Melanie Colón

ASN Student Research Award The ASN Student Research Award goes to six student members of the American Society of Naturalists, who hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent. have passed to candidacy in a Ph.D. program (or equivalent), must be at least one year from completing the Ph.D., and who have not received this award previously. The recipients of the award receive $2,000 and an announcement in the American Naturalist. They will be asked to send a brief report on how the money helped to sponsor their research. Applications for the Student Research Award An applicant must be a member of the ASN, must hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, must have passed to candidacy in a Ph.D. program or equivalent, and must be at least one year from completing the Ph.D. Applicants should send a two-page proposal (not including references--11 point font minimum with standard margins). In addition, applicants should include a budget with justification (one page), a short curriculum vitae (two pages), a statement from the Ph.D. supervisor that verifies that the applicant meets the eligibility requirements, and the supervisor’s recommendation supporting the research proposed by the student (one page). Projects in all types of research (i.e., laboratory, field, theory) are encouraged. A total of six proposals will receive awards. Proposals will be judged on originality, strength, and significance of the questions being addressed, prospects for significant results, and the match between the proposed research and the ASN mission.

Research: To understand the spectrum of biological diversity, its evolution, and its preservation through research at all levels, from genes to ecosystems. Education: To train experts in the study of biodiversity and the application of biodiversity science. Outreach: To promote understanding and appreciation of biodiversity and to provide independent advice on biodiversity stewardship to governments, the private sector, and the public. There are more than fifty members of the Centre. We carry out research on a wide range of topics, including evolution, systematics and phylogeny, population and community ecology, fisheries management, conservation biology, and theoretical modeling.

The Gilbert White Fellowship is not currently accepting applications, but we thank you for your interest in the program. The fellowship is intended for researchers in any discipline who have a doctoral degree and plan to devote up to one year to scholarly work in areas related to natural resources, energy, or the environment. Social scientists, as well as natural scientists, interested in policy-relevant interdisciplinary research are encouraged to consider this opportunity. Teaching and/or research experience at the postdoctoral level is preferred, though not essential. Individuals holding positions in government, as well as at academic institutions, are also eligible. Because Gilbert White Fellows will work closely with RFF researchers, selection criteria will include the nature of the applicant’s proposed research program and how it fits with work in progress and priorities within RFF’s two programs: Energy and Climate and Land, Water, and Nature. The program is open to both US and non-US citizens, provided that applicants can provide proper work and residency documentation. Gilbert F. White Fellowships may not necessarily be issued every year.

Resources for the Future improves environmental and natural resource policymaking worldwide through objective social science research of the highest caliber. RFF is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization that conducts independent research – rooted primarily in economics and other social sciences – on environmental, energy, natural resource and environmental health issues. For more than 60 years, RFF has pioneered the application of economics as a tool to develop more effective policy about the use and conservation of natural resources. Its scholars continue to analyze critical issues concerning pollution control, energy and transportation policy, land and water use, hazardous waste, climate change, biodiversity, ecosystem management, health, and the environmental challenges of developing countries. Most RFF researchers hold doctorates in economics, but others hold advanced degrees in engineering, law, ecology, city and regional planning, American government, and public policy and management, among other disciplines. In addition to the research staff, RFF has a development office, a communications office, and various research support functions, including a specialized libary. Operating as a 501©(3) tax-exempt organization, RFF has earned a reputation for conducting independent, nonpartisan research and policy analysis of the highest quality. RFF eagerly shares the results of its work with policymakers in government at all levels, environmental and business organizations, academicians, the media, and the interested public. RFF neither lobbies nor takes positions on specific legislative or regulatory proposals, although individual researchers, speaking for themselves and not for RFF, do formulate specific policy recommendations based on the findings in their work. RFF’s success is made possible by the financial support of individuals and organizations that have the vision to see the role research plays in formulating sound public policies. More than 70 percent of the money raised from individuals, corporations, private foundations, and government agencies goes directly to our research and public education activities.

