Laura Bies

February 23, 2021

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by 10 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 Department of the Interior announced yesterday, via an emailed statement, that it will delay implementation of the final rule reducing the Northern Spotted Owl’s critical habitat in Washington, Oregon, and California.

That final rule, published in January, would have reduced the owl’s critical habitat from 9.6 million acres to about 6.1 million acres.

The rule was set to go into effect on March 16; that date will be delayed until April 30. A notice was published in the Federal Register on March 1. You can read the notice and submit comments here.

In December, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued another final rule, declining to reclassify the Norther Spotted Owl from threatened to endangered.

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 10 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!

February 16, 2021

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by 10 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 recently launched a new online permitting system. (Note that this system is hosted on a contractor’s server, not on fws.gov, and it may sometime generate emails from non-fws.gov domains).

You may have received an email on Friday, February 12 instructing you to log in to your FWS permit account. This email was accidentally generated and no action is required on your part.

Ornithologists who are members of the 10 societies that make up the OC are encouraged to contact the OC staff at any time if you have questions, need help with permits, or are not getting a response from FWS.

From the FWS:

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently migrated our historic permit data from our old data management system to our new system, which is called ePermits. As part of this migration accounts were created in the system for those with active permits or pending applications. You may have mistakenly received an email from fwsepermits@servicenowservices.com on Friday, 2/12/21 regarding application creation. If so, please disregard the email. No action is needed at this time. Please accept our apology for any confusion the inadvertent email may have caused.

For many of you, this might be the first time you are hearing of ePermits. This is not the introduction that we had hoped to share with you. Nonetheless, we would like to go ahead and share some self-service resources with you if you are interested in using the system to apply for permits or check on your permit status.

Want to Access Your Account and Permits?

Learn How to Retrieve User Accounts and Permits

User Guide to ePermits

This comprehensive resource includes information on creating accounts (both for individuals and businesses), setting up Multi-factor Authentication, Submitting Permit Applications, Renewal and Amendment requests, and Help Center content.

Download the User Guide

Do I Need a Permit?

Yes, we know it can sometimes be confusing. We have tried to break down the process of figuring it out into some simple steps for the broad range of potential permitting situations.

Read Our Guidance

Frequently Asked Questions

We have an article with some FAQS and answers, such as how to reset your password, why we use two step (multi-factor) authentication for logging in, and information about business accounts.

See Answers to Frequently Asked Questions  

More Specific Questions

If you have more specific questions about certain permit applications, you may find helpful content in our Help Center.

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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 10 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!

February 16, 2021

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by 10 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 sent a letter to Martha Williams, congratulating her on her appointment as Principal Deputy Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. That letter included the OC's recommendations for the new administration.

Williams began her career as an attorney for Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, then served as Deputy Solicitor Parks and Wildlife at the Department of the Interior and worked as a professor at the Blewett School of Law at the University of Montana. Most recently, she was Director of Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Read the press release from the Department of the Interior, announcing William’s appointment, here.

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 10 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!

February 9, 2021

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by 10 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.

In addition to freezing implementation of the Trump administration’s Migratory Bird Treaty Act rule, the new Biden administration has been busy, issuing countless executive orders and filling key staff positions within the federal agencies.

In an executive order issued on his first day in office, President Biden called on federal agencies to review actions and policies implemented by the former administration related to the environment and energy – including the MBTA rule and the reduction of Northern Spotted Owl habitat. That order also put in place a temporary moratorium on federal activities related to oil and gas development on the coastal plain of Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and revoked the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline.

President Biden also issued an executive order addressing the climate crisis, which creates the White House Office of Domestic Climate Policy and a National Climate Task Force, temporarily freezes new drilling on public lands, call for establishment of a Civilian Climate Corps Initiative, and commits to conserving at least 30 percent of lands and oceans by 2030.

A seperate executive order formally reconstituted the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. Biden also issued a “Memorandum on Restoring Trust in Government Through Scientific Integrity and Evidence-Based Policymaking” establishing a task force to review the effectiveness of scientific integrity policies issued since 2009 and calling on agencies to review their current and future needs for scientific advisory committees.

Biden has also made steady progress filling appointed positions within the government. He has nominated Rep. Deb Haaland (D-NM) as Secretary of the Interior and Tom Vilsack as Secretary of Agriculture, as well as Michael Regan, secretary of the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality, as the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

The Ecological Society of America has a handy transition tracker that provides information about nominations, hearings, and confirmation for positions related to the environment.

The Washington Post is also tracking nominations for all 1250 positions that require Senate confirmation.

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 10 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!

February 5, 2021

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by 10 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 Department of the Interior announced yesterday that it would freeze implementation of the controversial Trump-era rule that changed the enforcement of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to no longer apply to incidental take. That rule was set to go into effect on Feb. 8.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has reopened the public comment period for an additional 20 days. Comments will be accepted until March 1 and can be submitted online or in hard copy (mailing address available here).

