Laura Bies

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by ornithological societies. Join or renew your membership in your ornithological society if you value the services these societies provide to you, including OrnithologyExchange and the Ornithological Council.

A new memo from the White House directs agencies to make federally funded research free, building on a 2013 memo that made taxpayer-funded research accessible to the public within a year of publication. “A federal public access policy consistent with our values of equal opportunity must allow for broad and expeditious sharing of federally funded research—and must allow all Americans to benefit from the returns on our research and development investments without delay,” says the memo.

The guidance, from the Office of Science and Technology Policy, requires federal agencies to update their public access policies as soon as possible, and no later than December 31st, 2025, to make research freely and publicly accessible. All peer-reviewed scholarly publications authored or co-authored by individuals or institutions resulting from federally funded research must be made freely available and publicly accessible in agency-designated repositories without any embargo or delay after publication. Any scientific data underlying peer-reviewed those scholarly publications should also be made freely available and publicly accessible by default at time of publication.

In 2013, every federal agency spending over $100 million annually on research and development expenditures was required develop a plan to support increased public access to the results of that research, including any results published in peer-reviewed scholarly publications. That guidance allowed agencies to include a 12-month embargo on findings, which the new policy guidance now eliminates.   

Read the memo from the Office of Science and Technology Policy 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!

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by ornithological societies. Join or renew your membership in your ornithological society if you value the services these societies provide to you, including OrnithologyExchange and the Ornithological Council.

David Applegate was sworn in as Director of the U.S. Geological Survey yesterday. Applegate has been acting as director since early 2021. He was nominated as director in March 2022. He holds a B.S. in geology from Yale University and a Ph.D., also in geology, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Applegate has worked for the USGS since 2004. Learn more about him in the press release from the Department of the Interior, below. 

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Department of the Interior Press Release

David Applegate Sworn In as Director of the U.S. Geological Survey

Date: Monday, August 15, 2022
Contact: Interior_Press@ios.doi.gov

WASHINGTON — David Applegate was sworn in as Director of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) by Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland today. David has been serving as USGS’s Associate Director for Natural Hazards, exercising the delegated authority of the Director since January 20, 2021.

“As people, wildlife and ecosystems face the impacts of the climate crisis, David’s long and impressive tenure will continue to be essential to ensuring that the Department continues to be an international leader in developing the climate science needed to understand the Earth’s past, present and future climate. With science at the heart of Interior’s mission, David will also play a key role in helping us to strengthen and reinforce the scientific integrity of the Department’s work,” said Secretary Haaland.

“I am deeply honored to have been nominated by President Biden and confirmed by the U.S. Senate to lead the USGS and carry out our critical mission,” said Director Applegate. “Now more than ever — as changes in the natural world, along with growing human demands, put health and safety, national security, and economies at risk — science from USGS will play an indispensable role in the well-being of our nation and planet Earth.”

David joined the USGS in 2004 as the first Senior Science Advisor for Earthquake and Geologic Hazards. As the Associate Director for Natural Hazards, he led USGS emergency response activities and oversaw the Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources, Earthquake Hazards, Global Seismographic Network, Geomagnetism, Landslide Hazards, and Volcano Hazards Programs. He also co-chaired the interagency Science for Disaster Reduction working group.

Prior to that, David spent eight years with the American Geosciences Institute (AGI) federation of geoscience societies, where he directed science policy and served as the editor of Geotimes, AGI’s news magazine for the earth sciences. David also served the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources as the American Geophysical Union's Congressional Science Fellow and as a professional staff member. He has taught at the Johns Hopkins University and as an adjunct professor at the University of Utah. He holds a B.S. in geology from Yale University and a Ph.D., also in geology, from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Born and raised in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, he currently resides in Washington, DC with his wife and two daughters.

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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!

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by ornithological societies. Join or renew your membership in your ornithological society if you value the services these societies provide to you, including OrnithologyExchange and the Ornithological Council.

The Ornithological Council submitted comments today in response to a request for comments on an information collection for the permits that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issues under the Endangered Species Act, CITES, Wild Bird Conservation Act, and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. The comments submitted by the OC highlight several concerns of the ornithological community, including the current delays in permit processing and the difficulties with validating CITES permits.

The Federal Register notice from the USFWS is available here. You can read the OC's comments 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!

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by ornithological societies. Join or renew your membership in your ornithological society if you value the services these societies provide to you, including OrnithologyExchange and the Ornithological Council.

The Sixty-third Supplement to the Check-list of North American Birds was recently published by the American Ornithological Society. This year’s supplement includes numerous updates to the classification of North American bird species, such as  species splits in meadowlarks, kites, and several hummingbird species, among others; the addition of a giant-petrel; and a reclassification of the extinct Labrador Duck. 

Complied by the AOS’s North American Classification Committee (NACC), the official authority on the names and classification of the region’s birds, the Check-list is updated every sumer. The Check-list was first published in 1886. 