The Northern Spotted Owl, a threatened species that occurs in coniferous forests in the western United States, has become a well-known environmental symbol. But how is the owl actually faring? This book contains the results of a long-term effort by a large group of leading researchers to document population trends of the Northern Spotted Owl. The study was conducted on 11 areas in the Pacific Northwest from 1985 to 2008, and its objectives were both to evaluate population trends and to assess relationships between reproductive rates and recruitment of owls and covariates such as weather, habitat, and the invasion of a closely related species, the Barred Owl. Among other findings, the study shows that fecundity was declining in five populations, stable in three, and increasing in three areas. Annual apparent survival rates of adults were declining in 10 out of 11 areas. This broad, synthetic work provides the most complete and up-to-date picture of the population status of this inconspicuous forest owl, which is at the center of the complex and often volatile debate regarding the management of forest lands in the western United States. Researchers: Steven H. Ackers, Lawrence S. Andrews, David R. Anderson, Robert G. Anthony, Brian L. Biswell, Kenneth P. Burnham, Peter C. Carlson, Raymond J. Davis, Lowell V. Diller, Katie M. Dugger, Eric D. Forsman, Alan B. Franklin, Elizabeth M. Glenn, Scott A. Gremel, Dale R. Herter, J. Mark Higley, James E. Hines, Robert B. Horn, Joseph B. Lint, James D. Nichols, Janice A. Reid, James P. Schaberl, Carl J. Schwarz, Thomas J. Snetsinger, Stan G. Sovern, Gary C. White

Reaching from interior Alaska across Canada to Labrador and Newfoundland, North America’s boreal forest is the largest wilderness area left on the planet. It is critical habitat for billions of birds; more than 300 species regularly breed there. After the breeding season, many boreal birds migrate to seasonal habitats across the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. This volume brings together new research on boreal bird biology and conservation. It highlights the importance of the region to the global avifauna and to the connectivity between the boreal forest and ecoregions throughout the Americas. The contributions showcase a unique set of perspectives on the migration, wintering ecology, and conservation of bird communities that are tied to the boreal forest in ways that may not have been previously considered.

One in a series of reissued books that have been out of print for decades, by one of the most loved naturalists of all time. A Gathering of Birds is an anthology of selected prose about birds by nineteen writers, among them Hudson, Audubon, and Thoreau, and includes brief biographical information about each. The New York Times called the book “a delightful ‘gathering’ that Mr. Peattie has presented, and his own contributions to the book make it something new and valuable in this field.”

In this volume, new human disease pandemics, arising from animals stimulated by ongoing environmental change, demonstrate the value of ornithological research into avian diseases. A group of 29 researchers addresses a diverse set of topics, including the evolutionary and ecological aspects of the host-vector systems, the effects of genetic variation, introduction success and vector ecology, evolution of resistance and virulence of pathogens, and the effects of changing geographic distributions. In addition to empirical studies under field conditions, the authors present predictive models to assess the movement and potential impact of these diseases. Other chapters delve into the potential impacts of pathogens and the key role of biosurveillance and documenting impacts of disease on bird populations.

Each year shorebirds from North and South America migrate thousands of miles to spend the summer in the Arctic. There they feed in shoreline marshes and estuaries along some of the most productive and pristine coasts anywhere. With so much available food they are able to reproduce almost explosively; and as winter approaches, they retreat south along with their offspring, to return to the Arctic the following spring. This remarkable pattern of movement and activity has been the object of intensive study by an international team of ornithologists who have spent a decade counting, surveying, and observing these shorebirds. In this important synthetic work, they address multiple questions about these migratory bird populations. How many birds occupy Arctic ecosystems each summer? How long do visiting shorebirds linger before heading south? How fecund are these birds? Where exactly do they migrate and where exactly do they return? Are their populations growing or shrinking? The results of this study are crucial for better understanding how environmental policies will influence Arctic habitats as well as the far-ranging winter habitats used by migratory shorebirds.

