Laura Bies

The U.S. Congress has left DC for the holidays, despite much unfinished business. As the end of the year approaches, little progress has been made on the appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2024, which began on October 1. The government is currently running under a continuing resolution, which expires on January 18 for four of the 12 appropriations bill and on February 2 for the remaining 8 bills. While the House has passed seven appropriations bills and the Senate has passed three, no bill has made it through both chambers. Funding for many wildlife research and conservation programs is within the Department of the Interior and EPA bill. The House has passed an Interior/EPA bill, which contains many cuts from the previous fiscal year. The Senate bill has passed the appropriations committee, but not received a vote on the Senate floor. The continuing resolution provides funding for the agencies under this bill until February 2. About the Ornithological Council The Ornithological Council is a consortium of 10 scientific societies of ornithologists; these societies span the Western Hemisphere and the research conducted by their members spans the globe. Their cumulative expertise comprises the knowledge that is fundamental and essential to science-based bird conservation and management. The Ornithological Council is financially supported by our ten member societies and the individual ornithologists who value our work. If the OC’s resources are valuable to you, please consider joining one of our member societies or donating directly at Birdnet.org. Thank you for your support!

The American Bird Conservancy, along with several partners, has filed additional claims against the Federal Aviation Administration, challenging the agency’s decision to allow SpaceEx to launch 20 Starship/Super Heavy rockets each year for the next five years at Boca Chica, Texas. They originally filed suit in April 2023. Boca Chica is an ecologically important area, with nearby Federal and state public lands surrounding used by hundreds of thousands of individual birds of many different species throughout the year. Earlier this year, the first rocket launched from the site exploded, showering the surrounding area with debris. Learn more in the press release from ABC, below. ***** PRESS RELEASE New Claims Filed Over SpaceX Rocket Launchpad Explosion: Regulators Failed to Address Dangers of Boca Chica Launches National and local environmental groups and the Carrizo/Comecrudo Nation of Texas, Inc., filed additional legal claims today against the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Today's filing focuses on the agencies' failure to fully analyze and mitigate environmental harms from the April 20 explosion of the SpaceX Starship/Super Heavy rocket and launchpad at Boca Chica in south Texas. The April 20 launch resulted in the ejection of concrete and metal thousands of feet into the surrounding lands. This included sensitive tidal flats and other habitat for migratory birdsand federally protected species covering an approximate 385-acre area, nearly 3 acres of which were sensitive dune vegetation that was severely burned. A plume of dust also blanketed a residential area more than six miles from the launchpad. SpaceX's Boca Chica launch site is surrounded by state parks and national wildlife refuge lands and important habitat for imperiled wildlife, including Piping Plovers, Northern Aplomado Falcons, Red Knots, Gulf Coast Jaguarundi, Ocelots, and the Critically Endangered Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle. Despite an ongoing lawsuit, the FAA decided that a supplemental environmental analysis wasn't warranted. The agency also refused to provide an opportunity for public comment before permitting the second launch on November 18, 2023. Today's complaint also argues that USFWS failed to address the harm from the April 20 explosion and efforts to recover thousands of chunks of concrete and metal from sensitive tidal flat habitat. The Service further failed to address excessive noise and vibrations from the first launch, including reports that noise levels greatly exceeded what was expected. “Regulators are playing Russian roulette with one of the most critical and sensitive habitats for migratory birds in the country,” said Jared Margolis, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. “Failing to do an in-depth environmental review and letting SpaceX keep launching the world's largest rockets that repeatedly explode shows a shocking disregard for wildlife and communities. SpaceX should not be given free rein to use this amazing area as a sacrifice zone.” “Approving a massive rocket test launch facility only steps from our state park and national wildlife refuge is unconscionable,” said Mary Angela Branch, board member at Save RGV. “This failed launch shows the extent of damage, not just to our wildlife and sensitive ecosystem, but to our residential, recreational, and tourist communities. The noise, debris, vibrations and explosion proved far too extreme to not be given full environmental assessment by the FAA and Fish and Wildlife Service. Failure to do so is pure negligence and exhibits a blatant disregard for our community life.” The new complaint further states that the FAA relied entirely on a SpaceX-conducted investigation of the April 20 explosion. The agency doesn't appear to have conducted an independent investigation. The FAA only required SpaceX to implement corrective actions proposed by the company itself, with no analysis of whether additional or alternative mitigation is necessary to prevent further explosions. “The Surfrider Foundation has concerns about Starship Super Heavy launches and ongoing impacts to the coastal and marine environments in the area,” said Sarah Damron, senior regional manager for the Southeast, Texas and Great Lakes region for the Surfrider Foundation. “The test launch in April resulted in a massive debris field that extended into the Gulf of Mexico, and both of the most recent test launches ended with rapid unscheduled disassembly of the launch vehicles with uncontrolled impacts. Surfrider also has ongoing concerns that operations continue to frequently shut down public access to Boca Chica Beach and the only road to it, Highway 4. This affects visitors and nearby residents, including those from Latinx, Chicanx, Indigenous, and low-income communities." One change made to the Starship/Superheavy launch facility since April was the implementation of a deluge water system, which sprays water through holes in a steel plate to cool the launchpad. Regulators acknowledge that deluge system runoff could contaminate nearby wetlands. But they failed entirely to analyze whether the steel plate will be sufficient to prevent further explosions, particularly as it erodes from further use. “SpaceX should uphold the same environmental standards we expect from other industries," said Michael J. Parr, president of American Bird Conservancy. “It's ironic that the effort to visit other planets is trashing sensitive habitats here at home — including those that are essential to threatened wildlife like the Piping Plover. We're asking again that protections be upheld for this and other threatened species.” The November 18 launch, which used an unpermitted deluge system, revealed chemical odors from the uncollected runoff into the wetlands. At least nine rockets have exploded at the Boca Chica site over the past five years. Federal officials acknowledge that further explosions are likely over the next five years. Yet the agencies tasked with protecting people and wildlife from harm are continuing to fail to fully analyze the impacts of SpaceX's activities, today's complaint notes. “The Carrizo/Comecrudo people won't stand by and watch as Boca Chica is used as a sacrifice zone for SpaceX rockets,” said Juan Mancias, tribal chair of the Carrizo/Comecrudo Nation of Texas, Inc. “Boca Chica is sacred and central to our creation story. We won't let imperialist policies threaten our cultural heritage. It is ludicrous that the FAA continues to ignore its legal duties based on erroneous and biased information provided by SpaceX.” The new complaint was filed in federal district court in Washington, D.C., by the Center for Biological Diversity, ABC, Carrizo/Comecrudo Nation of Texas, Inc., Save RGV, and Surfrider Foundation.