The full Check-list Supplement is available here.

Learn more about this year’s update 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!

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by ornithological societies. Join or renew your membership in your ornithological society if you value the services these societies provide to you, including OrnithologyExchange and the Ornithological Council.

The Ornithological Council submitted comments today in response to a request for comments on an information collection for the permits that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issues under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.  The comments submitted by the OC highlight several concerns of the ornithological community, including the current delays in permit processing and the agency's move away from blanket permits for imports and exports under the MBTA. 

The Federal Register notice from the USFWS is available here. You can read the OC's comments 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!

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by ornithological societies. Join or renew your membership in your ornithological society if you value the services these societies provide to you, including OrnithologyExchange and the Ornithological Council.

A federal district court recently vacated regulations promulgated by the Trump administration under the Endangered Species Act. The Biden administration had previously announced that it was rewriting those regulations, and had requested that the Trump regulations remain in place during the re-write. The court, in response to a lawsuit from environmental organizations, instead vacated the rules and put the previous rules, finalized during the 1980s, back into effect.

The vacated Trump-era rules, finalized in 2019, included:

- a rule that modified how the agency could add, remove, and reclassify endangered or threatened species and the criteria for designating listed species’ critical habitat,

- a rule that reversed the agency’s former policy of automatically extending to threatened species the protections against “take” that the ESA automatically affords to endangered species, and

- a rule that changed the consultation process, through which USFWS works with federal agencies to prevent proposed agency actions that could harm listed species or their critical habitat.

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!

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by ornithological societies. Join or renew your membership in your ornithological society if you value the services these societies provide to you, including OrnithologyExchange and the Ornithological Council.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced on July 8 that it is extending the public comment period on its September 2021 proposal to remove the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker (Campephilus principalis) from the list of threatened and endangered species under the Endangered Species Act. 

Comments will now be accepted until August 8, 2022 and can be submitted online.  

In January, the USFWS held a public hearing to offer an opportunity for interested members of the public to testify regarding the proposal to delist the Ivory-billed woodpecker. 

In April, a pre-publication paper, available online here, presented new evidence regarding the presence of Ivory-billed Woodpeckers in Louisiana. In the manuscript, several researchers present the evidence generated by years of searching for the bird, including photos and drone videos. Read the paper and examine the photos and videos here. 

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USFWS PRESS RELEASE

Service Announces 6-Month Extension on Final Decision for the Ivory-billed Woodpecker

Jul 6, 2022

Media Contacts: Ian Fischer

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is announcing a 6-month extension to finalize its proposal to delist the ivory-billed woodpecker due to extinction. The Service is also reopening the public comment period on the proposed rule for 30 days. 

On September 30, 2021, the Service published a proposed rule to remove 23 species from the federal list of endangered and threatened wildlife and plants due to extinction. This proposal included the charismatic ivory-billed woodpecker and was based on the best science available at the time. The Service held a requested public hearing on January 26, 2022, on the proposal to delist the ivory-billed woodpecker. The Service carefully considered information submitted during the public hearing, the 60-day public comment period associated with the proposed rule and the 30-day public comment period associated with the public hearing.

Recognizing substantial disagreement among experts regarding the status of the species, the Service is extending the deadline to allow for additional time to review information. 

The Service is seeking new information during the 30-day reopening, including clear video or photographic evidence of the presence of the ivory-billed woodpecker that can be repeatedly interpreted the same way by independent observers, such as definitive photographic evidence collected by a field observer. Comments provided during the initial proposal and the previous reopening do not need to be resubmitted. 

The reopening of the 30-day public comment period on the proposed rule that published September 30, 2021, will publish in the Federal Register on July 7, 2022. The Service will accept comments received or postmarked on or before 11:59 p.m.,  August 8, 2022.  Information on how to submit comments is available at www.regulations.gov by searching under docket numberFWS‒R4‒ES‒2020‒0109

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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!

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by ornithological societies. Join or renew your membership in your ornithological society if you value the services these societies provide to you, including OrnithologyExchange and the Ornithological Council.

Environment and Climate Change Canada released changes to its Migratory Birds Regulations, which protect migratory birds in Canada. The new regulations were released on June 8, 2022 and will go into effect on July 30, 2022.

First adopted in 1918, Canada’s Migratory Birds Regulations have been updated several times. The changes adopted this month were first proposed in June 2019. The changes include:

- making it clear that it is prohibited to capture, kill, take, injure or harass a migratory bird, and that these prohibitions apply to any activity;

- improving the ability of industry to become compliant with the regulations and contribute to the conservation of migratory birds, by providing feasible parameters for managing migratory bird nests;

- reducing the burden to hunters, increasing flexibility for scientific collection permit holders, and allowing temporary possession of dead, injured, or live migratory birds in certain situations; and 

- recognizing Section 35 rights by Indigenous Peoples and ensuring that their existing harvesting rights are properly reflected.