In 1980, the Murray Award was established to honor Joseph J. Murray, a charter member of the VSO and editor of The Raven from its inception until 1969. This annual cash award is designed to promote graduate and undergraduate research on Virginia birds. Proposals are submitted for consideration, and the winners are encouraged to present the results of their studies at the VSO annual meeting. For more info: www.virginiabirds.net/VSO_docs/Murray-newsl_f13.doc

The Virginia Society of Ornithology exists to encourage the systematic study of birds in Virginia, to stimulate interest in birds, and to assist the conservation of wildlife and other natural resources. All persons interested in those objectives are welcome as members. Present membership includes every level of interest, from professional scientific ornithologists to enthusiastic amateurs.

Eligibility Eligible scholars will be exceptional researchers, who have received their PhD prior to the start of the fellowship. Applicants should propose to be based at a Canadian academic or conservation institution, but researchers from any country are eligible for consideration. Applicants will identify a mentorship team of at least one academic and at least one conservation practitioner mentor. Applicants are encouraged to identify the mentor team early in their proposal to foster a meaningful collaboration. Support The fellowship will consist of 2 years of support (the second year contingent upon satisfactory progress) with $55,000/yr in salary and a $15,000 annual travel and research budget. Timeline Applications for the 2014 fellows are now being accepted (closing date November 1, 2013). Learn more about the 2013 fellows. Application materials Fellows will be selected based on evidence of their success and emergence as leaders in a conservation-relevant research field, as well as on the merit of their proposed research and mentorship team. Research proposals must demonstrate a candidate’s capacity to identify a key conservation challenge and must describe how the proposed work will contribute to solving the challenge. The quality and appropriateness of the mentoring team will also be a key consideration, and the proposal should highlight how the team will collaborate to address the conservation problem. Accordingly, the application consists of the following major components. First, register your application, then compile the following as a PDF: Cover letter (maximum of one page) – Only a short cover letter is requested, which should not repeat information in the application. Rather, it should be a synthesis and tell us more about yourself and your goals. Research proposal (maximum of four pages) – The proposal is freeform and can be structured as most appropriate, but it must include: Conservation problem: A successful application must clearly define a conservation problem in Canada that will be tackled and how the fellowship will contribute to solving the problem. Methods: A section (minimum one page) outlining the methods and approaches to be used, indicating any novel approaches to be developed. Mentorship: A section clarifying how the applicant and the mentorship team plan to work together to affect real-world change regarding the stated conservation problem. Impact: A section must describe the potential impact of the proposed research, specifying the communities most likely to benefit from the results. References: Additional page(s) for literature cited may be included beyond the four page limit. Statement highlighting past accomplishments demonstrating the candidate’s commitment to conservation science, outreach, and collaborations (maximum of 500 words). Copy of the applicant’s CV, listing relevant publications, grants, and experiences. Letters of support from proposed academic and conservation practitioner mentors, a minimum of two. In cases where there are multiple academic mentors, a joint letter is encouraged, when possible (ditto for cases involving multiple conservation practitioner mentors). Letters of support from two academic references. All of the material should be submitted to info@liberero.ca as a single PDF; the letters from academic references may be sent directly. More information can be found in the Fellowship FAQ page.

This post-doctoral fellowship seeks to support early-career scientists to conduct and communicate world-class research that informs conservation and management issues relevant to Canada. For instance, post-doctoral scholars are encouraged to confront emerging management challenges that are time sensitive or tackle ‘wicked’ conservation problems with novel analyses, perspectives, and novel collaborations. The Liber Ero Fellowship program aims to: Facilitate applied conservation research collaborations that links institutions, researchers, and conservation practitioners. Provide support and unique training opportunities for emerging conservation leaders at a critical stage in their careers. Increase the capacity of the Canadian scientific community to address pressing conservation and management issues. This program is supported by the Liber Ero Foundation, a philanthropic organization dedicated to the conservation of Canada’s natural resources. The Liber Ero Fellows program follows the mission and model of the Smith Fellows program based in the US and extends it to Canada. The phrase Liber Ero, Latin for I will be free, reflects the goal of the program to foster independence and creativity and is the heraldic motto of the benefactors.