Maine Audubon released the results of their annual loon count. From the Maine Audubon press release: And just like that we have 40 years of loon count data for the state of Maine! On July 15, 1503 volunteer loon counters headed out to 374 lakes to gather important data, allowing Maine Audubon to calculate a population estimate for southern Maine and keep an eye on trends over time. Although weather, including some pea soup fog in the north, resulted in poor visibility for some, counters still managed to count on the highest number of lakes since the Annual Loon Count began—a great way to commemorate the 40th anniversary of this statewide volunteer effort! Though the count itself lasts only half an hour, loon count volunteers and coordinators commit to much more than just 30 minutes. From the Rangeley Lakes region to Moosehead and down to Sebago, coordinators are organizing counters on huge lakes, helping assign people to one of many survey areas, conducting outreach, and tallying up their individual lake numbers. Counters are getting out on the lakes earlier than 7 am, making sure their boat tanks are full and scouting locations and boundaries. The continued dedication from loon counters over the last 40 years is a testament to how committed people are to loons and conservation efforts in Maine. Every counter has a unique story about how they became involved or what the loons mean to them—this project is lucky to have such a range of experiences and backgrounds. So what did the 40th year of the loon count show in terms of numbers? Across the 374 lakes included, counters tallied 2,299 adults and 178 chicks. To determine the population estimate for the southern half of Maine (south of the 45th parallel, where enough lakes are covered by counters to determine a reliable estimate) we estimate the adult and chick numbers across all lakes in the southern half based on a random sample of those actually counted. Based on those calculations, we project a population of 2,892 adults and 411 chicks for the southern half of Maine. Read the rest of the release and view the graph of the Maine look population here.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service quietly announced last week that it was withdrawing the rule it had been drafting to regulate incidental take under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. An Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was issued in October 2021, announced the administration’s intention to develop a new permitting scheme for incidental take under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. That came soon after that agency revoked the rule promulgated during the Trump administration, which interpreted the Migratory Bird Treaty Act as only applying to intentional killing of birds and codified an interpretation first put forth by the Department of the Interior’s Solicitor's Office in 2017, limiting the scope of the MBTA to intentional killing of birds. The Ornithological Council submitted comments in response to USFWS’ notice that they intend to develop a new rule. The OC has also submitted several other comment letters to USFWS on this issue over the years. The agency indicated that it had received new “technical comments” that necessitated further review, but did not issue a press release. The decision to withdraw the rule has disappointed many environmental and conservation organizations, such as the American Bird Conservancy, Audubon, and Defenders of Wildlife.