The regulations were also generally updated and edited to increase clarity and remove outdated language.

Read the press release and additional information from Environment and Climate Change Canada 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!

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by ornithological societies. Join or renew your membership in your ornithological society if you value the services these societies provide to you, including OrnithologyExchange and the Ornithological Council.

The Biden administration has rescinded a rule finalized during the previous administration, which stated that, “for the purposes of designating critical habitat [under the Endangered Species Act] only, habitat is the abiotic and biotic setting that currently or periodically contains the resources and conditions necessary to support one or more life processes of a species.” That rule was the first definition of habitat under either the Endangered Species Act or its implementing regulations.

The ESA does define “critical habitat,” as “(i) the specific areas within the geographical area occupied by the species, at the time it is listed ... on which are found those physical or biological features (I) essential to the conservation of the species and (II) which may require special management considerations or protection; and (ii) specific areas outside the geographical area occupied by the species at the time it is listed ..., upon a determination by the Secretary that such areas are essential for the conservation of the species.” Previously, USFWS applied the criteria from the definition of ‘‘critical habitat’’ and assumed that any area satisfying that definition was habitat. However, a 2019 Supreme Court decision held that an area must first be considered ‘‘habitat’’ in order for it to then meet the definition of ‘‘critical habitat’’ as defined by the Act. That ruling prompted the rule issued by the Trump administration, which went into effect on January 15, 2021.

The rescission of that rule, announced on June 23, will go into effect on July 25, 2022. Read more about that recision in the press release from USFWS below or in the Federal Register announcement here.

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Press release from USFWS

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries Rescind Regulatory Definition of “Habitat” Under the Endangered Species Act

Jun 23, 2022

Media Contacts: Marilyn Kitchell, Lauren Gaches

To better fulfill the conservation purposes of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service (together the “Services”) will rescind a final rule, published in December 2020, which established a regulatory definition of “habitat” specific to designation of critical habitat under the ESA.  

The decision follows Executive Order 13990, which directed all federal agencies to review and address agency actions to ensure consistency with Biden-Harris administration objectives. The Services conclude that codifying a single definition of “habitat” could impede the Services’ ability to fulfill their obligations to designate critical habitat based upon the best available science. Eliminating the rule will provide clarity and transparency for the public in better understanding what constitutes habitat for given species. 

“The growing extinction crisis highlights the importance of the Endangered Species Act and efforts to conserve species before declines become irreversible,” said Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks Shannon Estenoz. “Today’s action will bring implementation of the Act back into alignment with its original purpose and intent and ensures that species recovery is guided by transparent science-based policies and conservation actions that preserve America’s biological heritage for future generations.” 

“Today’s action strengthens our ability to implement the Endangered Species Act consistent with its purposes of conserving and recovering threatened and endangered marine species,” said Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D.  “We will continue to use the best available science to inform critical habitat designations and fulfill our foundational mandates that are at the core of NOAA’s mission.”

Critical habitat designations identify those areas and habitat features that are essential for recovery of listed species.  Federal agencies must ensure that actions funded, permitted or conducted by those agencies do not destroy or adversely modify designated critical habitats. Critical habitat requirements do not apply to actions on private lands unless those actions involve the authorization or funding of a Federal agency. The ESA recognizes that areas that are either occupied or unoccupied by the species may be needed for recovery and authorizes their designation as critical habitat.

Today’s final rule will improve and strengthen implementation of the ESA by rescinding a definition of “habitat” that was unclear, confusing, and inconsistent with the conservation purposes of the ESA. The “habitat” definition rule prevented the Services from designating areas that did not currently meet a species' needs, even if the area could in the future due to natural processes or reasonable restoration.  Because most species face extinction because of habitat degradation and loss, it is more consistent with the purposes of the ESA to enable the Services to designate critical habitat in a manner that protects listed species’ habitats and supports their recovery. The action followed a transparent rulemaking process, including a public comment period and consideration of all comments received. 

The ESA is extraordinarily effective at preventing species from going extinct and has inspired action to conserve at-risk species and their habitat before they need to be listed as threatened or endangered. Since it was signed into law in 1973, more than 99 percent of all species listed under the law are still with us today. 

The ESA not only inspires diverse partnerships to prevent species extinctions and recover listed species, it also supports proactive collaborations with states, private landowners, conservation groups and industry to conserve species before they require federal protections.

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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!

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by ornithological societies. Join or renew your membership in your ornithological society if you value the services these societies provide to you, including OrnithologyExchange and the Ornithological Council.

President Biden has announced his intent to nominate Arati Prabhakar as director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). She would also serve as the president’s top science advisor. Biden has made the science adviser role a Cabinet-level position.

Prabhakar has a Ph.D. in applied physics from the California Institute of Technology, and previously served as both the head of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency during the Obama administration and as the director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology under President Clinton.