The final rule is also the subject of litigation, after a court in August struck down the internal Interior memo on which the new rule is based. The Trump administration had indicated its intent to appeal that case; last week, the Biden administration asked for more time to consider whether to withdraw. In addition, environmental groups filed suit in two different cases last month asking the federal court to strike down the new rule.

Reversal of the rule by the Biden administration would not be entirely surprising; Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.), who has been nominated for Secretary of the Interior, co-sponsored a bill during the last Congress to reverse the Trump administration's reinterpretation of the MBTA.

The federal register notice (published Feb. 9) is available here.

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 10 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!

February 2, 2021

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by 10 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 its 2020 Annual Report.

Learn more about what the OC does and what we accomplished on behalf of the ornithological community last year. Thanks for your support!

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 10 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!

January 21, 2021

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by 10 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.

Two lawsuits have been filed in federal court challenging the recently finalized rule limiting the scope of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

The National Audubon Society, American Bird Conservancy, Center for Biological Diversity, Defenders of Wildlife, Natural Resources Defense Council, National Wildlife Federation, and Sierra Club joined together to file a lawsuit in the Southern District of New York, asking the court to declare the final MBTA rule illegal and set it aside.

The attorneys general of New York, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Washington also filed a package of five lawsuits in the same federal court this week, challenging several recent actions of the Trump administration, including the MBTA rule.

In August, the Southern District of New York issued a ruling invalidating the internal Department of Interior memo on which the final MBTA rule is based. The lawsuit was the result of a consolidation of two lawsuits filed in 2018, one with NGO plaintiffs and one filed by states – both with many of the plaintiffs as this week’s lawsuits.

The final rule is also slated to be reviewed by the new administration, as part of a wider review of all recent agency actions that it is conducting.

Read more about the MBTA final rule here.

American Bird Conservancy's press release.

National Audubon Society's press release.

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 10 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!

January 19, 2021

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by 10 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 last week that it is reducing the critical habitat designated for the Northern Spotted Owls by nearly 3.5 million acres.

Just last month, the agency determined that up-listing the owl, from threatened to endangered, under the Endangered Species Act was warranted - but that it was precluded by higher priority actions.

The critical habitat proposal was first released in August, but the final rule bears little resemblance to the initial proposal, which would have reduced designated critical habitat by only 200,000 acres. The final rule would reduce the critical habitat designated for Northern Spotted Owl in California, Oregon, and Washington from about 9.6 million acres to about 6.1 million acres.

Under section 4(b)(2) of the ESA, the Interior Secretary may exclude an area from critical habitat if he or she determines that the benefits of such exclusion outweigh the benefits of including that area as critical habitat. However, the Secretary may not make such an exclusion if he or she determines, based on the best scientific data available, that the failure to designate such area as critical habitat will result in the extinction of the species. As stated in the Federal Register, in this case, the Secretary determined that the benefits of exclusion of particular areas of critical habitat outweigh the benefits of designation of particular areas of critical habitat based on economic, national security, and other relevant impacts.

The proposal goes into effect on March 16. The incoming Biden administration could chose to set aside the rule and develop a new one in its place.

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 10 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!

January 13, 2021

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by 10 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 has determined that the Interior Least Tern (Sterna antillarum athalassos) has recovered and therefore will be removed from the list of threatened and endangered species under the Endangered Species Act.

According to the USFWS, the Interior Least Tern population has grown from less than 2,000 birds in a few dozen nesting sites in 1985, when the bird was listed under the ESA, to more than 18,000 individuals at more than 480 nesting sites in 18 states today.

The final rule notes that the recent change to the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, excluding incidental take from its scope, could effect Interior Least Terns. “There is the potential that with removal of the protections of the Act and the proposed regulation that defines the scope of the MBTA, incidental take may increase on some nesting areas,” states the final rule. It continues, “Any adoption of proposed changes to reduce the scope of the take provisions of the MBTA is not likely to affect management commitments currently in place, which are expected to continue following delisting of the Interior least tern, as BMPs and SOPs to avoid incidental take of the tern will continue to be implemented across more than 90 percent of the species' range. We also believe that Federal and State agencies, as well as private industries and individuals, recognize that it is in the public interest to minimize the impacts of lawful activities to Interior least tern and other migratory birds, and the Service shall continue to work with them to do so.”

The proposed rule to remove the Interior Least Tern was published in October, 2019. The final rule delisting the bird was published on January 13 and goes into effect on February 12.

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USFWS Press Release

Trump Administration Celebrates Recovery of America’s Smallest Tern: Across interior least tern’s 18-state range, populations continue to grow and flourish

January 12, 2021

Contact(s): Jennifer Koches, jennifer_koches@fws.gov

After more than three decades of conservation partnerships inspired by the Endangered Species Act, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is celebrating the delisting of the interior least tern due to recovery. According to the best available science, the diverse efforts of local, state and federal stakeholders across the interior least tern’s 18-state range have helped ensure populations are healthy, stable and increasing into the foreseeable future. The tern will continue to be protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

“The Trump Administration and Secretary Bernhardt are committed to the recovery of our Nation’s imperiled species,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Aurelia Skipwith. “Dozens of states, federal agencies, tribes, businesses and conservation groups have worked tirelessly over the course of three decades to successfully recover these birds.”