We recently released a new edition of the Guidelines - you can learn more here: https://ornithologyexchange.org/articles/community/new-edition-of-the-guidelines-to-the-use-of-wild-birds-in-research-now-available-r297/

As of November 25, the Straw-headed Bulbul (Pycnonotus zeylanicus) has moved from Appendix II to Appendix I of CITES. The songbird was initially included in Appendix II in 1997. However, a recent population decline across its range in Southeast Asia resulting from its popularity in the songbird trade, in addition to habitat loss, led to a proposal to transfer it from Appendix II to Appendix I at the 2019 Conference of the Parties. Now that the species is listed as Appendix I, trade in the species will be more closely regulated. In general, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will only issue an import permit for an Appendix I species if (1) the specimens was legally obtained, (2) the trade will not be detrimental to the survival of the species, and (3) an import permit has been acquired. Next month, the CITES Secretariat will host a workshop on songbirds in Bangkok, Thailand to discuss the scale and scope of international songbird trade to consider the management and conservation priorities of songbird taxa involved in such trade. You can learn more about the CITES requirements, as well as other requirements for import permitting, in the OC's Import Guide.

The American Bird Conservancy recently petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to designate the Eastern population of Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) as a distinct population segment and to list that population as either threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. According to the petition, the current population is around 5,000 birds and is genetically distinct from other Golden Eagle populations in the U.S. Eastern Golden Eagle are not known to breed in the U.S.; many of the birds in this population nest in Quebec, Canada. ABC is concerned about the effects of wind energy projects on the Golden Eagle, among other threats. While no population of Golden Eagles has ever been listed under the ESA, the birds are already protected by both the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. Read more from ABC here. About the Ornithological Council The Ornithological Council is a consortium of scientific societies of ornithologists; these societies span the Western Hemisphere and the research conducted by their members spans the globe. Their cumulative expertise comprises the knowledge that is fundamental and essential to science-based bird conservation and management. The Ornithological Council is financially supported by our ten member societies and the individual ornithologists who value our work. If the OC’s resources are valuable to you, please consider joining one of our member societies or donating directly at Birdnet.org. Thank you for your support!

The U.S. Fish and Service is seeking public input on a draft Environmental Impact Statement and draft Barred Owl Management Strategy that addresses the threat of the non-native and invasive Barred Owl to native Northern and California Spotted Owls. The Northern Spotted Owl is protected under the Endangered Species Act, and the California Spotted Owl were proposed for listing in February 2023. The USFWS has identified competition from non-native and invasive Barred Owls as one of two main threats to the Northern Spotted Owl’s survival. The draft strategy and draft EIS are now open for a 60-day comment period. Learn more here.

