Fern Davies

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by 12 ornithological societies. Join or renew your membership in your ornithological society if you value the services these societies provide to you, including Ornithology Exchange and the Ornithological Council! New federal legislation introduced to protect albatrosses and petrels Of the 22 species of albatross recognized by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), 15 are threatened with extinction, and eight species are either endangered or critically endangered. More than half of all petrel species are threatened with extinction. Threats to seabirds include bycatch from longline fishing, especially from illegal, unreported and unregulated fisheries in the Southern Ocean, as well as the introduction of invasive predators, and marine pollution. The Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, or ACAP, is a legally binding international agreement promoting the conservation of several species of migratory seabirds. The agreement promotes activities that minimize harm to albatrosses and petrels, improve research of albatross and petrel conservation, and increase public awareness of the dangers facing these storied species. ACAP, which went into effect in 2004 has 13 national signatories. The United States is not among them. President George W. Bush first asked the U.S. Senate to ratify the agreement in 2008, and while President Barack Obama has listed it as a priority, the Senate has yet to take action. However, as is the case with many international agreements to which the U.S. is not a party, federal agencies often participate in activities that support the international agreement. For instance, through the State Department’s Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, the Smithsonian’s Office of International Relations, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. participates in various aspects of the Convention on Biological Diversity including the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical, and Technological Advice and the Nagoya Protocol on the Sharing of Genetic Resources). To help promote efforts that would support the goals of the ACAP, Congressman Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) introduced on 4 February 2016 legislation (H.R.4480) that ties together existing U.S. laws and statutes without substantially changing current laws in order to implement the international agreement. According to Lowenthal, “This legislation will give the U.S. more international influence to protect these endangered sea birds around the world by authorizing the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service to implement fisheries conservation measures, increase international fisheries enforcement, restore habitat, reduce non-native species, develop educational programs, and cooperate internationally.” According to National Audubon, the legislation authorizes the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to engage in activities that will improve conditions for albatrosses and petrels, including: · Habitat restoration · Control of non-native species · Research into the conservation of albatrosses and petrels · Development of programs to raise awareness of the issue · Bycatch reduction measures and research The legislation does not expand or alter the enforcement scheme for albatrosses and petrels found within U.S. jurisdiction, because these species are already protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Domestic fisheries would not be subject to additional restrictions on their activities under the proposed legislation. National Audubon encourages everyone to encourage members of Congress to support the bill. As of 8 February, the bill number is not available but it will be posted here as soon as it is known. Any legislation has an increased chance of success if it has a large number of co-signers, so you might want to send your representative (find your rep by name, state, or zip code here) a note like this: Dear (name of your representative) Of the 22 species of albatross recognized by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), 15 are threatened with extinction, and eight species are either endangered or critically endangered. More than half of all petrel species are threatened with extinction. The Albatross and Petrel Conservation Act (H.R.4480), introduced by Mr. Lowenthal on February 4, is a golden opportunity for the United States to improve wildlife conservation not just here at home, but around the world. Please co-sign this bill and vote for passage if it reaches a full House vote. (Note: If your Representative is on the House Committee on Natural Resources or the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, you should add, “Please vote for the bill when it comes before the committee.” You can add other text to your note if you like, but very short and direct is best when communicating with members of Congress because the staff members generally note only the extent of support or opposition to the bill).

The discovery process for the Himalayan forest thrush began in 2009 when it was realized that what was considered a single species, the plain-backed thrush Zoothera mollissima, was in fact two different species in northeastern India, said Pamela Rasmussen, of Michigan State University’s Department of Integrative Biology and the MSU Museum, and coordinator of MSU’s global bird sounds website AVoCet. Rasmussen was part of the team, which was led by Per Alström of Uppsala University (Sweden). Rasmussen is tied for the third-highest number of birds discovered in the world since 1950 and is ranked first for birds discovered in Asia, and Alström is second for Asia in the same time period. What first caught scientists’ attention was the plain-backed thrush in the coniferous and mixed forest had a rather musical song, whereas individuals found in the same area – on bare rocky ground above the treeline – had a much harsher, scratchier, unmusical song. “It was an exciting moment when the penny dropped, and we realized that the two different song types from plain-backed thrushes that we first heard in northeast India in 2009, and which were associated with different habitats at different elevations, were given by two different species,” Alström said. Along with keen field observations, the scientists had to do a lot of sleuthing with museum specimens. Investigations involving collections in several countries revealed consistent differences in plumage and structure between birds that could be assigned to either of these two species. It was confirmed that the species breeding in the forests of the eastern Himalayas had no name. “At first we had no idea how or whether they differed morphologically. We were stunned to find that specimens in museums for over 150 years from the same parts of the Himalayas could readily be divided into two groups based on measurements and plumage,” Rasmussen said. Further analyses of plumage, structure, song, DNA and ecology from throughout the range of the plain-backed thrush revealed that a third species was present in central China. This was already known but was treated as a subspecies of plain-backed thrush. The scientists called it Sichuan forest thrush. The song of the Sichuan forest thrush was found to be even more musical than the song of the Himalayan forest thrush. DNA analyses suggested that these three species have been genetically separated for several million years. Genetic data also yielded an additional exciting find: Three museum specimens indicated the presence of yet another unnamed species in China, the Yunnan thrush. Future studies are required to confirm this. New bird species are rarely discovered nowadays. In the last 15 years, on average approximately five new species have been discovered annually, mainly in South America. The Himalayan forest thrush is only the fourth new bird species described from India since 1949. Additional scientists who contributed to the study include Chao Zhao (China), Jingzi Xu (Sweden), Shashank Dalvi (India), Tianlong Cai (China), Yuyan Guan (China), Ruiying Zhang (China), Mikhail Kalyakin (Russia), Fumin Lei (China) and Urban Olsson (Sweden).

