pre-medical biology and veterinary science are NOT eligible for this scholarship.) • Payment will be made to the same person for four (4) consecutive years of college related to a major in the natural resources discipline. • The recipient must maintain a GPR of 2.5 or above for a given academic year to receive funds for the following year. If the GPR falls below the 2.5 average for any academic year, the student will not receive any further funds, and a new recipient will be sought. • Return both pages of the completed application, essay/autobiography, transcript of high school grades, college board scores, rank in high school class and a recent photograph no later than January 31 to HAMPTON FUND SCHOLARSHIPS Post Office 2641 Columbia, SC 29202 Application: http://hamptonwildlifefund.homestead.com/Hampton_Pate_app_2014-15.pdf

The Harry Hampton Memorial Wildlife Fund, Inc. is a private, non-profit corporation which partners with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources for the promotion of education, research, management and the administration of game and fish laws, which will benefit conservation of wildlife, marine and other natural resources in South Carolina.

Each year The Society for Northwestern Vertebrate Biology (SNVB) provides one scholarship of up to $1000 to an undergraduate or graduate student conducting vertebrate research within the geographic scope of the society: northwestern North America west of the Great Plains and north of the Mojave Desert. Scholarships are intended to support expenses associated with the proposed research project including but not limited to travel, equipment, and supplies. Tuition and stipends for student living expenses may be considered, however proposals requesting salary support will not. Students must be enrolled in an accredited institution, degree seeking, and be a member of SNVB. Applicants may become a member at the time of application. The recipient will be announced at the society’s annual meeting, which typically occurs in the spring. Recipients are expected to either present their findings at an SNVB annual meeting or submit a manuscript of publication in the society’s journal, Northwestern Naturalist, within three years of receiving the scholarship. Registration or page fees may be waived if other funding or institutional support is not available. For guidelines: http://www.thesnvb.org/scholarship-guidelines.html

The Society for Northwestern Vertebrate Biology is the longest running scientific association devoted to the study of vertebrate ecology in the Pacific Northwest. Our society strives to promote professional working relationships among ornithologists, mammalogists, herpetologists, and ichthyologists in our region. Please explore our website and be sure to check out our flagship publication, Northwestern Naturalist. If you share our passion for learning about the natural history and ecology of the Northwest consider attending our annual meeting, a great place to meet new people while learning about research that is currently being conducted in our region.

ED N. HARRISON, born in Cody, Wyoming, on September 29, 1914, was a passionate natural historian. He was an active wildlife photographer, and an avid collector of bird skins, eggs, nests, and natural history books. In 1956, Ed established the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology (WFVZ), with C.V. Duff, J.R. Pemberton, Frances Roberts, and William Sheffler serving as founding members on the Board of Directors. The WFVZ was formed at a time when many natural history museums were unwilling to add eggs to their holdings or continue to keep them, and so a respected repository for egg collections was needed. Thus, the Foundation was well-poised for becoming an important ornithological institution. Ed himself contributed approximately 11,000 egg sets, 2,000 nests, and 1,700 study skins after the founding of the WFVZ. In addition, he worked diligently to acquire other collections and to fund field expeditions to expand the Foundation's holdings, resulting in what is now one of the world's largest collections of bird's eggs and nests, and one of the largest bird reference libraries in western North America. These collections already have proven to be vital to conservation of national and international bird species. In tribute to Ed, who died on September 25th, 2002, and to his love of birds and natural history, the Western Foundation has started the Ed N. Harrison Memorial Scholarship Fund. This fund will provide one $300 scholarship annually to graduate students conducting field research projects on the breeding biology of birds. Projects should investigate questions that directly relate to the breeding biology and conservation of bird species in Central or South America. Scholarships will be awarded for use toward field equipment and travel. Applications will be accepted from February 1 to March 30, 2012, and awards will be made by the end of April 2012. If you are interested in applying for this scholarship, please contact Dr. Linnea Hall, Executive Director of the Western Foundation first before sending your application. Applications should be limited to 4 pp., and should include a synthesis of your thesis or dissertation proposal (and please identify which degree it is you are working for) as well as the objectives of your study; the importance of this work for the conservation of the species; methods; and timeline. Also include a brief statement describing how the money will be used for equipment or travel for the project. Note that travel to ornithological meetings will not be funded; only field-related travel (this includes vehicle rental and fuel, plane flights to Central America, etc.). In your initial e-mail message please indicate the school you attend, when you plan to finish, and the name of your major professor and other graduate committee members. If you are interested in contributing to this fund, please contact us, and note that all donations will go toward the student scholarships. No money will be spent on Western Foundation operating expenses or other projects. In addition, since the Western Foundation is a 501©(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization, any donations made to the Ed N. Harrison Memorial Scholarship Fund are tax-deductible.

The Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology, a 501©(3) non-profit charitable corporation, is both a natural history collection specializing in eggs and nests of birds from around the world, and a research and education institution dedicated to bird conservation. The Foundation's collections are among the largest in the world, and its mission is to contribute to the conservation of the world’s wild bird species through the accessibility of the collections and their data to researchers, educators, students, and the public. The WFVZ also contributes to bird conservation through bird education programs for scientific professionals and the public, and field- and collections-based bird conservation research projects and publications.