The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comment on a plan to preserve and enhance habitat for eight Gunnison Sage-grouse populations on public lands across southwest Colorado and southeast Utah. Gunnison Sage-grouse are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The BLM's draft plan details five alternative management approaches for addressing the habitat and conservation needs of the species, in balance with the many other resources and activities the BLM manages for, including recreation, livestock grazing, lands and realty, wildland and prescribed fire, and energy and minerals. Comments will be accepted through February 6, 2024. Written comments can be submitted through the “Participate Now” option on the BLM National NEPA Register (preferred) or delivered to: BLM Southwest District Office, ATTN: GUSG RMPA, 2465 S. Townsend Ave, Montrose, CO 81401. Additional documents, maps, resources, and other information are also available at the online register.

From LDWF - With assistance from the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation (LWFF), Audubon Nature Institute and the Dallas Zoo, the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) added four new whooping cranes to its experimental population Sunday (Nov. 12) at LDWF’s White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area (WLWCA) in Vermilion Parish. Three of the juvenile cranes were hatched and reared at the Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center in New Orleans, part of the Audubon Nature Institute. The fourth crane was transferred as an egg to Dallas from the International Crane Foundation and was the first ever to be reared at the Dallas Zoo’s offsite breeding facility, the Whooping Crane Center of Texas, before being moved this fall to Audubon, and then to WLWCA. LDWF and the Audubon Nature Institute have been longtime leaders in whooping crane conservation in Louisiana and continue to expand their partnership with the goal of establishing a self-sustaining population of whooping cranes in the state. Whooping cranes are large-bodied, white birds with a red head and black facial markings. They measure a height of five feet and have a wingspan of 7 to 8 feet that makes them very distinctive. In flight, whooping cranes display black wing tips and a fully extended neck and legs, which extend well beyond the tail. “It is always a great day when we can continue to augment our strong whooping crane population,’’ LDWF Secretary Rob Shadoin said. “Our partnership with Audubon Nature Institute, and now the Dallas Zoo, is key to our ongoing reintroduction program. We thank them and our other partners as we continue to bring back this magnificent bird.’’ "We are proud to work with our partners on this exciting project to reintroduce whooping cranes in the state," said Richard Dunn, Assistant Curator of Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center. "Since 2017, we have sent 47 birds for release including 26 that were hatched at our facility. Every bird raised and released is one more step toward creating a sustainable population of these amazing birds in Louisiana." “This release is a monumental conservation win for the Dallas Zoo,” said Sprina Liu, Dall Zoo’s Senior Curator of Birds and Ectotherms. “We’ve been working toward this moment since 2017 when our team created the vision for the Whooping Crane Center of Texas with the goal of helping reintroduce whooping cranes to the wild. It is an honor to know we’ve played a role in giving this juvenile crane his chance to join the wild population through this collaboration with LDWF and Audubon Nature Institute.” With the release of these new juvenile cranes from the protected portion of the release pen located at WLWCA, the Louisiana population is now 85 cranes. They had disappeared entirely from the state in the 1950s as well as from much of their former range across North America. The Louisiana flock began in 2011 when 10 whooping cranes from the U.S. Geological Survey’s Patuxent Wildlife Research Center in Maryland were released at White Lake WCA to develop the non-migratory flock. This marked a significant conservation milestone with the first wild whooping cranes back in Louisiana since 1950. Read this story on the LDFW website.

The International Ornithologists’ Union has entered into a sponsorship agreement with Hunan Global Messenger Technology Company, LTD. Global Messengermanufactures and sells a wide range of animal tracking products, many of which are designed for research on birds. In addition to direct financial support for the IOU, GlobalMessenger has offered a 5% discount on their products to IOU members, and they have established an equipment granting program that can provide free tracking devices and support to bird researchers, especially those who are early-career researchers (i.e. students, post-docs, and others initiating a career in wildlife biology). To learn more about Global Messenger, visit: https://www.gm-tracking.com/ To learn about and apply for equipment grants please visit: https://ousurvey.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5iPqYhWkhyXPCHI

Read the Wilson Ornithological Society's response in support here: https://wilsonsociety.org/2023/11/03/wos-response-to-bird-names-decision/