The OSTP advises the President and other members of the executive on science issues, plays a role in coordinating scientific research across federal agencies, and leads initiatives on issues such as scientific integrity.

Prabhakar would fill a position vacated by former OSTP Director Dr. Eric Lander, who resigned in February 2022, after reports of a toxic work environment. If she is confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Prabhakar would be the first woman and first person of color to be permanent OSTP director.

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!

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by ornithological societies. Join or renew your membership in your ornithological society if you value the services these societies provide to you, including OrnithologyExchange and the Ornithological Council.

Since emerging in 1996, a Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus (HPAIV) has produced many strains including the H5N1 strain that is currently causing significant mortality among poultry and wild birds. In recent years, a few outbreaks of HPAIV have been documented among colonial seabirds (e.g., African Penguin, Swift Tern, Cape Gannet, Great Skua; Ramey et al., 2022). In December 2021, this strain arrived in North America and was first detected in waterfowl. Since then, it has spread rapidly across the continent, is now found in all four North American flyways, and is causing an unusual mass mortality event among seabirds breeding throughout the North Atlantic (e.g., Canada, Scotland, Iceland).  

To inform ongoing decisions about seabird conservation and management,  there is an effort to collect information about the CURRENT outbreak (e.g., what species, location, and magnitude). and/or PAST large-scale mortality events in colonial breeding seabirds. Information on outbreaks that are confirmed to be caused by HPAIV, and cases where HPAIV is suspected to be the cause, is welcome.

This information will help managers make informed decisions about which species to monitor, the scale of the outbreak, potential population-level impacts, and what actions to take to manage this event. The current outbreak is an evolving situation, and we understand that any information provided will quickly become outdated.  

 Please fill out the survey here.

Questions? Contact Stephanie Avery-Gomm <Stephanie.Avery-Gomm@ec.gc.ca>
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Survey questions:  

1. Can you share information on a CURRENT or PAST mortality event in a colonial breeding colony because of confirmed or suspected HPAIV? Please don’t be shy about extrapolating any knowledge/experience to describe your assessment of the population-level impact of the event. Although positive cases of HPAIV are reported to the OIE, we know that only a small number of birds are likely to be sampled during outbreaks and that the total numbers of confirmed positives reported may only reflect a small fraction of total mortality.   

a.        What species are involved?   

b.       Where were the species found? At the colony, away from the colony?  

c.       Was the unusual mass mortality event during the breeding season?  

d.       What is the estimated (or guesstimated) total number of birds killed?  

e.       How many birds were sampled for HPAIV? What proportion was positive?  

f.        What proportion of the colony or global population was killed?   

g.       How can we learn more?  

2.  What mitigation or management options ARE being considered or HAVE been used to reduce the spread of HPAIV in a colony (e.g., carcass burial or burning, dispersing the colony)?   

a.        What were the circumstances (species, location, timing, other pros/cons)?   

b.       Were they deemed successful?  

c.       How can we learn more?  

3. Are there any mitigation measures that you considered or wished others would consider? Under what circumstances do you feel they may be useful?  

4. Is there anything you would like to add? 

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!

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by ornithological societies. Join or renew your membership in your ornithological society if you value the services these societies provide to you, including OrnithologyExchange and the Ornithological Council.

The U.S. House of Representatives has voted to pass the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, a landmark piece of legislation that would provide permanent, reliable funding to states and tribes to assist in their efforts to conserve, restore, and protect wildlife and habitat.

RAWA would amend the Pittman-Robertson Act and provide an additional $1.3 billion per year for states and territories and $97.5 million per year for tribes, allowing them to implement state and tribal wildlife action plans which designed to conserve over 12,000 species of the greatest conservation need.  Currently, Pittman-Robertson program collects about $1 billion a year from excise taxes on sporting goods and related products and distributes it to states. That funding mechanism would remain unchanged by RAWA.

A companion bill, which differs somewhat in the funding mechanism, was moved forward by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in April and now awaits a vote on the Senate floor.

If passed into law, the Recovering America's Wildlife Act would provide permanent, dedicated funding to state and tribal agencies to proactively conserve at-risk species for the first time in U.S. history. Learn more about RAWA from The Wildlife Society or the National Wildlife Federation. 

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!

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by ornithological societies. Join or renew your membership in your ornithological society if you value the services these societies provide to you, including OrnithologyExchange and the Ornithological Council.

As of today, May 31, the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Veterinary Services will issue its permits for import, export, and transportation of animals and animal products, organisms, and vectors through the new APHIS eFile system.

All new permits and renewals should be requested through eFile. Amendments to permits acquired through the older ePermits systems should be requested through that system. All permits in the ePermits system will remain valid until they expire.

Instructions about applying for the necessary permits to import to or export from the U.S. can be found in the OC’s Import Guide, which has been updated to include this new APHIS system. If you have questions, please contact the OC!