When the interior least tern was listed under the ESA in 1985, there were fewer than 2,000 birds and only a few dozen nesting sites scattered across a once-expansive range that covered America’s Great Plains and Lower Mississippi Valley. Today, there are more than 18,000 interior least terns at more than 480 nesting sites in 18 states.

To help ensure the species’ continued success, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which has jurisdictional authority over much of the interior least tern’s range, has made formal post-delisting monitoring and conservation commitments that encompass about 80% of the breeding population.

In 2005, the Corps coordinated a range-wide monitoring event that confirmed tern populations were increasing over the previous two decades. The Corps also funded, with the assistance of the Service, the development of a habitat-driven, range-wide population model for the species. This complex model, developed with the American Bird Conservancy, considers interior least tern status and population dynamics with and without continued management at local, regional and range-wide scales across a 30-year period.

“The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is absolutely honored to play a role in a partnership that serves as a model for the potential delisting of other species in the future,” said Major General Diana Holland, Commander of the Mississippi Valley Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. “For over 30 years, we have partnered with the Service to monitor, conserve and recover this endangered species along the Lower Mississippi River. That partnership demonstrates that, through collaboration, we can protect and recover an endangered species while continuing to provide critical navigation and flood control benefits to the nation.”

“Without the commitment and partnership of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the recovery of the interior least tern would not have been possible,” said Service Regional Director Leopoldo Miranda. “The Corps has implemented conservation measures over the course of decades that have improved habitat for terns along some of America’s largest rivers, such as the Missouri and the Mississippi, and these actions have been central to the tern’s recovery.”

“Today’s announcement is welcome news for conservationists in Wyoming and around the country,” said Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.). “After years of hard work and collaboration, the interior least tern will be officially removed from the endangered species list. Since its listing in 1985, Wyoming, Colorado, and Nebraska have worked in good faith with landowners, conservation groups, and the federal government to preserve critical habitat and recover this bird. The Platte River Recovery Implementation Plan played a critical role in this success story. It now serves as a model for future conservation efforts.”

Least terns are the smallest members of the tern family and feed primarily on small fish. They are generally considered seabirds, but several species are also found along rivers, lakes or other wetlands. They nest along more than 2,800 miles of river channel habitat across the Great Plains and the Lower Mississippi Valley and winter in the Caribbean and South America.

States where tern colonies occur are Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee and Texas.

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, least terns were decimated by harvest for their feathers, which were used for making hats. Their nesting habitats were also flooded or degraded by dams and other forms of large river channel engineering during the mid-20th century. Due to the impact of these threats, the bird was listed as endangered under the ESA in 1985 as a distinct population segment of least tern.

Federal and state agencies and industrial partners have all contributed to the interior least tern’s successful recovery. Depending upon local conditions and needs, active habitat management has included: monitoring, protection of nesting areas, improved water flows, dredge material placement, vegetation and predator control. Many of these beneficial activities have become standard practices and will continue after the interior least tern is delisted, such as management and monitoring efforts by states, federal agencies and industries.

The ESA requires the Service to implement a post-delisting monitoring plan for the tern for a minimum of five years after delisting to ensure that it remains stable. The plan will include a commitment by the Corps to continue monitoring the species as an indicator of healthy river ecosystems. The Service will publish a notice of the availability when the post-delisting monitoring plan becomes available.

Additional Background on ESA Improvements and Accomplishments

No administration in history has recovered more imperiled species in their first term than the Trump Administration. Since 2017, 13 species have been delisted from the ESA due to recovery, and another seven species have been downlisted from endangered to threatened. To provide context for this in looking at other administrations in their first term, the Obama Administration recovered six species; the Bush Administration recovered eight species; and the Clinton Administration recovered nine species.

Fish and wildlife conservation depends on federal partnerships with states, landowners, and most importantly sportsmen who directly fund – to the tune of $1 billion last year alone and more than $23 billion since inception – conservation efforts by purchasing hunting and fishing licenses, fishing tackle, ammunition, boating fuel and other recreational items.

To support stronger on-the-ground conservation efforts, encourage private actions to benefit our most imperiled species and provide greater legal certainty for ESA determinations, the Service updated its ESA regulations in 2019 to improve the implementation of the law. The regulations had not been comprehensively updated since the ESA passed some 40 years ago. The Service’s guidepost for the multi-year, public process was President Trump’s overarching effort to reduce regulatory burden without sacrificing protections for the environment and wildlife.

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 10 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!

January 6, 2021

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by 10 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.

Yesterday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released its final rule changing the scope of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, nearly a year after officially proposing the formal policy change.

The new rule is based on a December 2017 Interior Department internal memo interpreting the MBTA to not apply to unintentional or incidental “take.” For decades, the bill had been applied to both intentional and incidental take. This final rule codifies in regulation the administration’s interpretation that the law only applies to the intentional take of birds.

Last January, Interior formally proposed the rule change and issued a scoping notice for an environmental review of such a change. The OC submitted comments on the scoping notice in March.