CHICAGO (November 1, 2023)—Today the American Ornithological Society (AOS) announced that in an effort to address past wrongs and engage far more people in the enjoyment, protection, and study of birds, it will change all English bird names currently named after people within its geographic jurisdiction. The AOS will also change the process by which English names are selected for bird species. The effort will begin in 2024 and will focus initially on 70–80 bird species that occur primarily within the U.S. and Canada. “There is power in a name, and some English bird names have associations with the past that continue to be exclusionary and harmful today. We need a much more inclusive and engaging scientific process that focuses attention on the unique features and beauty of the birds themselves,” said AOS President Colleen Handel, Ph.D., a research wildlife biologist with the U.S. Geological Survey in Alaska. “Everyone who loves and cares about birds should be able to enjoy and study them freely—and birds need our help now more than ever.” Ornithologists have long grappled with historical and contemporary practices that contribute to the exclusion of Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, including how birds are named. For example, in 2020, the AOS renamed a small prairie songbird found on the Great Plains to “Thick-billed Longspur.” The bird’s original name—honoring John P. McCown, an amateur naturalist who later became a general in the Confederate Army during the U.S. Civil War—was perceived as a painful link to slavery and racism. Today, the AOS is taking decisive action to reframe the issue of birds named after people altogether. Specifically, the scientific society is announcing three changes to the way it and its predecessor organizations have operated since the 1880s: The AOS commits to changing all English-language names of birds within its geographic jurisdiction that are named directly after people (eponyms), along with other names deemed offensive and exclusionary, focusing first on those species that occur primarily within the U.S. or Canada. The AOS commits to establishing a new committee to oversee the assignment of all English common names for species within the AOS’s jurisdiction; this committee will broaden participation by including a diverse representation of individuals with expertise in the social sciences, communications, ornithology, and taxonomy. The AOS commits to actively involving the public in the process of selecting new English bird names. “As scientists, we work to eliminate bias in science. But there has been historic bias in how birds are named, and who might have a bird named in their honor. Exclusionary naming conventions developed in the 1800s, clouded by racism and misogyny, don't work for us today, and the time has come for us to transform this process and redirect the focus to the birds, where it belongs,” said Judith Scarl, Ph.D., AOS Executive Director and CEO. “I am proud to be part of this new vision and am excited to work in partnership with a broad array of experts and bird lovers in creating an inclusive naming structure.” North America has lost nearly 3 billion birds since 1970. Says Scarl, “To reverse these alarming bird population declines, we need as many people as possible to get excited about birds and unite to protect them.” Since 1886, the AOS and its predecessor, the American Ornithologists’ Union, have maintained a list of official English-language names for birds in North America (and more recently, South America). These names are widely used by schools and universities, government agencies, conservation organizations, the news media, artists and writers, birders and photographers, and many other members of the English-speaking public worldwide. These English names are often updated as scientists discover new information about the ecology and evolution of these birds. In addition to their official English names, birds, like all living things, have a two-part scientific name that scientists use to communicate among themselves across languages and nationalities. For example, Haliaeetus leucocephalus is the scientific name for the Bald Eagle. Scientific names will not be changed as a part of the AOS English bird names initiative, but they are regularly reviewed and updated by the AOS’s North American and South American classification committees in response to new scientific research and following the naming rules of the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature. The AOS will conduct an open, inclusive, and scientifically rigorous pilot program in 2024 to develop its new approach to English bird names in the U.S. and Canada. Additionally, the AOS has come to see its authority over the English names of Latin American birds in a new light and has committed to engaging in a broader set of conversations with ornithologists and organizations in Latin America before proceeding with Latin American name changes. Interested parties are invited to follow this initiative’s progress at www.americanornithology.org and @AmOrnith on major social media platforms over the coming months and years.

The Ornithological Council has submitted comments to the U.S. Geological Survey regarding the forms that the agency requires for bird banding permit applications and renewals. In the comments, the OC asked the Bird Banding Laboratory to clarify some of the questions on the banding permit application, including questions about what capture methods would be used and what additional authorizations, such as mouth or cloacal swabs, are being requested. Read the Ornithological COuncil’s comments here.