For more information, read this article from April, which includes a press release from APHIS. 

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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!

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by ornithological societies. Join or renew your membership in your ornithological society if you value the services these societies provide to you, including OrnithologyExchange and the Ornithological Council.

The Ornithological Council submitted comments this week to the Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), regarding their forthcoming regulations for birds not bred for use in research under the Animal Welfare Act (AWA). After previous, unfinished attempts at regulating birds under the AWA and subsequent lawsuits forcing agency action, APHIS announced in June 2020 that they were once again starting the rule-making process to develop regulations governing birds not bred for use in research. 

In October 2020, the OC submitted written comments and also offered public testimony during a virtual listening session held by APHIS to gather information to assist the agency in the development of their regulations. In June 2020, APHIS released those draft regulations. The comments submitted by the OC this week in response to those draft regulations note that, while the OC believes strongly that all birds should be treated humanely, in the laboratory and in the field, additional regulation of birds under the AWA may well be duplicative to already existing regulation of such research under different laws and rules. Read the OC's comment letter here. 

Unsure how regulation of birds under the AWA will affect you? Check out the OC’s fact sheet on birds and the AWA. 

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!

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by ornithological societies. Join or renew your membership in your ornithological society if you value the services these societies provide to you, including OrnithologyExchange and the Ornithological Council.

A new pre-publication paper, available online now, presents new evidence regarding the presence of Ivory-billed Woodpeckers in Louisiana. 

In October 2021, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed to remove the Ivory-billed Woodpecker from the Endangered Species List and declare the iconic woodpecker species extinct. In January, the USFWS held a public hearing on the proposal; a recording of that hearing is available here. That proposal has not yet been finalized.

In the new unpublished manuscript, which has not yet undergone peer review, several researchers present the evidence generated by years of searching for the bird, including photos and drone videos. Read the paper and examine the photos and videos here. 

UPDATE MAY 2023: Peer reviewed paper is now published 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!

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by ornithological societies. Join or renew your membership in your ornithological society if you value the services these societies provide to you, including OrnithologyExchange and the Ornithological Council.

A federal court has reversed a 2020 decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which found that the Bi-State population of Sage Grouse, found along the Nevada-California border, did not warrant federal protection

In this week's ruling, the judge concluded that the USFWS did not use the best available science and therefore erred in concluding that the population "was above the minimum threshold for viability.” The court ordered the agency to reconsider and issue a new listing decision. Until that new decision is complete, the 2013 determination that the Bi-State population of Sage Grouse warrants protection as a threatened species is back in effect. 

Bi-state Sage Grouse exist in six separate population segments spread over 4.5 million acres in Nevada and California, totaling about 3,300 individuals. 

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!

Here's the latest on avian influenza from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service - 

Press Release: USDA Takes Action to Ensure Continued Rapid Response to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in the United States

Contacts: Mike Stepien - Mike.Stepien@usda.gov, Lyndsay Cole – Lyndsay.M.Cole@usda.gov

USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is leading a growing response to a large outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).  To date, the virus has been confirmed in 29 states, affecting more than 33 million domestic birds.  APHIS is working closely with State animal health officials on joint incident responses in each of the affected states.   

To help ensure APHIS can continue to provide critical rapid response activities, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack approved the transfer of nearly $263 million from the Commodity Credit Corporation to APHIS to directly support the response efforts. The funding allows APHIS to continue its critical work with state and local partners to quickly identify and address cases of HPAI in the United States. 

“Highly pathogenic avian influenza is a serious concern for our nation’s poultry industry, and we need to continue our nationwide response to minimize the impact,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt. “The Agency’s actions during this ongoing emergency serve to safeguard U.S. poultry and egg producers and reduce the effects of avian influenza on agriculture and trade, while also enhancing readiness for other animal health emergencies.”

The Secretary is authorized to transfer funding from available resources (e.g., the Commodity Credit Corporation) to address emergency outbreaks of animal and plant pests and diseases.

Secretary Vilsack previously approved the use of approximately $130 million in emergency funding in mid-March, and APHIS has used these funds to address nationwide HPAI detections to date. These funds have been used to address indemnity, diagnostics, field activities, and other emergency response costs.

HPAI is a serious disease and requires rapid response because it is highly contagious and often fatal to poultry. APHIS and officials from affected states are responding in accordance with Federal and State HPAI response plans, which include implementing quarantine restrictions, depopulating affected flocks, disposing of depopulated birds, cleaning and eliminating the virus from affected premises, and conducting surveillance in surrounding areas.

While these response efforts are vital to ending the outbreak, there are also actions bird owners can take to help stop the spread of this virus.  Biosecurity is critical for all bird owners.  We encourage bird owners to work to ensure domestic birds do not come into contact with wild birds, and keep poultry confined inside during this high-risk period of migratory bird activity.  We also encourage bird owners to limit traffic on and off your farm and use personal protective equipment and disinfection when caring for birds to avoid introducing HPAI. 