The Kino Bay Center for Cultural and Ecological Studies in Bahía Kino, Mexico, has been conducting research on the wading bird colonies in the region for many years. The center has also spearheaded the designation of Estero Santa Cruz as a wetland of international importance under the United Nations Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. They have published the results of their surveys from 2009-2013 in the December, 2015 issue of Waterbirds [38(4):355-363]. Diversity, Abundance and Nesting Phenology of the Wading Birds of Bahía Kino, Sonora, México Emily W. Clark, Abram B. Fleishman and Mark F. Riegner http://www.bioone.org/doi/pdf/10.1675/063.038.0412 Abstract.--The occurrence and nesting phenology of Ardeidae species and other wading birds were documented from 2009–2013 in the Bahía Kino bioregion of western Sonora, México. Two active colonies were surveyed: in a mangrove (Avicennia germinans; Rhizophora mangle) estuary and on a nearshore desert island. Thirteen species of nesting wading birds were recorded, 11 of which are year-round residents and two occurring only during the breeding season; two additional species were documented only in migration. The most abundant species was the Snowy Egret (Egretta thula), which had a peak of 234 nests in 2012. Of particular conservation interest is the Reddish Egret (E. rufescens), which had a peak of 149 nests in 2012. Potential prey of wading birds in the estuary was also sampled, with special focus on brachyuran crabs, which constitute the main prey items of the Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violacea). The rapid development of the region, and especially the establishment of large-scale mariculture operations along Estero Santa Cruz, has the potential to impact local wading bird populations, and thus an understanding of wading bird diversity, abundance and habitat use may prove critical to inform future management and conservation initiatives. The Kino Bay Center for Cultural and Ecological Studies is a Prescott College field station in Bahía Kino, a small town in the Mexican state of Sonora, on the Gulf of California. Each year the Kino Bay Center hosts over 1,000 researchers, students, resident fellows and community visitors from dozens of institutions and community groups from Mexico, the United States and other parts of the world.

The Rufous-throated Dipper or Argentine Dipper (Cinclus schulzi) is an aquatic songbird found in South America, and is part of the dipper family. It is the subject of an article in the current issue of Waterbirds. The Rufous-throated Dipper lives along rapid rocky streams in the Andes in Bolivia and Argentina at 800 m to 2500 m in elevation. The bird breeds in the alder zone at 1500 metres to 2500 m in elevation. BirdLife International has classified this species as "Vulnerable". Threats included reservoir construction, hydroelectric dams, and irrigation schemes. The current population is estimated at 3,000 to 4,000 individuals. Nests and Nest Site Characteristics of Rufous-Throated Dipper (Cinclus schulzi) in Mountain Rivers of Northwestern Argentina. Patricia N. Sardina Aragón, Natalia Politi and Rubén M. Barquez. Waterbirds 38(3) : 315-320. http://www.bioone.org/doi/pdf/10.1675/063.038.0301 The Rufous-throated Dipper (Cinclus schulzi) is an endemic and threatened bird that inhabits the mountain rivers of southern Yungas of Argentina and Bolivia. This is the rarest and least known species of the genus, in part because of its restricted distribution. The aim of this study was to describe the nests and nest sites of the Rufous-throated Dipper in mountain rivers of northwestern Argentina. Five rivers were surveyed in transects of 3 to 6 km long from 2010 to 2013. The shape, size, substrate and building material of nests and nest and non-nest characteristics were assessed and compared in plots of 2 by 2 m. Plots with nests were compared to non-nesting plots for a number of habitat characteristics. Most nests found (78.57%; n = 28) had a globular shape, were attached to rocky substrates and were built using moss. The height of nests above the water level (P = 0.02), slope (P = 0.03) and watercourse width (P

TO RENEW OR JOIN A SOCIETY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE OC WHEN RENEWING OR JOINING THROUGH MEMBERSUITE, CLICK ON THE DONATIONS BUTTON. RENEWAL NOTICES FOR 2019 GO OUT OCTOBER 8 OR DONATE THROUGH PAYPAL. What does the Ornithological Council do, and why should you care? The Ornithological Council gives voice to scientific ornithology wherever & whenever that voice should be heard in the making of policy decisions that affect ornithological research or wild bird conservation and management. The OC works with multinational, federal, and state governments and nongovernmental organizations to assure that the policies that affect the way you conduct your research have a biological basis and do not impose biologically unwarranted restrictions on your research. Permits, permits, permits: Migratory Bird Treaty Act (bird banding, scientific collecting, import/export), Endangered Species Act, CITES, Wild Bird Conservation Act, special use permits for the National Wildlife Refuge Systems, National Forest Service, research permits for the National Park Service, authorizations for BLM land, state permits, USDA APHIS import permits, CDC import permits. In Canada, working with the Canadian Wildlife Service and the provincial wildlife authorities on Migratory Bird Convention Act permits (banding, scientific collecting, import/export), SARA permits. Animal welfare: Working with USDA APHIS Animal Care on policies that affect ornithological research in the lab and in the field; working with the National Institutes of Health Office of Laboratory Animal Research and the National Science Foundation on implementation of the Animal Welfare Act through their grant policies; working with the National Academy of Science, Institute of Laboratory Animal Welfare on the authoritative guidance document; working with the AAALAC International (the private accreditation organization). For you and your IACUC, we wrote a Model Wildlife Protocol. Research integrity and peer review policies: Representing the views and concerns of the ornithological community to the federal agencies that establish national policies regarding research integrity and peer review Providing scientific information about birds: The Ornithological Council endeavors to ensure that the best ornithological science is incorporated into legislative, regulatory, and management decisions that affect birds. The scientific information you generate is made available by the OC to government, conservation organizations, industry, and private landowners; that information is provided in an unbiased manner that helps decision-makers to understand how their choices will affect wild birds. AND FOR YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL ORNITHOLOGIST, THE ORNITHOLOGICAL COUNCIL: Publishes the peer-reviewed Guidelines to the Use of Wild Birds in Research Publishes guides to permit requirements and procedures for all federal and state permits Assists individual ornithologists to get through the permit maze and trouble-shoots difficult permit problems Provides expert input to Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (in Canada, Animal Care and Use Committees) More examples of what the Ornithological Council does for you can be found in our bimonthly OC newsBRIEFS. In short? The Ornithological Council: Keeping the world safe for ornithology since 1992! The Annual Ornithological Council Pledge Break (only once per year!) Members of AOS, AFO, RRF, and WOS will soon receive annual membership renewal notices from the Ornithological Societies of North America (OSNA) via Membersuite. We hope that when you renew, you will consider contributing to the Ornithological Council. If you renew online, You can also contribute via the line for contributions to the OC, on the webpage where you enter the society membership dues and contributions. If you renew by mail, you will find a line on the printed renewal notice, at the top of the column where you will list your dues and contributions to the OSNA societies. Members of the Waterbird Society will receive renewal notices from the Schneider Group; the online renewal form has a contribution line for the OC. Those who are not joining or renewing memberships in the AOS, AFO, RRF, or WOS via Membersuite of Waterbirds via Schneider Group can contribute directly through the PayPal button on our homepage using your free PayPal account or a credit card or by check (payable to the Ornithological Council and mailed to 6512 E. Halbert Rd., Bethesda, MD 20817, USA). About 90% of OC's support comes from annual contributions from its 12 member societies but we also rely on contributions from individual ornithologists. How and why the OC was hatched As early as the 1960s, ornithologists realized that they had no effective means of providing scientific information about birds to federal and state agencies, the private for-profit sector, and the conservation community. As awareness of the need for science-based bird conservation and management grew, ornithologists needed a way to assure that ornithological science was incorporated into decisions that affect wild bird populations. At the same time, ornithologists were struggling with the growing array of permit requirements. In fact, there were occasions when ornithologists even faced possible prosecution for violation of the Migratory Bird Treat Act due to problematic implementation of the permit requirements. Dick Banks (President, AOU 1994-1996; President Wilson Ornithological Society 1991-1993) proposed the formation of an ornithological council to speak for scientific ornithology with the publication of a paper in The Auk. And so...a committee was formed. And the committee recommended that such a council be formed. The Council was founded in 1992 by seven ornithological societies in North America: American Ornithologists' Union, Association for Field Ornithology, Cooper Ornithological Society, Pacific Seabird Group, Raptor Research Foundation, Waterbird Society and Wilson Ornithological Society. In recent years, the Society of Canadian Scientists, the Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds, the Neotropical Ornithological Society, CIPAMEX, and the North American Crane Working Group have become members. The Ornithological Council - a consortium supported by 11 ornithological societies. Join or renew your membership in your ornithological society if you value the services these societies provide to you, including the Ornithological Council!