The Canadian Council on Animal Care is forming a new subcommittee of volunteer experts to update the CCAC guidelines on the euthanasia of animals used in science, based on expert peer advice and current interpretation of scientific evidence. The current guidelines were adopted in 2010 and are available here. Those guidelines cover all species, as will the new guidance. They are general guidelines intended to provide information on euthanasia that apply across all species and areas. CACC is looking for a diverse group of subcommittee members. Both self-nominations and recommendations of suitable candidates are welcome. Names, contact information, statement of interest, and curriculum vitae of applicants should be sent to the CCAC Secretariat at nominations@ccac.ca by December 8, 2023. More information about the subcommittee and the process to be used in the revision is available here.

The British Antarctic Survey reports that highly pathogenic avian influenza was detected during sampling of sick and dead brown skuas on Bird Island. Located off the coast of South Georgia, Bird Island is in the South Atlantic Ocean north of mainland Antarctica. In August, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Organization for Animal Health released a report regarding about the spread of HPAI through South America and Antarctica, warning that “there is a substantial risk it will continue southwards and in the near future reach Antarctica and its offshore islands, which provide breeding habitat for over 100 million birds every spring.” Learn more from the British Antarctic Survey here.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is finalizing the delisting of several bird species due to extinction, first proposed in September 2021. In that proposal, the agency proposed removing from the ESA list: Bachman's Warbler (Vermivora bachmanii) Bridled White-eye (Zosterops conspicillatus conspicillatus) Ivory-Billed Woodpecker (Campephilus principalis) Kauai akialoa ( Akialoa stejnegeri) Kauai nukupuu (Hemignathus hanapepe) Kauai `o`o (Moho braccatus) Large Kauai Thrush (Myadestes myadestinus) Maui Akepa (Loxops coccineus ochraceus) Maui Nukupuu (Hemignathus lucidus affinis) Molokai Creeper (Paroeomyza flammea) Po`ouli (Melamprosops phaeosoma) In response to public comment, USFWS is not currently delisting the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker and will instead continue to review evidence relating to its possible existence. The delisting of the other 10 bird species will be final in 30 days. Read the press release from USFWS. Additional information about each species, its listing history, and the time since the species' last detection is available here. About the Ornithological Council The Ornithological Council is a consortium of scientific societies of ornithologists; these societies span the Western Hemisphere and the research conducted by their members spans the globe. Their cumulative expertise comprises the knowledge that is fundamental and essential to science-based bird conservation and management. The Ornithological Council is financially supported by our member societies and the individual ornithologists who value our work. If the OC’s resources are valuable to you, please consider joining one of our member societies or donating directly at Birdnet.org. Thank you for your support!

From the North American Bird Conservation Initiative: A new effort is underway to solicit original research, case studies, opinion pieces, and other previously unpublished contributions for a volume of work to be published by Johns Hopkins University Press in 2025. The book will present a brief history and recent discoveries by Neotropical ornithologists, integrate the contributions of indigenous, Afro-descent, and minority communities - perspectives, approaches, and subjects often overlooked in Latin American and Caribbean ornithology. The book will provide an eye-opening view of the innovative research and stories of scientific discovery taking place in the Neotropics today, but about which many conservation professionals are unaware. It is anticipated that approximately 90% of the authors and nearly 100% of the lead authors will be researchers based in the Neotropics, the majority of them non-primary English speakers. Contributions are expected from ornithologists, ecologists, conservation practitioners, ethnographers, educators, and social scientists. To have your contribution considered for inclusion, please email Steve Albert (salbert AT birdpop.org) by 30 November 2023. Se está llevando a cabo un nuevo esfuerzo para someter propuestas para participar como autores en un nuevo libro que presentará el estado del arte de la ornitología neotropical desde la perspectiva de ornitólogos y conservacionistas de América Latina y el Caribe. Este libro será publicado en el 2025 por la división editorial Johns Hopkins University Press. El libro presentará la historia y los descubrimientos recientes deornitólogos locales e integrará las contribuciones de comunidades indígenas,afrodescendientes y otras minorías, las cuales han sido frecuentemente pasadaspor alto en la ornitología de América Latina y el Caribe. El libro revelará lashistorias detrás de las investigaciones y descubrimientos científicos que seestán llevando a cabo en el neotrópico, las cuales son en gran medidadesconocidas por muchos profesionales de la investigación y la conservación. Anticipamosque aproximadamente el 90% de los coautores y cerca del 100% de los autoresprincipales serán investigadores locales del Neotrópico. Esperamos contribuciones de un amplio conjunto de autores incluyendobiólogos evolutivos, ecólogos, conservacionistas, etnoornitólogos, educadores ycientíficos sociales. Para que su contribución sea considerada para su inclusión, envíe un correo electrónico a Steve Albert (salbert AT birdpop.org) antes del 30 de noviembre de 2023.