In June, a draft EIS was released. The OC commented on that draft, noting that the “analysis therein is not scientifically-credible to determine the effects of the Service’s proposed rule on migratory birds. For most species of birds protected under the MBTA, the Service does not have the information it needs to assess the impact of this proposed policy, nor does it currently have sufficient scientific resources to undertake the analyses needed.”

In November, the final EIS was released, paving the way for this week’s final rule. While codifying the new interpretation makes it harder for the incoming Biden administration to undo, the rule will likely face legal challenges. An August court decision struck down the solicitor’s opinion and calls into question the legality of the rule itself. Legislative challenges are also possible. For example, Rep. Deb Haaland (D-N.M.), who President-elect Joe Biden has tapped for Secretary of the Interior, has co-sponsored a bill to reverse the Trump administration’s MBTA interpretation.

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USFWS Press Release

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Finalizes Regulation Clarifying the Migratory Bird Treaty Act Implementation

January 5, 2021

Contact(s):publicaffairs@fws.gov

Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is publishing a final regulation that defines the scope of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA).

Consistent with the text, purpose and history of the MBTA, the final regulation clarifies that conduct resulting in unintentional (incidental) injury or death of migratory birds is not prohibited under the MBTA. This rule provides regulatory certainty to the public, industries, states, tribes and other stakeholders about implementation of the MBTA and best practices for conservation.

“This rule simply reaffirms the original meaning and intent of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act by making it clear that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will not prosecute landowners, industry and other individuals for accidentally killing a migratory bird. This opinion has been adopted by several courts, including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit,” said U.S. Secretary of the Interior David L. Bernhardt.

“The Trump administration is committed to using science and the law as the foundation of our decisions at the Service,” said Aurelia Skipwith, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. “Employing an open and transparent public process to finalize today’s action emphasizes our dedication to conservation of migratory birds and to providing regulatory certainty.”

This final rule codifies the 2017 Department of the Interior Solicitor’s Office Opinion M-37050 to provide a uniform approach that incidental take of birds resulting from an activity is not prohibited when the underlying purpose of that activity is not to take birds. This is consistent with the interpretation of several federal courts, including a 2015 ruling by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

This final decision was informed by an open and transparent public engagement process that the Service managed throughout the development of the rulemaking process. Three separate 45-day periods were held for the public to address the rulemaking and submit comments. The public scoping process included six webinars, which were open to any members of the public, including members of federal and state agencies, tribes, non-government organizations, private industries and American citizens.

The Endangered Species Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, as well as state laws and regulations, are not affected by the Solicitor’s Opinion M-37050 or the final regulation.

This final rule will be effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.

All the documents related to the rulemaking process and further information is available at https://www.fws.gov/regulations/mbta/.

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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 10 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!

December 16, 2020

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by 10 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 has released a final definition for “habitat” under the Endangered Species Act. The ESA defines “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.” Until now, neither the regulations nor the Act itself defined “habitat.”

In the past, USFWS has applied the criteria from the definition of ‘‘critical habitat’’ and assumed that any area satisfying that definition was habitat. 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.

The final definition of habitat is, “for the purposes of designating critical habitat 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.”

The new definition will go in effect on January 15, 2021, and will only apply to critical habitat rule-makings for which a proposed rule is published after that date.

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USFWS Press Release

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries Finalize Regulatory Definition of Habitat Under Endangered Species Act

December 15, 2020

Contact(s):

Brian Hires, 703-358-2191, brian_hires@fws.gov

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service have finalized a regulatory definition of the term “habitat” that will be used for designating critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The definition is part of the efforts of the Trump Administration to balance effective, science-based conservation with common-sense policy designed to bring the ESA into the 21st century.

“This action will bring greater clarity and consistency to how the Service designates critical habitat,” said Rob Wallace, Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks. “Making the Endangered Species Act more effective at conserving imperiled wildlife and more transparent and user friendly for stakeholders represents a win-win for everyone.”

“Given that this will improve implementation of the Endangered Species Act and how stakeholders engage with it, we are very happy to announce this final definition of habitat,” said Fish and Wildlife Service Director Aurelia Skipwith. “We look forward to continuing to improve and streamline regulations that support more effective conservation and inspired partnerships.”

The final definition of habitat is, “For the purposes of designating critical habitat 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.”

This definition explicitly limits the term habitat to apply only to critical habitat designations under the ESA, and no previously finalized critical habitat designations will be reevaluated as a result of its establishment. While the definition is broad enough to encompass both occupied and unoccupied critical habitat, following our 2019 revised critical habitat regulations questions about whether an unoccupied area qualifies as habitat are less likely to occur.

More than three years ago, the Department of the Interior and the Department of Commerce began considering improvements to the regulations the federal government uses to implement the ESA to make them more efficient and effective. Last year, the Service finalized regulatory changes to section 4 of the ESA dealing with the listing, delisting and critical habitat, and to section 7 consultation processes. Today’s final definition of habitat will continue to improve implementation of the ESA and will address a 2018 Supreme Court ruling in a case regarding dusky gopher frog critical habitat (Weyerhaeuser Co. v U.S. FWS) that any area designated as critical habitat must also be habitat for the species.