Gretchen Goldman, lead analyst, Center for Science and Democracy, lead author of the report Progress and Problems: Government Scientists Report on Scientific Integrity at Four Agencies, said that the survey asked scientists about scientific integrity, communications, and agency effectiveness. The results will have you checking the calendar to see if this is 2015 or 2006, when the Union of Concerned Scientists raised the alarm about political interference by Bush administration officials and the Inspector General of the Department of the Interior charged one high-level official with misconduct. A significant number of scientists are still unaware that their agency has a scientific integrity policy, despite the policies being in place for three years. Of those that were aware, some respondents didn’t think their agency adhered to the policy.

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by 12 ornithological societies. Join or renew your membership in your ornithological society if you value the services these societies provide to you, including Ornithology Exchange and the Ornithological Council! With the emergence of two forms of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the United States, Canada, and Mexico this past year, it is likely that ornithological researchers who do field work will be asked by their Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees (IACUCs) and/or their institution’s risk management committees to explain what precautions they will take to avoid contracting this disease. The H5N1 strain that was first identified in 1996 in China and that re-emerged in 2003 to affect more than 50 countries caused severe disease and death among those who had close and prolonged contact with infected birds. For this strain, the CDC recommends general precautions such as avoiding wild birds – hardly practical for field ornithologists. The strains that appeared in the Pacific Northwest in 2015 were identified as HPAI H5N2 and HPAI H5N8, the latter being a reassortment of H5N8 and North American strains of avian influenza. Public officials stated at the time that there is no immediate public health concern with either of these avian influenza viruses. Both H5N2 and H5N8 viruses have been found in other parts of the world and have not caused any human infection to date. The avian influenza that affected millions of chickens and turkeys in the midwest was H5N2. No human illness or mortality was reported. However, because of the extensive press coverage, it is likely that universities will focus on HPAI and its potential impacts on its faculty, staff, and students. On 16 July 2015, the USDA, USGS, and other federal agencies released an update on the species of wild birds in the United States found to have been infected with HPAI and the subtypes that were identified. The agencies have developed a broad surveillance plan, focusing on waterfowl (particularly dabbling ducks). When preparing its peer-reviewed fact sheet on zoonotic avian disease, the Ornithological Council consulted numerous experts and references and made these recommendations: o Avoid unprotected contact with feces, secretions, blood, and fluids. o Wear protective clothing including shoe covers or rubber boots, eye protection, and gloves. (That being said, peruse this blog from the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative, describing their duck-trapping and testing protocols...check out the photos!). o If you cannot do so, decontaminate and clean yourself immediately after exposure, using a detergent-based cleanser. o Disinfect or dispose of protective clothing after use. o Learn to remove gloves and protective clothing in a manner that avoids skin contact; consult your safety officer or safety manual. o Wash hands immediately with soap and water. o Use a respirator or mask to avoid inhalation of aerosolized droplets; otherwise, work upwind of birds to avoid inhaling aerosolized fecal material, feathers, and dander. o After handling birds, use detergent-based cleansers to wash hands, equipment, and clothing. Alcohol (70%) or alcohol-based cleansers or diluted household bleach (10% strength) will also kill the virus. o Avoid eating or drinking while handling birds or bird parts. o Consider having antiviral medications on hand. Ask your physician if you should take these medications on a prophylactic basis before you begin working in a country or region where H5N1 has been confirmed or along pathways used by birds migrating to, from, or through countries or regions where H5N1 occurs. Any influenza strain can become resistant to one or more drugs; genetically distinct H5N1 subtypes have already been found in Asia and some antivirals may be more effective for some subtypes than for others. Be sure to check current health information from a credible source, such as the Centers for Disease Control for both country disease status and antiviral recommendations and seek a prescription for the appropriate medication from your physician. o Consider vaccines, if they are available. The university or research institution may attempt to restrict field research. Know the disease status of the countries where you intend to work and be prepared to explain to the risk management office (or, in the United States, the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, which, in many universities, performs risk management functions) and the precautions you plan to take. It is the researcher’s responsibility to know the recommended precautions and to make arrangements to obtain and use the appropriate materials, such as disinfectants, gloves, and eye protection. Please review the OC fact sheet for information about precautions to take when working in the lab, quarantine requirements, import restrictions, and more. Please contact the Ornithological Council if your university refuses to allow you to conduct field research or take students out for field trips.