Declining bird populations, especially those that breed in North American grasslands, have stimulated extensive research on factors that affect nest failure and reduced reproductive success. Until now, this research has been hampered by the difficulties inherent in observing nest activities. Video Surveillance of Nesting Birds highlights the use of miniature video cameras and recording equipment yielding new important and some unanticipated insights into breeding bird biology, including previously undocumented observations of hatching, incubation, fledging, diurnal and nocturnal activity patterns, predator identification, predator-prey interactions, and cause-specific rates of nest loss. This seminal contribution to bird reproductive biology uses tools capable of generating astonishing results with the potential for fresh insights into bird conservation, management, and theory.

Now that more than half of the world’s population lives in cities, the study of birds in urban ecosystems has emerged at the forefront of ornithological research. An international team of leading researchers in urban bird ecology and conservation from across Europe and North America presents the state of this diverse field, addressing classic questions while proposing new directions for further study. Areas of particular focus include the processes underlying patterns of species shifts along urban-rural gradients, the demography of urban birds and the role of citizen science, and human-avian interaction in urban areas. This important reference fills a crucial need for scientists, planners, and managers of urban spaces and all those interested in the study and conservation of birds in the world’s expanding metropolises.

Audubon’s mission is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats, for the benefit of humanity and the earth’s biological diversity. Projects that support these conservation ideals, either through research or education, are eligible for this grant. Projects submitted should be occurring in the Adirondack, Champlain or St. Lawrence region of Northern New York or be beneficial to species that occur in that region. Eligibility includes, but is not limited to, environmental organizations, teachers, graduate students, and research project managers.

Northern New York Audubon is dedicated to conserving and restoring natural ecosystems in the Adirondacks, focusing on habitats of particular importance to birds, other wildlife, humanity and the Earth’s biological diversity as a whole. As one of National Audubon’s 27 local chapters in New York, NNYA endeavors to "promote the protection and proper management of birds, other wildlife and their habitats through advocacy and education."

Research Grants. Grants for research projects are competitive and all applications are invited via a Request for Proposals (RFP) that is published annually in the summer issue of Bluebird and on the NABS website (www.nabluebirdsociety.org). The RFP details precisely the format and time schedule for submitting a competitive grant proposal. The deadline for submission each year is October 31, and awardees will be notified of their selection before February 1st of the next year. Broadly speaking two kinds of research grants are recognized: 1) pure research grants which examine some aspect of bluebird (or other native cavity nesting species) biology, ecology, or life cycle (e.g., a study of nestbox parasites on chick health) or, 2) applied research grants (e.g., finding more effective ways of defeating nest box predators). Regardless of whether the grant falls in the category of pure or applied research the same basic elements of the scientific method must be evident in the proposal. The proposal must clearly state the research question (or hypothesis) and it must show a thoughtful design which has proper controls, a sufficient number of replications (i.e., power) and other quality assurance measures are in place so that conclusions can be verified by some kind of statistical (simple or advanced) analysis. A proposed project budget as well as how much support is requested from NABS is required. It is important that the proposal directly show how it addresses the NABS mission as stated above. Research grants are scored by the NABS grants committee which gives award recommendations to the Board of Directors. Any questions about research grants mentioned in the RFP can be addressed by email (bdaniel@cinci.rr.com) prior to an application submission.

The Williamsburg Bird Club has over 200 members in and around the Williamsburg, Virginia area. Meetings are held once a month (except in the summer) in Room 150, Millington Hall at The College of William and Mary. Bird walks are held twice a month at New Quarter Park, and we have a monthly field trip to different locations throughout the year.

The ECWG established the awards to encourage young men and women to add to the body of knowledge of the earth, its people and the universe through exploration and field research. Examples of disciplines appropriate for support are anthropology, archaeology, ecology, entomology, botany, linguistics, ornithology, geography, ichthyology, geology, oceanography, glaciology, and similar disciplines. Grants are available to graduate students who are enrolled in a college or university in Washington, DC, Virginia, West Virginia,or Maryland and who are under the supervision of a qualified scientist or educator. The activity may occur anywhere in the world. It should be emphasized that that those expeditions supported will be for scientific purposes, in accordance with the Explorers Club’s stated objective, “to broaden our knowledge of the universe”. The grants are intended to provide supplemental funds to support fieldwork or closely related endeavors, and generally range from one to several thousand dollars. While the awards are small, former grantees have successfully used their awards to collect preliminary data leading to other awards or to augment support for items not covered elsewhere. Allowable items include travel to specialized facilities or field research locations, purchase of supplies, rental of field or research facilities, and similar items. Funds may not be used for stipends, tuition, textbooks, journals, language training, allowances for dependents, travel to scientific meetings, publication costs, reproduction, or indirect costs.