The ESA defines critical habitat and establishes separate criteria depending on whether the area is within or outside the geographical area occupied by the species at the time of listing. It does not define the broader term “habitat,” however, and the Services have not previously defined this term in implementing regulations. Combined with last year’s regulatory reform, these actions will increase the clarity of the ESA, improve partnerships, stimulate more effective conservation on the ground, and improve consistency and predictability around critical habitat determinations.

"The Department's move to define 'habitat' is a win for everyone, especially endangered and threatened species," said Jay Farrell, National Association of State Foresters executive director. "The Endangered Species Act plays a substantial role in how America's forests are protected and managed. Settling on a standard definition for 'habitat' under ESA provides private landowners—and all other land managers—with a clearer understanding of how the law will be implemented and how they can contribute to the conservation of at-risk species."

The final regulations can be found in the Federal Register Reading Room at: https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/current.

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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 10 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!

December 15, 2020

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by 10 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 has released a 12-month finding for the Northern Spotted Owl (Strix occidentalis caurina), declining to move the species from threatened to endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

“After a thorough review of the best available scientific and commercial information, we find that reclassification of the northern spotted owl from a threatened species to an endangered species is warranted but precluded by higher priority actions,” states the agency in the Federal Register notice.

Historically, Northern Spotted Owl habitat stretched across the Pacific Northwest. The current range is much smaller, as a result of decades of habitat loss. The Service found that on non-Federal lands, “the amount of northern spotted owl habitat ... has decreased considerably over the past two decades,” despite state regulatory measures. On lands managed by the federal government, “the Northwest Forest Plan has reduced habitat loss and allowed for the development of new northern spotted owl habitat; however, the combined effects of climate change, high- severity wildfire, and past management practices are changing forest ecosystem processes and dynamics, and the expansion of barred owl populations is altering the capacity of intact habitat to support northern spotted owls.”

Several populations of Northern Spotted Owls subject to long-term monitoring declined more than 70 percent in the last 30 years. According to the Service, Northern Spotted Owls are at increased risk for extinction, especially in Washington and Oregon.

In August, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released a proposal to reduce the critical habitat designated for the Northern Spotted Owl in Oregon by about 2% or 205,000 acres. Currently, 9.6 million acres are designated as Northern Spotted Owl critical habitat in Oregon, Washington, and California.

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 10 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!

December 10, 2020

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by 10 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 National Wildlife Health Center has issued a Wildlife Health Bulletin entitled “Winter 2020 Update on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Viruses Circulating Globally in Wild Birds.”

According to the report, this year multiple strains of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (H5 [untyped], H5N1, H5N2, H5N5, H5N6, H5N8, H7N3 and H7N7) have been detected in wild birds and poultry around the world. Reporting to the World Organisation for Animal Health has indicated “an apparent increase in virus activity was noted during the fall migration period which warrants increased vigilance by North American wildlife health professionals.” HPAI wasdetected during 2020 in Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Laos, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and Vietnam. The Bulletin has a complete list of the species involved.

The National Wildlife Health Center is recommending increased vigilance for morbidity or mortality events in wild birds, since monitoring and investigating wild bird mortality events increases the chance of early detection of HPAI and enables a more effective response to potential outbreaks. The current global level of HPAI virus detections in wild birds is similar to the winter of 2014/2015, when HPAI was detected in wild birds across North America and also heavily impacted domestic fowl.

See the Bulletin for guidelines that biologists and hunters should follow in the field, as well as instructions on requesting diagnostic services or reporting wildlife mortality. Institutions and organizations that investigate morbidity and mortality events of wildlife disease events are encouraged to report these events to WHISPers, the Wildlife Health Information Sharing Partnership - event reporting system.

Read the Ornithological Council’s Fact Sheet on West Nile Virus, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N1, and other zoonotic diseases.

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 10 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!

December 4, 2020

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by 10 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 this week that it will not list the Tufted Puffin (Fratercula cirrhata) under the Endangered Species Act. In 2014, the Natural Resources Defense Council petitioned asking that the Tufted Puffin be listed either as a species or a distinct population segment (DPS) of Tufted Puffins in the contiguous U.S.

The Tufted Puffin, a pelagic seabird found in the North Pacific Ocean, nests along the coasts of California, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska in the United States, and in Japan, Russia, and British Columbia, Canada. About 82% of the global population nests in the U.S., primarily Alaska.

In 2015, the USFWS issued a 90-day finding, indicating that listing may be warranted, although it did not indicate whether that was range-wide as a species, or as a distinct population segment. This week’s announcement serves as the 12-month finding, and concludes that, “While the tufted puffin's range will likely continue to contract in the south due to climate change, models predict the species will continue to remain widely distributed throughout most of its historical range.”

According to USFWS, the most significant threats affecting Tufted Puffins and their habitat are climate change, oil spills, fisheries bycatch, predation, nonnative plants and animals, and human disturbance, with climate change and oil spills being the most significant. However, “the best available information for tufted puffins indicates adequate redundancy and representation across the species’ range, including robust populations across the majority of its range,” says the USFWS.