We’ve all heard the adage, “He won’t buy the cow if he can get the milk for free.” But what they never taught us is that if you don’t feed the cow, the cow will die. No milk. Yes, I know that there’s another step in the process, but dead cows can’t do that, either. Sad to say that many people who study birds enjoy free milk but seem not to understand the basic biology of cows. They enjoy the benefits provided by the ornithological societies for free but seem not to realize that the societies, like cows, need to be fed. I can hear you thinking, “What is that woman going on about? Here’s the thing. Every day, as co-administrator of OrnithologyExchange, I approve the new registrations and assign the new members to the appropriate categories. Full membership (we call it society membership) is reserved for those who are members of one of our sponsoring societies. Most others are assigned to general membership. Though it is no secret that the ornithological societies are shrinking, it is tough to have to see what that looks like, day after day, when I see how few of the new OE members are members of any one of the OE sponsoring societies. Of the 3,200 members, 1,598 are in the society member category. Now, OE is international and it stands to reason that OE members from Europe or Asia might not join societies that they perceive to be U.S.-based and that hold most of their meetings in the United States or elsewhere in the Western Hemisphere. Some of the societies, however, are actively international – particularly the Waterbird Society, the Raptor Research Foundation, and the Association of Field Ornithologists – and all the societies encourage international membership. For regular members, most societies offer discounted rates for many countries outside the U.S. And students – especially undergrads – might not be sufficiently committed to pursuing ornithology that they feel a need to join a society. Though that’s a shame, given that at least one society – the Wilson Ornithological Society - focuses on encouraging and mentoring undergraduates and even high school students. Membership in the societies is quite affordable for students, ranging from $15 to $28 per year. Some may feel that because they lack graduate degrees or work in fields other than ornithology, there is no place for them in the societies. That is simply not true. Every society welcomes non-professionals and one – the Association of Field Ornithologists – describes itself as a society of professional and amateur ornithologists dedicated to the scientific study of birds…and they really follow through When a new OE registrant is not a member of one of the societies, we try to find out who they are so we can prevent spammers from registering. More often than not, we learn that the new OE member is an ornithologist. They publish in the ornithological journals and teach ornithology. Some have been society members in the past, but no longer. Some don’t call themselves ornithologists. They use labels like “avian ecologist” or “avian conservation biologist.” Call it what you will, the study of birds is ornithology. True, you may study other, non-avian species as well, and of course, no one has sufficient funding to join a half-dozen or more societies. However, it costs little – as little as $25 – to join one of the ornithological societies and every one of them is a great value. So what is this great valuable milk that so many want to enjoy without feeding the cow? · Great journals – true, you can get most of them “free” via your institution’s subscriptions but what happens when you finish school? And what happens when you want to publish, as most will someday? If these societies can’t afford to publish their journals, you will have fewer and fewer places to publish your research. · Great meetings – true, you don’t have to be a member to attend meetings but if the societies can’t afford to hold meetings (which can be fairly costly, especially if the society wants to subsidize student travel), the meetings go away. The meetings offer amazing opportunities to meet potential mentors, advisors, and research collaborators. The meetings offer all sorts of special workshops. The Wilson Ornithological Society just held a workshop on mentoring. The American Ornithologists’ Union and the Cooper Ornithological Society offered a workshop on meeting the challenges of parenting while working in the field. At last year’s meeting in Estes Park, they offered a terrific workshop on negotiating skills. Other recent workshops include radar ornithology, introductory and advanced courses in R, scientific writing, and ornithological careers. · Support for travel to meetings and research – Every society helps students to defray the cost of traveling to meetings. Many societies also offer research awards to members. · OrnithologyExchange – I admit to bias here, as a co-founder and co-administrator of OE, but I think it is a terrific resource for ornithologists. My co-administrator and I are volunteers, so the cost of OE is extremely low but it isn’t free. The costs are covered by the ornithological societies and the Ornithological Council. · Ornithological Council – I admit to extreme bias here, as the executive director of the OCC for the past 16 years. You may not realize it, but the OC makes it easier for you to study birds. We deal with permit policies, animal welfare policies, and myriad other international, federal and state/provincial policies (U.S. and Canadian, primarily), and we make sure that your research findings reach those in government and industry, along with private landowners, when they make decisions that affect wild bird populations. We also keep you informed about policy matters pertaining to wild birds. Nearly all our support comes from the ornithological societies. Some say they don’t join a society because there are too many of them and they don’t know which one would best meet their needs. Not a problem. Browse the websites, attend a meeting, ask someone – your mentors, your advisor, the people you work with in field jobs. Some have a taxonomic focus (Pacific Seabird Group, Waterbirds, Raptor Research Foundation, North American Crane Working Group) and some are regional (BirdsCaribbean, Neotropical Ornithological Society, CIPAMEX, Society of Canadian Ornithologists/La Sociétè des Ornithologists du Canada). And you can join more than one! More information about each society is presented here, but bottom line is this: IF YOU LIKE ICE CREAM, JOIN AN ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY BECAUSE ICE CREAM IS MADE FROM MILK, MILK COMES FROM COWS, IF YOU DON’T FEED THE COW, THE COW DIES. NO ICE CREAM. IT IS THAT SIMPLE. Join a society. Any society. Lapsed members – renew. Today. Right now. No time like the present. It is so easy. And for the societies you can join/renew through the Ornithological Societies of North America joint membership service, you can also make a small donation to the Ornithological Council at the same time. What more could you want? AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION Founded in 1883, the American Ornithologists' Union (AOU) is the oldest and largest organization in the New World devoted to the scientific study of birds. Although the AOU primarily is a professional organization, its membership includes many amateurs dedicated to the advancement of ornithological science. PUBLICATIONS The AOU produces several authoritative publications of scientific information relating to birds. The Auk: Ornithological Advances is a quarterly journal that contains the results of original scientific research and book reviews. Ornithological Monographs provided an outlet for longer research papers, ranging from over 100 to 1,000 pages. The series began in 1964 and ran through 2014, with 80 volumes in total (many now open access). The AOU also publishes the Check‑List of North American Birds, the authoritative source of scientific and English names, taxonomic status, and geographic ranges of all known species of birds in North America, Central America, Hawaii, and the West Indies. The AOU South American Classification Committee is publishing a Checklist of South American Birds. Birds of North America ‑ The encyclopedic reference series jointly produced with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. Monographic series describing, in detail, the life histories of all species of birds that breed in North America. AOU members have access to the online version. ************************************************************************* ASSOCIATION OF FIELD ORNITHOLOGISTS The Association of Field Ornithologists (AFO)is a society of professional and amateur ornithologists dedicated to the scientific study and dissemination of information about birds in their natural habitats. Founded in1922 as the Northeastern Bird‑banding Association, AFO continues to be especially active in bird‑banding and development of field techniques. Additionally, AFO encourages participation of amateurs in research, and emphasizes conservation biology of birds. The geographic focus is the Western Hemisphere, with contributions to the ornithology of the Neotropics particularly encouraged. The Association's annual meetings and its quarterly Journal of Field Ornithology reflect these goals. ***************************************************************************** BirdsCaribbean Founded as the Society of Caribbean Ornithology (later, the Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds), the mission of BirdsCaribbean is to promote the