The Explorers Club Washington Group is the largest local Chapter of the international Explorers Club with headquarters in New York City.

In 1975 Lillian Stoner, a founding member of the Federation of New York State Bird Clubs (now NYSOA), donated money to the organization to establish a fund to enable a student to attend the Annual Meeting each year. The intent of the award is not to recognize past achievement but rather to foster a promising young person’s interest in birds and ornithology by offering the education and experience of the fall conference. Candidates may be anywhere along the birding skill spectrum from beginner to advanced. Our objective is to select winners whose attendance at the Annual Meeting will positively influence their desire to pursue birding and/or ornithology as a lifelong interest. NYSOA considers students who have demonstrated a sustained interest in birds, whether through independent birding, feeder watching, volunteering at a local sanctuary, photographing or painting birds, or doing research. Each winner receives a certificate and a minimum of $200 to help defray the cost of attending the Annual Meeting.

The objectives of the New York State Ornithological Association are to document the ornithology of New York State; to foster interest in and appreciation of birds; and to protect birds and their habitats.

Grants support ornithological research, conservation, and education, with particular emphasis on the birds of New England and the Northeast. The Fund supports grants for research, publication, education, and other worthy ornithology-related efforts. 1. Applying organizations must be tax-exempt under section 501©(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and must not be private foundations under section 509(a). Applications from individuals are not considered. 2. Send three electronic copies, one to the Blake-Nuttall Fund Committee Chair and one to each committee member, of a brief proposal in the following format: A) Title page: project title and brief abstract; name, address and phone number; proposed starting and completion dates; total amount requested from the Blake-Nuttall Fund. B) Narrative of up to 5 pages including a) objectives, b) brief review of what is already known or has already been done, c) project methods, d) value of the project to ornithology, e) project timetable, including a submission date for the final report, f) detailed budget, including funds applied for or expected from other sources. C) Brief statement of investigator qualifications and a resume. D) Documentary evidence of section 501©(3) tax-exempt status. 3. Grants are awarded on an annual basis from total available funds. The total available money varies annually, but rarely is below $15,000 per year. Proposals may request up to that entire amount. Applications for projects expected to last more than one year are considered, but no commitment beyond the funds available in the present year is made.

Our Mission To promote the rights and interest of the members to keep and rear pheasants, waterfowl, and other upland aquatic and ornamental birds. To collect and distribute pertinent and scientific data and information relating to keeping and rearing of pheasants, waterfowl, and other upland aquatic and ornamental birds by means of its magazine. The corporation advocates and encourages public appreciation and understanding of wildlife conservation and promotes the breeding of endangered upland game bird and waterfowl species in their pure forms. These topics are discussed in the magazine and at the annual conventions. To promote and encourage cooperation between members, other aviculturists, government officials-agencies, and zoos throughout the world in regard to the propagation, management and conservation of rare and endangered species. To promote the conservation of rare and endangered species by actively participating in international efforts to protect and preserve wild habitats and animal populations, as well as captive propagation programs. To advance public education on the need for wildlife conservation and protection, and to assume leadership in the captive propagation of rare and endangered animal species. While the American Pheasant and Waterfowl Society begrudges no one his right to keep mutations and hybrids and listing them on the species list or in the classified ads, this should not be perceived as an endorsement thereof by APWS, which is not consistent with the interpretation of the Society's mission. The views expressed in the APWS magazine are for information only and do not necessarily constitute the policy of the Directors or members. The American Pheasant & Waterfowl Society Celebrating 75 Years - 1936-2011