The Institute of Laboratory Animal Research (ILAR) is now the Board on Animal Health Sciences, Conservation, and Research (BAHSCR) within the Division on Earth and Life Studies of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. ILAR, established in 1953, evaluates and reports on scientific, technological, and ethical use of animals and related biological resources, and of non-animal alternatives in non-food settings, such as research, testing, education, and production of pharmaceuticals. ILAR published the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, which sets the framework for the humane care and use of laboratory animals, now it its eight edition. The OC has been working closely with ILAR in recent years. In early 2002, ILAR held a workshop on “Discussing and Understanding Animal Welfare Challenges in Research and Education on Wildlife, Non-Model Animal Species, and Biodiversity,” which brought together regulators and the regulated community to discuss and understand challenges related to wildlife, non-model species, and biodiversity in research and education. In addition, Dr. William Bowerman, chair of the OC, was selected in 2022 to serve on the new Standing Committee on Animal Care and Use. That committee will be undertaking a revision or expansion of The Guide to the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, and the February workshop was organized to inform those efforts. The Guide to the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals is a suitable standard for biomedical research, but it has little information relevant to wildlife research beyond general principles and is therefore not well suited to wildlife work, particularly fieldwork. Through the virtual workshop and other efforts, the OC is partnering with ILAR to assist them in broadening their guidance to better include the realities of wildlife research. There will be an online meeting on October 17, 2023 from 10:30am – 4:15pm EST to formally launch of the Board on Animal Health Sciences, Conservation, and Research, with speakers discussing needs and future opportunities for enhancing animal health sciences, conservation, and research, with a nod to the past work of the ILAR and a look to the future of animal health research and practice. Attendance is open to the public; register here.

In 2022, the U.S. Congress passed the CHIPS and Science Act, intended to increase funding for science and innovation. It pledged increases in U.S. science funding totaling $280 billion over five years. But, according to a recent report by the Federation of American Scientists, recent funding for the agencies targeted by the Act is falling short of meeting the Act's ambitious funding goals, with science funding still hovering near a 25-year low. The CHIPS and Science Act authorized the National Science Foundation, the Department of Energy’s Office of Science, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, to receive a total of $26.8 billion in the FY 2024. Although the federal fiscal year 2024 has begun, appropriations have not yet been finalized by Congress. Funding in appropriations bills pending would provide these agencies just over $19 billion next year, about 28% less than the amount authorized by the CHIPS and Science Act, according to the Federation of American Scientists. Total government investment in science has declined from around 2% of GDP during the 1960s to about 0.7% of GDP today, according to the AAAS. About the Ornithological Council The Ornithological Council is a consortium of scientific societies of ornithologists; these societies span the Western Hemisphere and the research conducted by their members spans the globe. Their cumulative expertise comprises the knowledge that is fundamental and essential to science-based bird conservation and management. The Ornithological Council is financially supported by our member societies and the individual ornithologists who value our work. If the OC’s resources are valuable to you, please consider joining one of our member societies or donating directly at Birdnet.org. Thank you for your support!