scientific study and conservation of Caribbean birds and their habitats, to provide a link among ornithologists and those elsewhere, to provide a written forum for researchers in the region through the publication of the Journal of Caribbean Ornithology (formerly known as El Pitirre), and to provide data and technical assistance to governments and conservation groups in the Caribbean. ****************************************************************************** CIPAMEX (Sociedad para el Estudio y Conservación de las Aves en México A.C.) CIPAMEX is a not-for-profit and non-governmental organization whose mission is the conservation of birds and their habitats in Mexico. It has its origins in the formation of the Mexican partner of the International Council for Bird Preservation (now BirdLife International). Prominent individuals acted as representatives of the ICBP in Mexico, including Enrique Beltrán, Miguel Álvarez del Toro, and Allan R. Phillips. In the 1980's, Dr. Mario Ramos organized the Mexican Section of ICBP. The Mexican Section was a national committee that met regularly to exchange information about bird conservation inside and outside the country. In 1988, CIPAMEX A C. was legally established with eight founders. Today, there are hundreds of members: students, researchers, and amateurs in ornithology. All who have an interest in birds and their conservation are welcome to join CIPAMEX. PUBLICATIONS: CIPAMEX publishes a peer-reviewed journal called “Huitzil”, Journal of Mexican Ornithology, recognized by its quality and editorial excellence as one of the Mexican Journals of Science and Technology by CONACyT. It has also published special volumes about avian conservation in Mexico, the AICAS (IBA´s), and about the status and conservation of old-growth forest and endemic birds in the pine-oak zone of the Sierra Madre Occidental. ****************************************************************************** COOPER ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY The Cooper Ornithological Society (COS) was organized in 1893 and incorporated in 1934. The name of the Society commemorates an early California naturalist, Dr. James G. Cooper. Today the Society numbers over 3000 professional and amateur ornithologists from around the world. The purpose of the organization is to advance our knowledge of birds and their habitat. The objectives of the Cooper Ornithological Society are as follows: The observation and cooperative study of birds. The encouragement and spread of interest in bird study. The conservation of birds and wildlife in general. The publication of ornithological knowledge. PUBLICATIONS The Condor: Ornithological Applications (four issues per year) publishes original research reports and review articles pertaining to the biology of wild species of birds. Studies in Avian Biology, another COS publication, is a series of works too long for publication in The Condor. It contains both monographs and proceedings of symposia of general interest to ornithologists. It is deposited in over 600 institutional libraries. ************************************************************************ NEOTROPICAL ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY The Neotropical Ornithological Society (NOS) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the scientific study of birds and their habitats in the Neotropical Region. NOS organizes the Neotropical Ornithological Congress, a scientific conference held every four years. NOS members include researchers, research institutions, and libraries from all over the world. PUBLICATIONS NOS disseminates scientific research though its journal Ornitología Neotropical. *************************************************************************** NORTH AMERICAN CRANE WORKING GROUP The NACWG is an organization of professional biologists, aviculturists, land managers, and other interested individuals dedicated to the conservation of cranes and their habitats in North America. The NACWG sponsors a North American Crane Workshop every 3-4 years, addresses conservation issues affecting cranes and their habitats, promotes appropriate research on crane conservation and management, and promotes a better understanding and appreciate of cranes among the general public. PUBLICATIONS: The NACWG promulgates technical information including a published Proceedings of a North American Crane Workshop and a semi-annual newsletter. ****************************************************************************** PACIFIC SEABIRD GROUP The Pacific Seabird Group (PSG) is a society of professional seabird researchers and managers dedicated to the study and conservation of seabirds. PSG was formed in 1972 out of a need for increased communication among academic and government seabird researchers. The principal goals of PSG are (1) to increase the quality and quantity of seabird research through facilitating exchange of information and (2) to identify and assess the importance of threats to seabird populations and provide government agencies and others with expert advice on managing the threats and populations. PSG members include biologists, wildlife managers, students and conservationists from the United States, Mexico, Canada and Japan and 12 other countries. PUBLICATIONS Marine Ornithology is published biannually on behalf of a consortium of seabird groups: including the African Seabird Group, the Pacific Seabird Group, the Australasian Seabird Group, the Seabird Group (U.K.), the Dutch Seabird Group, and the Japan Seabird Group.. The journal is overseen by a steering committee appointed by the supporting seabird societies. Marine Ornithology is published both in hard copy and in electronic form at this, the Marine Ornithology website. For those browsing the electronic version of the journal, papers are available in Portable Document Format (PDF) so that they can be captured as exact facsimile of the printed version for reading or printing. There is no charge for viewing or downloading papers posted by Marine Ornithology. Symposia Proceedings: At irregular intervals PSG holds symposia at its annual meetings. Specialized symposia on specific problems are organized to facilitate the exchange of information. Symposia proceedings are often published. Pacific Seabird Group Symposia are initiated by one or more persons with interest in a particular topic area, resulting in a collection of papers usually resented at an annual meeting of the Pacific Seabird Group. Some symposia are further refined and then published as a Symposium of the Pacific Seabird Group. Past symposia include Seabird Enhancement through Predator and Vegetation Management, Impact of the El Nino of Seabird Biology, The Effects of Human Disturbances on Seabird Colonies. Tropical Seabird Biology, and Rare Alcids. Most of the Symposia are still in print and available for purchase. Titles of the published PSG Proceedings of Symposia as listed. Technical Publications: Manuscripts, too long for publication in Marine Ornithology, dealing with any aspect of the biology or conservation of marine birds or their environment will be considered for publication. The first number in this series was recently published ‑ Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Restoration Project Final Report, of the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Seabird Restoration Workshop. ***************************************************************************** RAPTOR RESEARCH FOUNDATION The Raptor Research Foundation (RRF) is a non‑profit scientific society whose primary goal is the accumulation and dissemination of scientific information about raptors (hawks, eagles, falcons and owls). This information is used to inform the public (both scientific and lay) about the role of raptors in nature, and to promote the conservation of raptors whose populations are threatened by human activities. The RRF's membership consists of academic researchers, government agency employees, and others interested in birds of prey. RRF was organized in 1966 and started publishing a scholarly journal in 1967. The number of members has grown to more than 1200 and, even though based in the United States, it is an international organization including members in some 50 countries. The RRF achieves its goals primarily through publication of research reports in The Journal of Raptor Research, but also holds an annual meeting at which research results are presented. The RRF cooperates with similar societies in other countries, and with universities, state, and federal natural resource conservation agencies to accomplish its goals of education and conservation. Such collaborations have led to scientific meetings in other countries, international cooperation in conservation efforts, and the publication of special reports on threatened raptors. PUBLICATIONS The Journal of Raptor Research is a quarterly, referred journal that publishes papers on any aspect of raptor biology, and book reports. **************************************************************************** SOCIETY Of CANADIAN ORNITHOLOGISTS/LA SOCIÉTÉ DES ORNITHOLOGISTES DU CANADA The Society of Canadian Ornithologists/La Société des Ornithologistes du Canada (SCO/SOC) was established in 1980, when several ornithologists felt that it was appropriate and timely to have a national ornithological society in Canada. The SCO/SOC is now active in several aspects of Canadian ornithology, its major purpose being to contribute to the progress of knowledge on Canadian birds and their conservation. The primary role