APHIS has a variety of biosecurity resources available at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/avian/defend-the-flock-program/dtf-resources/dtf-resources.

More information about the 2022 HPAI outbreak may be found at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/avian/avian-influenza/2022-hpai. 

Resources for bird owners and more information about the HPAI response process may be found at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/animal-disease-information/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-home/hpai.

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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!

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by ornithological societies. Join or renew your membership in your ornithological society if you value the services these societies provide to you, including OrnithologyExchange and the Ornithological Council.

Starting May 31, the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service's Veterinary Services program will issue its permits for import, export, and transportation of animals and animal products, organisms, and vectors through the new APHIS eFile system.

Ornithologists should continue to use the current ePermits system until then. After May 31, all new permits and renewals should be requested through eFile. Amendments to permits acquired through the existing ePermits systems should be requested through that system. All permits in the ePermits system will remain valid until they expire.

Instructions about applying for the necessary permits to import to or export from the U.S. can be found in the Ornithological Council’s Import Guide. That document will be updated on May 31 to include new instructions for using APHIS’ new eFile system. If you have questions, please contact the OC!

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Press Release from APHIS:  APHIS Veterinary Services Requires eFile System for all New and Renewal Permit Applications - Effective May 31, 2022

Effective May 31, 2022, APHIS Veterinary Services (VS) will require submission of all new and renewal permit applications for live animals and animal products, organisms, and vectors - via the APHIS eFile system.

New permit applicants can create an APHIS eFile account here. Additional information for setting up an account may be viewed under eFile training here.

The eFile VS Permitting Assistant (VSPA) determines movement requirements and prompts applicants to obtain the required documentation and/or apply for permits.　All applicants must use the VSPA to start the permit application. Additionally, applicants with existing VS 16-6 permits must renew them using the VSPA to select materials that match the existing permit.

For help with the application process, please see the written guidance and "How-To" videos under the "Veterinary Services" section - here.

As for amendments to existing permits, applicants must request those changes in the system the permits exist (i.e., ePermits or eFile). All permits in the ePermits system will remain valid until they expire.

For questions, please call 301-851-3300 or email apie@usda.gov (Animal Products, Organisms, and Vectors) or LAIPermits@usda.gov (Live Animals).

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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!

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by ornithological societies. Join or renew your membership in your ornithological society if you value the services these societies provide to you, including OrnithologyExchange and the Ornithological Council.

The United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has extended the public comment period on their long-awaited proposal to amend the Animal Welfare Act regulations and establish new standards governing the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of birds. The proposed regulations would apply to birds not bred for use in research; all birds bred for research are exempt from regulation under the AWA. Comments are now due May 25. 

You can read more about the context of this regulation and previous agency actions here and read the comments that the Ornithological Council submitted during a public hearing on the proposed regulation here.

Read the OC's fact sheet about birds and the AWA. 

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by ornithological societies. Join or renew your membership in your ornithological society if you value the services these societies provide to you, including OrnithologyExchange and the Ornithological Council.

This week, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a final rule, confirming the Streaked Horned Lark subspecies (Eremophila alpestris strigata) as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act. That announced also amended the 4(d) rule accompanying the bird’s listing, which creates exceptions from the prohibition on incidental take for normal agricultural practices, among other things. 

The species was first listed as threatened in 2018. In 2018, the Center for Biological Diversity sued the agency, challenging that listing. In 2019, the case was decided and the USFWS ordered to reconsider their listing rule. The draft rule was published in April 2021. 

In this week’s final rule, the USFWS notes that, “the primary factors currently influencing the condition of streaked horned lark populations are the ongoing loss and conversion of suitable habitat, land management activities and related effects, and recreation.” The agency concluded that, while “the subspecies does not appear to be currently in danger of extinction,” it could be in the foreseeable future. 

According to the USFWS, recent population estimates put the total population of Streaked Horned Larks throughout its range in the Pacific Northwest at 1,170 to 1,610 individuals.

The new rule goes into effect on May 13, 2022. 

Read USFWS' press release 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!

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by ornithological societies. Join or renew your membership in your ornithological society if you value the services these societies provide to you, including OrnithologyExchange and the Ornithological Council.

This week, the U. S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee passed the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act in a bipartisan vote. The bill would provide $1.4 billion per year—$1.3 billion for state agencies and $97.5 million for Tribes—to restore habitat and recover wildlife populations.

The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act has also been introduced into the House of Representatives, where it has strong, bi-paritsan support. The House version of the bill was passed by the Natural Resources Committee in January and is awaiting a vote on the House floor. 

The bill now advances to the Senate floor for consideration. If passed into law, the legislation would provide permanent, dedicated funding to state and tribal agencies to proactively conserve at-risk species for the first time in U.S. history. 