The Champaign County Audubon Society annually offers grants for research in ornithology in Illinois for a maximum of $1000. We invite submissions for this years’s grants. These must contain 1. A description of the research to be carried out. 2. A proposed budget. 3. Evidence of your qualifications to do the research, including a brief C.V. and a least 2 references. 4. The applicant’s name, mailing address, local phone number, and e-mail address. 5. After the completion of the research, the grantee must present the results in writing to CCAS. He/she will also be asked to give a presentation at a CCAS general meeting (typically the first Thursday in May, the year following grant award). Four copies should be submitted to Helen Parker, Conservation Chair, 103 W. Delaware Urbana, IL 61801 or to Champaign County Audubon Society P.O. Box 882 Urbana, Il 61803 and should indicate: Attention Kendeigh grant committee.

About CCAS Join the Birdnotes Email Discussion! Join Birdnotes to get the latest local bird sightings. Please contact email list manager Dan Olson with any questions. The Champaign County Audubon Society (CCAS) began as a bird watching club in 1940 and became affiliated with the National Audubon Society in 1945. Today the group includes more than 500 members. Our emphasis mirrors that of the national society, which includes conservation of all natural resources. Our mission is to promote interest, enjoyment and understanding through education about all aspects of our natural environment, and to actively encourage the protection of wildlife and the preservation and restoration of native habitat.

BirdsCaribbean offers a limited number of travel scholarships to persons that need assistance to attend the meeting. Priority for travel awards is given to persons who demonstrate that they are: active members of one or more BirdsCaribbean working groups, projects, or otherwise involved in the work of the organization planning to contribute to the meeting (e.g., by presenting a paper or poster, organizing or participating in a workshop or symposia, or by helping with registration, translation of abstracts, etc.) actively involved in conservation on their island expecting to secure or have already secured partial funding from other sources willing to assist BirdsCaribbean by volunteering their time in some way, and willing to seek opportunities to share their experiences at the meeting with their colleagues back at home.

The Neotropical Grassland Conservancy (NGC) is a 501©(3) non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the conservation of savannas, gallery forests, wetlands, and associated ecosystems in Central and South America. These Neotropical grassland ecosystems are the unheralded counterparts of the rain forest. Comprising over 250 million hectares (~625 million acres), these threatened areas receive little attention yet they host numerous threatened plants and animals, sustain fisheries, and provide water to millions of people. If these ecological systems are to be preserved, it is the in-country scientists, professors, students and landowners who will best affect attitudes and land use practices and make the difference between habitat preservation and destruction. The NGC provides equipment and grants to students and scientists from Central and South America working in grassland habitats. Proposals are reviewed quarterly by a panel of scientists and are awarded based on merit and need. We encourage growth of local conservation programs and create lasting relationships with funded research groups.

In 2005, the ASM Graduate Research Scholarship Program was established with the generosity of Paul and Frances Bauer. The Bauers committed $2000 annually for five years which provides research funding to a graduate student at a Missouri university doing ornithological research in Missouri . A request for applications is sent to university contacts in the fall, and the applications are due the following January 15. A formal review process by the ASM Scholarship Committee (Brad Jacobs, Susan Hazelwood, and Sue Gustafson) determines the scholarship recipient.

Founded in 1901, The Audubon Society of Missouri is a statewide organization dedicated to the preservation and protection of birds and other wildlife forms. Membership in The Audubon Society of Missouri Brings You: The Bluebird - quarterly journal of the ASM Birding Fellowship Spring and Fall Meetings and birding weekends Organized Input Into Conservation Issues Birding Education Support of development of sound ornithological data for Missouri

A captivating exploration of the homing instinct in animals, and what it means for human happiness and survival, from the celebrated naturalist and author of Mind of the Raven, Why We Run, and Life Everlasting. Acclaimed scientist and author Bernd Heinrich has returned every year since boyhood to a beloved patch of western Maine woods. What is the biology in humans of this deep-in-the-bones pull toward a particular place, and how is it related to animal homing? Heinrich explores the fascinating science chipping away at the mysteries of animal migration: how geese imprint true visual landscape memory; how scent trails are used by many creatures, from fish to insects to amphibians, to pinpoint their home if they are displaced from it; and how the tiniest of songbirds are equipped for solar and magnetic orienteering over vast distances. Most movingly, Heinrich chronicles the spring return of a pair of sandhill cranes to their home pond in the Alaska tundra. With his trademark “marvelous, mind-altering” prose (Los Angeles Times), he portrays the unmistakable signs of deep psychological emotion in the newly arrived birds—and reminds us that to discount our own emotions toward home is to ignore biology itself.

The Toledo Naturalists’ Association (TNA) has established a scholarship program to aid TNA members in college who are majoring in a field of study related to natural history. Each year TNA may award one or more scholarships of up to $750 under this program.

The Harold Mayfield Research Award Fund - established in 1990 to benefit undergraduate and graduate college students conducting research projects that will enhance knowledge of the flora, fauna, or geology of the Toledo area.

Our Mission Promoting popular interest in the study of natural history; encouraging conservation and wise use of natural resources; encouraging preservation of native plants, birds, and other animals; and collecting and publishing information about the flora and fauna of the Toledo area and northwestern Ohio, since 1933.