of the Society is to encourage the study of birds as an important step toward the conservation and public appreciation of birds. The SCO/SOC advocates communication among those who study birds and those who wish to know more about them through a biannual newsletter - Picoides - and annual meetings. The Society issued its first special publication, entitled Biology and Conservation of Forest Birds in the fall of 1999. Currently the SCO has roughly 245 individual members. Most are studying birds professionally, employed by provincial, federal or territorial governments or by universities, or as graduate students. A few are private consultants. A significant number, however, (roughly 15%) are "amateurs;" some of these list their affiliations as bird or naturalist clubs, while some do not give an affiliation. PUBLICATIONS Together with Bird Studies Canada, SCO/SOC publishes Avian Conservation and Ecology, an open-access, online journal that focuses on the conservation, ecology, and status of birds. ************************************************************************** WATERBIRD SOCIETY The Waterbird Society, an international scientific organization, was established officially following the North American Wading Bird Conference held in Charleston, South Carolina in 1976 and named the Colonial Waterbird Group. The organization changed its name to the Colonial Waterbird Society in 1986. In 1989, the name was changed again to The Waterbird Society. The society is dedicated to the study and conservation of colonial waterbirds and works to establish better communication and coordination among those studying and monitoring colonially‑nesting aquatic birds. Reflecting its international scope and membership, Waterbirds has held its annual meeting in many countries including Mexico, Germany, Brazil, Spain, Italy, and Canada. The Society is composed of biologists, researchers, conservationists, students, and others interested in the behavior, ecology, and conservation of colonial waterbirds. PUBLICATIONS Waterbirds: the International Journal of Waterbird Biology is published quarterly. *************************************************************************** WILSON ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY The Wilson Ornithological Society, founded in 1888, is a world‑wide organization of nearly 2500 people who share a curiosity about birds. Named in honor of Alexander Wilson, the Father of American Ornithology, the Society publishes a quarterly journal of ornithology, The Wilson Journal of Ornithology, and holds annual meetings, sometimes jointly meeting with the Association of Field Ornithologists or other ornithological societies. Perhaps more than any other biological science, ornithology has been advanced by the contributions of persons in other chosen professions. The WOS recognizes the unique role of the serious amateur in ornithology. Fundamental to its mission, the Society has distinguished itself with a long tradition of promoting a strong working relationship among all who study birds. Each year the WOS awards a number of small grants for ornithological research. PUBLICATIONS The Wilson Journal of Ornithology (formerly the Wilson Bulletin) - For more than a century, the WOS has published a scholarly journal with form and content readily accessible to both professional and amateur ornithologists. The journal is a quarterly publication consisting of major articles based on original studies of birds and short communications that describe observations of particular interest. Each issue also includes reviews of new books on birds and related subjects, as well as ornithological news. Through an endowment from the late George Miksch Sutton, each issue of the Bulletin includes a full color frontispiece. The principal focus of the journal is the study of living birds, their behavior, ecology, adaptive physiology and conservation. Although most articles originate from work conducted in the western hemisphere, the geographic coverage of the journal is global.

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by 12 ornithological societies. Join or renew your membership in your ornithological society if you value the services these societies provide to you, including Ornithology Exchange and the Ornithological Council! Update 25 June: As feared, Duncan won't give up. He has now proposed an amendment to H.R.2822: ‘‘:Provided further, That none of such funds and appropriations may be used to enforce any prohibition under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.) or the Act of June 8, 1940 (chapter 278; 16 U.S.C. 668 et seq.; popularly known as the Bald Eagle Protection Act) on the accidental [sic; he is actually alluding to incidental take, not accidental take] taking of birds, before the date of the issuance of a rule that exempts such takings from such prohibitions’’. Although Duncan purports to be concerned about the unfairness of the prosecution for incidental take (which has been very, very rare and only after industries have had ample warning that they need to take measures to prevent such take), this provision bars any enforcement under the MBTA, even for deliberate or intentional take. Someone could go out and kill hundreds or thousands of birds and the USFWS and the Justice Department would be powerless to do anything. If you are concerned about this measure, write your members of Congress! Use the webform for your representative on House.gov, be sure to include your full address and zip code, keep it short and to the point. Make clear what you are asking (i.e., please vote against [bill number] and give your reason. Update 15 June: The Senate version of the CJS appropriations bill that came out of the full appropriations committee on 6/11 does not contain any provisions pertinent to the MBTA or MBTA enforcement but Rep. Duncan (the sponsor of the amendment in the House bill) is pushing for the provision to be included in a manager's amendment. A manager's amendment is usually a package of smaller amendments so if any one is important, they usually all go through. They usually negotiate the manager's amendment in advance so it is almost certain to go through. Therefore, there is still a very real chance that this bill could become law. Since this is an election year, there is a big push to get appropriations done before the August recess so this could move extremely fast. It is therefore very important, if this bill is of concern to you, that you voice your concern to your Senators ASAP. ************************************ Hard to believe, but true. Congressman Jeff Duncan (R., S.C.) offered an amendment to the House appropriations bill for Commerce, Justice, and Related Agencies (H.R.2578) that reads, "None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to prosecute or hold liable any person or corporation for a violation of section 2(a) of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. 703(a)." Which, of course, is the heart of the MBTA: §703. Taking, killing, or possessing migratory birds unlawful (a) In general Unless and except as permitted by regulations made as hereinafter provided in this subchapter, it shall be unlawful at any time, by any means or in any manner, to pursue, hunt, take, capture, kill, attempt to take, capture, or kill, possess, offer for sale, sell, offer to barter, barter, offer to purchase, purchase, deliver for shipment, ship, export, import, cause to be shipped, exported, or imported, deliver for transportation, transport or cause to be transported, carry or cause to be carried, or receive for shipment, transportation, carriage, or export, any migratory bird, any part, nest, or egg of any such bird, or any product, whether or not manufactured, which consists, or is composed in whole or part, of any such bird or any part, nest, or egg thereof, included in the terms of the conventions between the United States and Great Britain for the protection of migratory birds concluded August 16, 1916 (39 Stat. 1702), the United States and the United Mexican States for the protection of migratory birds and game mammals concluded February 7, 1936, the United States and the Government of Japan for the protection of migratory birds and birds in danger of extinction, and their environment concluded March 4, 1972, and the convention between the United States and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for the conservation of migratory birds and their environments concluded November 19, 1976. And even harder to believe, but true, but it sailed through. Unless stopped by the Senate or removed in conference committee, it will become law because, of course, the President does not have a line-item veto. Why did this happen? Hard to imagine that it wasn't a response to the USFWS announcing that it plans to issue a programmatic impact statement and a regulation to control the incidental take of birds. Of course, the USFWS has been, for some years, enforcing the MBTA against power line companies and companies that maintain oil or chemical waste pits. It has been pushing other industries such as the telecommunications industry and the wind power industry to mitigate the impacts of their activities via "voluntary guidelines." The wind industry has already pushed back by persuading Mr. Duncan to sponsor H.R. 493 which would expressly exempt incidental take. If this provision becomes law, its duration is limited to one year, as it is part of an annual appropriations bill. For that one year, it will be open season on all birds, as no one need fear prosecution.