In a species status assessment completed earlier this year, the USFWS noted that in 2002 the global population of Tufted Puffins was about 3 million. Since then, several populations have declined. According to the assessment, the current consensus among experts is that Tufted Puffins “are undergoing a range contraction, particularly on the southern end of its range ... However, the species continues to be widely distributed across its northern historical range, and maintains high abundance overall.”

The USFWS also declined to list the White-tailed Ptarmigan (Lagopus leucura) under the ESA, noting that while they are potentially threatened by climate change, predation, mining and related poisoning due to toxic concentrations of trace metals, hunting, recreation, and livestock and native ungulate grazing, the current risk of extinction is low and listing is not warranted.

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 10 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!

November 30, 2020

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by 10 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 Trump administration has released the final environmental impact statement (EIS) assessing its proposed rule limiting the reach of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act to exclude incidental take.

Traditionally, the MBTA has been interpreted by the Department of the Interior to prohibit both intentional and incidental take. In 2017, the administration issued a memo changing that interpretation and stating that it would no longer enforce the Act in cases of incidental take. Then, in January, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released a proposed rule, codifying the Solicitor’s opinion. In June, the agency released the draft environmental impact statement assessing the possible effects of the rule change.

The Ornithological Council submitted comments on both the scoping notice that accompanied the proposed rule and the draft environmental impact statement analyzing the effects of the proposed rule. The OC's comments on the draft EIS concluded that the document was simply insufficient to assess the potential effects of the proposal.

A recent court decision struck down the memo on which the rule is based. The Trump administration is appealing that decision. A final rule is expected before the end of the administration, although it will likely be challenged in court and could also be reviewed and possibly overturned by the incoming Biden administration.

More information on the rule-making process can be found here.

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 10 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!

November 20, 2020

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by 10 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 provided input about some of the key science and technology positions in the U.S. Government, as part of an effort to highlight these roles for the new administration.

The Day One Project, an initiative of the Federation of American Scientists, is developing a list of 100 key existing and proposed leadership roles across the federal government where scientific expertise is most critical. The OC submitted several positions to Day One, highlighting the role these positions play in ensuring science-based decision-making. At the departmental level, the OC highlighted the Science Advisor to the Secretary of the Interior, which offers key science support to the Secretary of the Interior. We also highlighted positions within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Geological Survey.

The OC submitted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director as a key position, given the position’s responsibility for applying scientific information to wildlife management and conservation decisions. We noted the importance of ensuring that the nominee for this position meets the statutory requirement to be knowledgeable in the principles of fisheries and wildlife management, through scientific education and experience. We also highlighted the Assistant Director for Science Applications, who works directly with, and reports directly to, the agency’s Director, helping to ensure that the director has the scientific information they need to make these key decisions.

The OC also submitted the USGS Director, noting that agency’s responsibility as the nation's largest research agency devoted to providing science about natural resources, natural hazards, the health of our ecosystems and environment, and the impacts of climate and land-use change. We noted that during the Trump Administration, the USGS was criticized for denying climate change and preventing its scientists from speaking openly about it. Finally, we highlighted the USGS Chief Scientist position, noting that as one of the federal government’s leaders in basic research regarding our natural world, the USGS needs a top scientist who can support its career scientists and provide science-based, apolitical counsel to its Director.

Once the new administration is in place, Day One will track the administration’s progress on filling the 100 key roles it identifies.

UPDATE: The Day One Project released its initial list of the 100 top science and tech roles on Dec. 11. Three of the positions that the OC identified - Interior Science Advisor, USGS Director, and USGS Chief Scientist - all made the list. The OC will track appointments for these and other key roles as the new administration fills them next year.

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 10 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!

November 16, 2020

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by 10 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.

In September, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced that they are downlisting the Red-cockaded Woodpeckers from endangered to threatened under the Endangered Species Act, citing partnerships with both the Department of Defense and the U.S. Forest Service, along with more than 30 other public and private organizations, as being key to the recovery.

The USFWS is also considering adopting a rule that will prohibit incidental take of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers from actions that would result in the further habitat loss or degradation, such as activities that would harass Red-cockaded Woodpeckers during the breeding season and the insecticide use near clusters.

On 1 December, the USFWS will hold a public informational meeting from 6 to 7:30 p.m., Eastern Time, followed by a public hearing from 7:30 to 9 p.m., Eastern Time, via Zoom. Registration is required and an opportunity to provide formal testimony will be provided during the public hearing portion of the event. Register to attend the meeting and to provide testimony here.

The agency is accepting written comments on the proposal until 7 December. Submit a comment here.

Read more about the draft policy here.

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 10 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!

final OC comments on field study policy Oct. 2020.pdf

October 1, 2020

UPDATE: Nomination deadline extended until Nov. 6.