Learn more about the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act from The Wildlife Society or the National Wildlife Federation. 

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!

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by ornithological societies. Join or renew your membership in your ornithological society if you value the services these societies provide to you, including OrnithologyExchange and the Ornithological Council.

Ornithologists have an opportunity comment on the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service long-awaited proposal to amend the Animal Welfare Act regulations and establish new standards governing the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of birds not bred for use in research.

You can read more about the context of this regulation and previous agency actions here and read the comments that the Ornithological Council submitted during a public hearing on the proposed regulation here.

The draft regulation would apply only to captive birds, per the announcement from APHIS. In addition, the announcement also makes it clear that the draft regulation would not require that field studies involving wild birds be inspected; a recent publication from APHIS helps to define ‘field studies,’ which are exempt from regulation under the AWA. The draft regulation, however, is silent as to whether and how it would apply to ornithological research done in the field that does not qualify as a field study. 

Read the draft rule and comment here. All comments on the draft rule must be received by April 25, 2022.

Read the OC's fact sheet about birds and the AWA. 

Have questions about commenting on this proposal? Contact the OC. 

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!

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by ornithological societies. Join or renew your membership in your ornithological society if you value the services these societies provide to you, including OrnithologyExchange and the Ornithological Council.

The administration has released its budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2023, which begins on October 1. The Congress will consider the recommendations of the administration in developing the appropriations bill that set funding levels for FY 2023, but it is not required to appropriate those levels of funding.

The administration requested $2.0 billion in appropriations for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, an increase of $388.2 million over FY 2022. The FY23 request includes $70.2 million for the Migratory Bird Management program, a significant increase from the $47.9 million appropriated to the program in FY 2022. The request also includes $7 .9 million for the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Fund, up from $4.9 million in FY 2022. Learn more about the USFWS proposed budget here. 

The budget proposal recommends $1.7 billion in funding for USGS, up from $1.58 billion in FY22. It includes $375 .7 million for Ecosystem program area. Learn more about the USGS proposed budget here. Once released by the agency, more detailed information about the USGS budget proposal will be available here.

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Press release from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Date:  March 28, 2022 

Contact: publicaffairs@fws.gov 

President’s $2 Billion U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Budget Request Prioritizes Conservation and Key Biden-Harris Administration Initiatives  

The Biden-Harris Administration today submitted to Congress the President’s Budget for fiscal year 2023. The President’s Budget details his vision to expand on the historic progress our country has made over the last year and deliver the agenda he laid out in his State of the Union address—to build a better America, reduce the deficit, reduce costs for families, and grow the economy from the bottom up and middle out.  

The Biden-Harris Administration is proposing a budget of $2.0 billion for Fiscal Year 2023 to fund the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s principal resource management and conservation programs that support the Administration’s priorities.  

The budget makes critical investments in the American people that will help lay a stronger foundation for shared growth and prosperity for generations to come. The discretionary request of $2.0 billion is an increase of $388.2 million over the 2022 Continuing Resolution level. The Service also receives $1.8 billion in permanent appropriations, most of which is provided to states for fish and wildlife conservation and restoration.   

“President Biden has proposed an important blueprint for our country’s future that reflects the importance of science, equity and collaboration in carrying out Interior’s important missions,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “These resources, coupled with the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will help the Department make critical investments in climate resiliency while creating good-paying union jobs in the clean energy economy, ensuring Tribal communities have the resources and support they need, and conserving and protecting wildlife and their habitats for future generations. Together, we can ensure that every community has a stake in our efforts to build a better America.” 

The Service’s budget proposal reflects the Department of the Interior’s priorities, including implementing the Administration’s America the Beautiful initiative, with investments to address the effects of climate change on Service trust resources, conserve species and habitats, reconnect Americans with the outdoors, enable economic development, and create good-paying job opportunities. 

“The Biden-Harris Administration’s FY 2023 budget makes important investments in conservation that help protect our cherished wildlife and natural resources as well as jobs and communities,” said Service Director Martha Williams. “This budget strengthens the Service’s foundational priorities, enhances our ability to address climate change, and ensures wildlife and habitat conservation.” 

America the Beautiful -- The proposed FY 2023 budget supports agency priorities historically central to the Service’s mission and Administration initiatives that leverage the agency’s work. For example, the Biden-Harris Administration’s America the Beautiful initiative is a call to action to support locally led conservation and restoration efforts across public, private, state and Tribal lands and waters to collectively conserve, connect and restore 30 percent of U.S. land and water by 2030. The guiding principles—which include a commitment to collaboration, support for voluntary and locally led conservation, and honoring of Tribal sovereignty and private property rights—are essential to building and maintaining broad support, enthusiasm and trust. Upholding these principles, the 2023 budget includes increases to support local partnership programs, improve targeted conservation efforts, restore damaged lands, and promote locally led efforts of all kinds wherever communities wish to safeguard the lands and waters they know and love.   