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by 12 ornithological societies. Join or renew your membership in your ornithological society if you value the services these societies provide to you, including Ornithology Exchange and the Ornithological Council! In 1918, Congress enacted the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) that has, ever since, protected hundreds of species of birds in the United States from deliberate take. Except as allowed under hunting licenses or permits, it is a crime to take (defined by the law as pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect, or attempt to pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture, or collect) any bird protected under the law. At the time the law was enacted, Congress was concerned about the exploitation of birds for millinery, uncontrolled hunting, and other forms of deliberate take. No one thought about the many human activities that would also result in the deaths of migratory birds - activities such as the use of window glass, power lines, telecommunications towers, oil and gas exploration and extraction, wind turbines, and maintained feral cat colonies. In recent years, some courts have upheld the imposition of penalties under the MBTA for take resulting from take incidental to other lawful activities. These include electrocution from power lines and drowning in oil field waste pits or chemical waste ponds. Some have urged the USFWS to take action against fisheries that use methods that result in the death of protected bird species. However, until now, the USFWS has preferred to work with industries to encourage the development of use of methods to reduce avian mortality rather than prosecuting, perhaps due to the legal uncertainty of the applicability of MBTA with regard to incidental take. Now, however, the USFWS is about to prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) for a regulatory approach to the incidental take of MBTA species. According to the notice of intent to prepare the PEIS, the agency is considering various approaches to regulating incidental take of migratory birds, including - issuance of general incidental take authorizations for some types of hazards to birds associated with particular industry sectors - issuance of individual permits authorizing incidental take from particular projects or activities - development of memoranda of understanding with Federal agencies authorizing incidental take from those agencies' operations and activities - development of voluntary guidance for industry sectors regarding operational techniques or technologies (as is already the case with power lines and wind energy facilities) The concept of issuing permits for incidental take rests on the idea that the agency would be able to require conditions designed to reduce or even eliminate the level of take; the permittees would not be prosecuted provided they complied with those conditions. The concept is already being tested with the new 30-year incidental take permits for Bald Eagles and Golden Eagles. If a permittee fails to comply with permit conditions and avian mortality occurs, the USFWS would be able to suspend or revoke the permit and prosecute the permittee. The legal basis for prosecution in the absence of such a permit is unclear; some lower federal courts have ruled that incidental take can be the basis of liability but others have reached the opposite conclusion. A full copy of the notice is appended to this article. The USFWS states that, "... should we develop a permit system authorizing and limiting incidental take, we would not expect every person or business that may incidentally take migratory birds to obtain a permit, nor would we intend to expand our judicious use of our enforcement authority under the MBTA. The Service focuses its enforcement efforts under the MBTA on industries or activities that chronically kill birds and has historically pursued criminal prosecution under the Act only after notifying an industry of its concerns regarding avian mortality, working with the industry to find solutions, and proactively educating industry about ways to avoid or minimize take of migratory birds. Similarly, our permit program, if implemented, will focus on industries and activities that involve significant avian mortality and for which reasonable and effective measures to avoid or minimize take exist." Military readiness activities are already legally exempt from the MBTA and it should be expected that some industries will seek Congressional protection as well. For instance, the Republican-led House is considering legislation that, if enacted, would settle the issue: H.R. 493 would exempt energy companies and others who unintentionally kill or harm migratory birds from criminal penalties under MBTA. ANALYSIS FROM THE ORNITHOLOGICAL COUNCIL: The USFWS permitting offices are already so under-funded and under-staffed that they struggle under their current workloads. This has been the case for many years and continues to worsen. Without additional funding, these new permits would likely result in a massive slow-down in the issuance of all permits. However, if the proposed incidental take permits carry the substantial fees that are imposed on the eagle permits, it would allow the agency to hire more permits staff. However, the extensive analysis and negotiation typically required for incidental take permits may outstrip even this additional capacity. In other words, it could take longer to obtain scientific research permits. On the other hand, they are going to need quite a lot of ornithological research to determine what measures are or are not effective in reducing mortality!

The deadline for submissions is July 10 and note: The USFWS will not consider comments sent by email or fax. Your options are: Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments on Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2014-0018 (the docket number for this notice). U.S. mail or hand-delivery: Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-HQ-IA-2014-0018; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 5275 Leesburg Pike; MS: BPHC; Falls Church, VA 22041. The Ornithological Council will be asking the USFWS to propose an agenda item for revision, suspension, or revocation of the permit validation requirement, consistent with a petition we filed (together with the Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections and the American Society of Mammalogists) to the USFWS to revise, suspend, or revoke the requirement within the United States. We have also asked the USFWS to propose a de-listing of four species in Papua New Guinea that were blanket-listed as Birds-of-Paradise but have subsequently been determined not to be Birds-of-Paradise. If you would like to suggest other proposals but would rather not submit yourself, feel free to contact the Ornithological Council and we will consider making the proposal if we determine that there is a sufficient factual basis to do so. Sorry, but we are not in a position to make proposals for taxa other than birds, but as to implementation matters, we would consider making the proposal. Stay informed Bookmark our CITES CoP17 page and check back for updates and open public comment periods Open Public Comment Period: Submit Your Ideas Before July 10th! Today, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service published a Federal Register notice inviting the public to provide information and recommendations on resolutions, decisions, and agenda items for the United States to consider submitting for discussion at CoP17. Public comments will be accepted until July 10, 2015. Click here to read the Federal Register notice and learn how to submit comments. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is a treaty agreed to by 181 nations (referred to as "Parties) that protects species from becoming endangered or extinct because of international trade. Every two to three years, a meeting of the Conference of the Parties is held to review, discuss, and negotiate changes in the implementation of CITES, including changes in protections for certain species. The 17th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP17) to CITES will be held in South Africa in 2016 at a venue city and date to be determined. How can I contribute information or ideas for CITES CoP17? We're committed to conducting an open and transparent process as we prepare for CoP17 that considers the interests of the public, stakeholders, other federal agencies, and Congress. We will publish a series of Federal Register notices to solicit public input on the development of U.S. proposals, documents, and negotiating positions for CoP17. This process helps us to develop robust proposals and positions by taking into account a wide variety of views and anticipating potential implementation and enforcement challenges.