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by 10 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 National Academies’ Institute for Laboratory Animal Research (ILAR) is forming a new standing committee to inform future updates or additions to The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (the Guide). The Guide is a leading guidance document that elaborates upon the underlying philosophy and basic principles for appropriate care of research animals. This Guide discusses field investigations in a very cursory manner, but is nonetheless used by Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees in assessing research protocols for field studies.

ILAR is taking nominations for the new standing committee until Nov. 6 The input of wildlife biologists would be very valuable to ILAR, the Guide did not address wildlife biology until recent revisions and even then only in a very cursory and broad manner.

Ornithologists are encouraged to submit themselves or colleagues for the standing committee. See below for more information about the process and a link to submit nominations. If you do submit a nomination, the Ornithological Council would love to know (laurabiesoc@gmail.com).

From the National Academies:

Nominate Experts: Standing Committee for the Care and Use of Animals in Research

The National Academies’ Institute for Laboratory Animal Research is seeking nominations of experts to serve on a new standing committee to inform future updates or additions to The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (the Guide). Now in its 8th edition, the Guide is one of the most well-known documents in the animal care and use field and serves as the basis for accreditation of institutions worldwide. The standing committee will aim to provide a venue for the exchange of ideas and knowledge sharing among federal government agencies, academic communities, the private sector, and other stakeholders engaged in animal research, research training, experimentation, biological testing or for related purposes or other special categories involving research animals.

A committee of experts will be appointed by the National Academies, drawing members from the academic, government, private, and non-profit sectors. The interdisciplinary committee will require members to be scientists and veterinarians with training in Laboratory Animal Medicine and knowledge, expertise, and current experience with animal research under captive or natural conditions, and relevant to:

regulatory and compliance matters
biodiversity conservation
the care, use and welfare of laboratory, domestic, agricultural and/or terrestrial and aquatic wild animal (e.g. cephalopods and polar species),
privately owned animals (e.g. companion animals, pets) species
other special categories involving research animals
basic and translational sciences
One Health
research training
biological testing
other research and teaching activities.

The nominations deadline is Tuesday, October 13, 2020. Nominees should be available to attend a meetings (virtually) as early as November 2020. In forming the committee, we seek to include individuals who are at different stages of their careers, including junior faculty and senior investigators, as well as those from underrepresented groups. Self-nominations are also welcomed. Make your nomination(s) today!

Link to submit nominations: https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/5897789/Call-for-Nominations-Standing-Committee-for-the-Care-and-Use-of-Animals-in-Research?mc_cid=fd3b54af25&mc_eid=080f9a36fc

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 10 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!

September 28, 2020

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by 10 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 has announced that they are downlisting red-cockaded woodpeckers from endangered to threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The agency cited partnerships with both the Department of Defense and the U.S. Forest Service, along with more than 30 other public and private organizations, as being key to the recovery.

First listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Conservation Act of 1969, the precursor to the ESA, after a century of habitat loss reduced the bird’s range to only a few states, red-cockaded woodpeckers now range across 11 states. Estimates from the late 1970s found 1,470 breeding clusters, or groups of cavity trees used by a group of woodpeckers for nesting and roosting. That number has risen to 7,800 clusters in recent years.

The USFWS is also considering adopting a rule that will prohibit incidental take of red-cockaded woodpeckers from actions that would result in the further habitat loss or degradation, such as activities that would harass red-cockaded woodpeckers during the breeding season and the insecticide use near clusters.

The agency will be accepting comments on the proposal for 60 days, once the announcement is published in the Federal Register.

Read more in the USFWS’s press release.

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 10 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!

September 17, 2020

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by 10 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.

While the COVID pandemic may have canceled field seasons, moved conferences online, and caused many of us to shelter at homes for prolonged periods, the Ornithological Council has been busy over the past several months. This update will give you a sense of what we’ve been up to...

Long-time Executive Director Ellen Paul retired in May and Laura Bies, formerly with The Wildlife Society, took her place. Now in a half-time position, Bies has been working to update the OC’s website, meet with key partners, and otherwise continue the important work that Paul had underway.

Recently, OC staff has worked to update the permitting information on our website. We have also released an updated version of A Guide to the Permits and Procedures for Importing Bird Products into the United State for Scientific Research and Display. This extensive guide, which was thoroughly updated this year, provides a step-by-step guide for ornithologists who are importing birds or bird products into the U.S. for research and display, including template documents and checklists to follow. 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.

We have also posted a number of articles on OrnithologyExchange recently, to keep ornithologists up to date on policy issues that may affect them. You can read them all in the ‘News From the Ornithological Council’ forum.

If you have a question about a permitting or animal welfare issue, do not hesitate to reach out to the Ornithological Council. We’re available to help members of our ten societies navigate challenges with securing the necessary permits for their work or with gaining IACUC approval for their research.

The Ornithological Council has recently faced financial challenges, related mostly to the withdrawal from the OC of the American Ornithological Society on July 1. While their exit has had large financial repercussions for the OC, we have adjusted staffing and the services we offer so that the OC can continue to serve the ornithological community. However, we still need your help. If you’d like to support our important work, please visit our website, BIRDNET.org, and scroll down to the ‘donate’ button at the bottom of the screen - or simply follow this link. We truly appreciate your contributions, as they allow us to continue to serve the ornithological community.