Additional funding will be used to support land management and restoration, collaboration with states, Tribes and private landowners to conserve habitat while supporting working lands, and engaging urban communities in conservation. For example, the budget enables the Service to work alongside private landowners by investing $83.4 million in the Partners for Fish and Wildlife and Coastal programs. It also includes $82.4 million for State and Tribal Wildlife Grants, an increase of $10 million to support state and Tribal efforts to protect wildlife habitat. 

Conservation – Conservation is at the heart of the Service’s mission, and The National Wildlife Refuge System is a model for conservation around the world. The request for the Refuge System is $597.9 million. These investments will create job opportunities for Americans in the outdoors and through increased project consultation capacity to simultaneously support conservation and economic development.  

In addition, the budget request includes $356.2 million to further the conservation of species listed under the Endangered Species Act and work to prevent at-risk species from becoming further imperiled. It also includes $260.4 million for the Fish and Aquatic Conservation program and builds on support in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law with $2.6 million to establish an aquatic invasive species rapid response initiative. The budget includes $70.2 million to advance the migratory bird program. 

Climate Change – The Service is focusing on climate change across all of its programs. The Service’s Science Applications activity, consisting of Cooperative Landscape Conservation and Science Support programs, works with partners in developing plans to conserve landscapes across the country to address climate change as well as other conservation needs. The Service is requesting a total of $57.5 million for these programs. 

Deploying Clean Energy – The budget proposes $27.6 million for activities associated with energy development, including a program increase of $8 million for the Ecological Services Planning and Consultation program to support reviews and permitting of clean energy projects. Within the Migratory Bird Management program, the budget includes program increases totaling $8 million to support clean energy projects and other permitting improvements to ensure renewable resources can be deployed while protecting migratory birds, notably iconic bald and golden eagles. 

The Service recognizes the need to support the development of clean energy sources to create new industries to support American workers while reducing emissions that contribute to climate change.  

Promoting Equity and Diversity – Additionally, the budget request for the Service includes $1.9 million to promote Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility, including $560,000 as part of a Department of the Interior-wide budget initiative to address high-priority needs in support of Executive Order 13985, Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government, and Executive Order 13988, Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation.  

The Budget makes these smart investments while also reducing deficits and improving our country’s long-term fiscal outlook.  

For more information on the President’s FY 2023 Budget, please visit: https://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/.  

For more information on the Service’s FY 2023 Budget, please visit: https://doi.gov/budget/appropriations/2023

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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!

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by ornithological societies. Join or renew your membership in your ornithological society if you value the services these societies provide to you, including OrnithologyExchange and the Ornithological Council.

Cases of avian influenza continue to be reported in the U.S. and Canada. In late 2021, highly pathogenic avian influenza was detected in North American wild birds for the first time since 2015. Initial detections occurred in Canada (Newfoundland and Labrador) and the United States (South Carolina) in December 2021. Additional detections in the U.S. are reported online by APHIS and a map of confirmed detections in North America is available from the NWHC. Cases in commercial and backyard flocks are listed on the APHIS website. Further information from Envionrment Canada is available here. 

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the recent HPAI detections do not present an immediate public health concern. No human cases of these avian influenza viruses have been detected in the U.S.

Additional Resources:

Information on avian influenza from Birds Canada

Detections in Canada

APHIS webinar on AI in wild birds

APHIS HPAI Info Center

Information on AI Surveillance from the National Wildlife Health Center

Map Showing Distribution of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5 and H5N1 in North America

2022 Confirmations of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in Commercial and Backyard Flocks (from APHIS)

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!

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by ornithological societies. Join or renew your membership in your ornithological society if you value the services these societies provide to you, including OrnithologyExchange and the Ornithological Council.

The Ornithological Council has released an updated version of A Guide to the Processes and Procedures for Importing Bird Products into the United State for Scientific Research and Display. This extensive guide, which was thoroughly updated in 2020, provides a step-by-step guide for ornithologists importing birds or bird products into the U.S. for research and display, including template documents and checklists to follow. The recent updates were made to ensure that the guide remains up to date as permitting requirements and system change.

The Import Guide is available to download for free from the Ornithological Council’s website at BIRDNET.org, as a service to the ornithological community. It contains sections on the import permitting requirements of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, USDA APHIS, and the Centers for Disease Control, as well as information about planning your travel and how to ship your specimen. It leads the ornithologist through the entire process, from paperwork to port and beyond. In addition to the hard-and-fast rules and requirements, this guide also offers best practices and helpful hints.

The guide is updated regularly as agency permitting requirements change, keeping ornithologists in compliance with the many laws and regulations governing the import of bird products.

If you have any questions after reading the Import Guide or find areas that require further clarification, please contact Laura Bies (laurabiesoc@gmail.com), Executive Director of the Ornithological Council.

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!