OC grant call for proposals 2016.pdfOC grant call for proposals 2016-esp.pdf ORNITHOLOGICAL COUNCIL SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM FOR ORNITHOLOGICAL RESEARCH IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN CALL FOR PROPOSALS The Ornithological Council (OC), a consortium of twelve scientific societies of ornithologists in the Western Hemisphere, has initiated a small grants program for projects that integrate ornithological research and conservation. Research projects that improve the likelihood of success of a specific conservation project in the region from Mexico in North America, through Central America and the Caribbean to South America are eligible to compete for funding. Preference will be given to projects focusing on resident species but benefits to migratory birds will also be considered. We are pleased to announce that this year, we will award a total of up to $10,000 for one or more grants. Grants will be made to members of any of the OC member societies. An applicant must be willing to join an OC member society if he or she receives an award and is not already a member. Grant application deadline: 31 July 2016 We are now ready to accept proposals via the online submission page: Announcement of awards: after 30 September 2016 Call for Proposals: attached to this article Application submission form All grant application materials are to be submitted through the Ornithology Exchange website. If you are not already registered for OE, you must first register. However, you need not wait for membership validation in order to apply. You may apply as soon as you have submitted your registration. PLEASE NOTE THAT YOU WILL NEED TO SIGN IN. LOOK IN THE TOP RIGHT CORNER OF THE HOME PAGE. IF YOU DO NOT SEE YOUR NAME, IT MEANS THAT YOU HAVE NOT SIGNED IN. Note: We hope to be able to fund grants for research in Cuba this year. We have contacted the U.S. State Department and are awaiting a response. As soon as we have their answer, we will make an announcement. For assistance with grant proposal submittal or other information about the grant program, please contact Ellen Paul. ORNITHOLOGICAL COUNCIL PROGRAMA DE PEQUEÑAS SUBVENCIONES PARA INVESTIGACIÓN ORNITOLÓGICA EN AMÉRICA LATINA Y EL CARIBE SOLICITUD DE PROPUESTAS El Consejo Ornitologico (OC), un consorcio de doce sociedades científicas de ornitología en el Hemisferio Occidental, ha iniciado un programa de pequeñas subvenciones que integren investigaciones ornitológicas y conservación. Las investigaciones que contribuirán a mejorar las posibilidades de éxito de proyectos de conservacion reales en la región de México en América del Norte, así como a América Central, el Caribe y América del Sur son eligibles para competir. Se dará preferencia a los proyectos que traten de especies residentes, pero los beneficios para las aves migratorias también se tendrán en cuenta. Nos complace anunciar que en 2016, nos otorgará hasta $ 10.000 (total) para una o más subvenciones.. Podrán recibir subvenciones aquellas personas que sean socios de cualquiera de las organizaciones miembros de la OC. Un solicitante debe estar dispuesto a ser socio si recibe el apoyo del programa de pequeñas subvenciones y ya no es un miembro. Fecha límite para aplicar: 31 de julio 2016 Ahora estamos listos para aceptar propuestas a través de la página de presentación en línea : Anuncio de propuestas ganadoras: despues 30 de septiembre 2016 La plena solicitud de propuestas: adjunto a este artículo Formulario de presentación de la aplicación: http://ornithologyexchange.org/oc_small_grants/awards.html Todos los materiales de la solicitud de subvención se han de presentar a través de la página web de Ornithology Exchange (OE). Si usted no está registrado para OE, primero debe registrar. Sin embargo, no es necesario esperar a la validación de miembros para aplicar. Usted puede aplicar tan pronto como se haya registrado. Usted puede aplicar tan pronto como se haya registrado. TAMBIEN, DEBE INICIAR SESION. BUSCAR EN LA ESQUINA SUPERIOR DERECHA. SI USTED NO VE SU NOMBRE, SIGNIFICA QUE NO SE HAD INDENTIFICADO. Nota: Esperamos ser capaces de financiar becas de investigación en Cuba este año. Hemos contactado con el Departamento de Estado de Estados Unidos y estamos a la espera de una respuesta . Tan pronto como tengamos su respuesta, vamos a hacer un anuncio. Para obtener ayuda con subvención propuesta presentación or otra informacion sobre el programa de subvenciones, por favor póngase en contacto con Ellen Paul.

Members of the Ornithological Community: The American Ornithologist's Union ​(​AOU)​ provides a professional home for ornithologists throughout the Western Hemisphere and is dedicated to supporting their efforts to explore and carry out the scientific research and conservation of birds. Our world is changing, with new challenges and new opportunities, and the AOU is consulting the ornithological community to assess how well we are serving you and addressing your priorities. ​ Please take a few moments to fill out our survey, designed to be ​respectful of your time (10 mins or less). We value your input whether you are a current member, lapsed member, or have never joined the AOU. If you are an ornithologist, your views are important to us. Follow this link to the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/AOUornithologistssurvey Thank you in advance for your time and thoughtful participation in this important survey. I hope to see you in July at this year's annual meeting at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK. Respectfully, Scott M. Lanyon AOU President

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by 12 ornithological societies. Join or renew your membership in your ornithological society if you value the services these societies provide to you, including Ornithology Exchange and the Ornithological Council! Due to the occurrence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Ontario, APHIS plans to impose import restrictions on imports of avian samples and specimens from this region. Restrictions are already in place for some parts of British Columbia. An APHIS import permit (VS16-3) and a certificate of treatment will be needed (unless the importing lab is USDA-certified as biosafety level 2). It is expected that the restrictions for Ontario will be the same as those previously imposed for British Columbia. Please check back here for updates. This is a complex process and those planning to import from Canada might want to contact the Ornithological Council for assistance.