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!

September 10, 2020

This news and analysis are provided by the Ornithological Council, a consortium supported by 10 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.

From the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

Critical to Scientific Discovery and Innovation, Biological Collections Need Strategy, Action Center, and Increased Investment

News Release | September 10, 2020

WASHINGTON — The sustainability of the nation’s biological collections is under threat, says a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Biological collections — living and natural history (non-living) specimens, biological materials, and data in museums, stock centers, research centers, and universities — need long-term financial sustainability, digitization, recruitment and support of a diverse workforce, and infrastructure upgrades in order to continue serving science and society.

Biological Collections: Ensuring Critical Research and Education for the 21st Century says these collections are a critical part of the nation’s science and innovation infrastructure and a fundamental resource for understanding the natural world. Without enhanced investments and strategic leadership, many small collections could be lost, and even large collections will face challenges in keeping their doors open to the scientific community and the public.

“Many biological collections are at a critical juncture,” said James Collins, co-chair of the committee that wrote the report and Virginia M. Ullman Professor of Natural History and the Environment at Arizona State University. “They are a cornerstone of research and education related to past and present life on Earth. Our study found that biological collections need increased investment to serve us in the way we expect, while at the same time expanding their potential for new uses related to science and society.”

Shirley Pomponi, committee co-chair and research professor at Florida Atlantic University Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, added, “Strategic planning, coordination, and knowledge-sharing are critical for the community of collections directors, managers, and curators as they work to meet complex needs of society and the scientific community.”

Benefitting Science and Society
Biological collections produce a wide range of benefits for the scientific community beyond the specimens they hold, the report says. Collections are important resources for education, both in formal training for the science and technology workforce, and in informal learning through schools, citizen science programs, and adult learning. Biological collections underpin many basic science discoveries and innovations. Research using biological collections, for example, has advanced our understanding of biodiversity loss, global change, human diseases — including Zika and COVID-19 — and has led to important biotechnology laboratory techniques, including CRISPR and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests.

Securing Financial Sustainability
The report says that sustained support will be paramount in keeping collections open, supporting their growth, and ensuring they are available for research. The needed investments in personnel, infrastructure, digitization, and other upgrades go beyond what annual budgets have historically covered. The National Science Foundation (NSF) should continue to provide stable, long-term funding for infrastructure maintenance and upgrades and expand its efforts to coordinate support with other funders. Individual collections should also explore new revenue streams, such as pay-for-use models, licensing systems, or charging for custom datasets, without creating costs that are prohibitive for researchers. Professional societies should collaborate to develop training for management and planning, and collection directors, curators, and managers should work with business strategists and communications experts to develop business models for financial sustainability and infrastructure.

Cultivating a Highly Skilled Workforce
The report says the workforce pipeline for biological collections is fundamentally different from the broader science workforce pipeline, and is poorly understood. Collections, host institutions, professional societies, and funders should collaborate to develop and strengthen the pipeline. The skill sets of collections managers and directors in particular should be broadened to include strategic leadership, fundraising and donor relations, personnel management, informal education, and public communication.

Ensuring Access to Collections
Making specimens and their data digitally accessible is one crucial component of achieving better access to collections. The report says that while the data that could be gathered and examined by digitizing biological collections are beyond current imagination in terms of size, quality, complexity, and value, gaps in support for digitization mean that collections data continue to be underused. The report recommends that the NSF Directorate for Biological Sciences fund the development of a permanent national cyber infrastructure to connect all types of biological collections, partnering with other directorates within NSF and other federal agencies.

National Strategy and Collaboration
As the nation’s largest supporter of biological collections infrastructure and management, NSF has a particularly pivotal role to play, the report says. NSF should lead efforts to develop a national vision and strategy, such as a Decadal Survey, for the growth of biological collections, their infrastructure, and their ability to serve a range of scientific and educational needs. As part of its expanded support for biological collections, NSF should also help establish a permanent National Action Center for Biological Collections to coordinate action, knowledge, resources, and data-sharing. This action center should help the collections community develop strategic efforts and nurture research, education, workforce training, evaluation, and business model development. The directorate should expand its partnerships more broadly across NSF and other federal agencies to maximize investment in this effort, and help spread the cost of these major endeavors.

The report also says professional societies and associations can help address infrastructure needs by sharing strategic resources and information across the biological collections community and by creating a national registry to document collections in the U.S. and assess their infrastructure needs. Collection leaders should also develop strategic plans outlining their individual infrastructure needs.
The study — undertaken by the Committee on Ensuring Critical Research and Education for the 21st Century — was sponsored by the National Science Foundation.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine are private, nonprofit institutions that provide independent, objective analysis and advice to the nation to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions related to science, technology, and medicine. They operate under an 1863 congressional charter to the National Academy of Sciences, signed by President Lincoln.

Contact:
Megan Lowry, Media Officer
Office of News and Public Information
202-334-2138; e-mail news@nas.edu

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 10 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!

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