The latest newsletter of the Ornithological Societies of North America is now available.
The Ornithological Newsletter
— Number 233, August 2016 | Cheryl L. Trine, Editor
Contents: Please select a story from the menu below:
ORGANIZATION NEWS
THE AOU INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE GRANT AWARDS – The AOU International Committee provides support to Latin American students to complete benchmark surveys of bird communities in Latin America. Benchmark surveys have the purpose of establishing baseline information on the richness and abundance of birds in Neotropical locations during this dynamic time in history. As climate and land-use patterns change, our understanding of how Neotropical birds respond to such changes will be facilitated by establishment of a network of well-studied reference sites. The Committee is pleased to announce two grant recipients this year: DIEGO CARANTON, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, for his project entitled Estructura de las comunidades de aves del sotobosque a traves del rango altitudinal en un sector del flanco pacifico de la cordillera occidental de Colombia; and PABLO MORALES, Universidad Autónoma de Guerrero, for his project, Diversidad de aves en un gradiente sucesional de bosque tropical seco de la cuenca del Balsas, Guerrero, México. Congratulations to you both and we look forward to seeing the results of your surveys.
AOU NORTH AMERICAN CHECKLIST COMMITTEE VOTES AND COMMENTS NOW PUBLISHED on 2016 Checklist Proposals – The AOU Committee on Classification and Nomenclature of North and Middle American Birds has posted votes and comments on the 2016 set of proposals on its website: http://checklist.aou.org/nacc/proposals/current_proposals.html The new 57th supplement is linked here: http://americanornithology.org/content/aou-checklist-north-and-middle-american-birds-7th-edition-and-supplements The committee is in the process of updating the online checklist.
FREE PUBLICITY for all ornithology authors. Send your article press release to Auk & Condor (no matter what journal your article was published in), (EM: aoucospubs@gmail.com), and it will be posted at EurekAlert (where 12,000 science journalists look for stories).
NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
NABC BIRD BANDING WORKSHOP – Ecorana Environemental is offering another NABC bird banding workshop certification session in Belize this fall. The workshop will be offered at the Toucan Ridge Ecology and Education Society (T.R.E.E.S) in the Maya Mountains of Belize. The workshop will concentrate on North American passerines while also banding resident species. The workshop will be between October 23rd-27th 2016 and certification is on October 28th-29th 2016. Beginners and experienced banders are both both welcome. Workshop only $850 US including food and lodging, $400 US for certification (certification is additional). Places are limited so contact us soon at (EM: info@ecorana.ca or visit http://www.treesociety.org).
IMPORTING AVIAN MATERIAL? CRITICAL NEW INFORMATION from the Ornithological Council – Don’t lose your research specimens for failure to comply with import requirements! A new automated system implemented by Customs and Border Protection is mandatory and it is a big, big challenge. Read this article to learn about this system and how to deal with this hurdle – http://ornithologyexchange.org/articles/_/community/importing-avian-material-critical-new-information-r227
NEW HOPE FOR SPIX’S MACAW – A Spix’s Macaw was observed flying in the wild past Curacá, a small town of about 30,000 in Bahia, Brazil. While there are about 130 Spix’s Macaws in captivity, the species has not been observed in the wild since 2000. This single macaw was first spotted on 18 June by local farmer, Nauto Sergio de Oliveira. On the next day, his neighbor Lourdes Oliveira and her daughter, 16-year-old Damilys, woke up before dawn to search for the macaw. They found it, and Damilys recorded it on her mobile phone! Efforts are now underway to investigate increased conservation opportunities at the site. See here to read the full story and to view the unique video: http://tinyurl.com/spixVideo
WORLD OWL HALL OF FAME 2016 AWARD NOMINATIONS — The World Owl Hall of Fame is currently seeking nomination for its 2016 awards. The awards are for people and owls who have made this world a substantially better place for owls. Three awards are given: The Champion of Owls Award is given to humans who have had a broad geographical impact (usually at least one continent) on owls in multiple fields such as conservation, science, legislation, education, and/or rehabilitation, usually over a lifetime. The Special Achievement Award is for humans who have made a significant contribution to owls through a specific project or for efforts in a specific geographic area. The Lady Gray’l Award is for an owl who as an individual (usually with the assistance of some humans) has had a significant impact toward making this world a better place for owls, in multiple fields such as education, research, rehabilitation, or changing cultural attitudes. Nominations are due by 31 Aug 2016 and will be judged by a panel of five owl experts from four countries. Winners will be notified in late September and awards will be presented at the International Festival of Owls on March 4, 2017 in Houston, Minnesota, USA. You can find more information and nomination forms at (URL: http://www.festivalofowls.com/halloffame.html). Awards are sponsored by the International Owl Center, the Global Owl Project and Tanja Sova.
APLOMADO FALCON DOING WELL IN TEXAS – A success story pertaining to the Texas-Mexico border – the successful reestablishment of the Aplomado Falcon. Once a nesting species in grassland habitat along the border, the Aplomado Falcon was considered extirpated in the U.S. by the late 1950s. Raptor experts at The Peregrine Fund began experimental releases of these stunning falcons on Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge in Los Fresnos, Texas, starting in 1985.Since then more than 1,500 young Aplomado Falcons have been released in South Texas. There have also been experimental releases in New Mexico. According to Peregrine Fund biologists Paul Juergens and Brian Mutch, the 2016 nesting season has produced some of the highest number of territorial pairs and individual falcons to date along the South Texas coastal landscape. A total of 37 territorial pairs and 93 individual falcons were documented this year. This is approaching the target of 60 self-sustaining pairs, the goal needed to down list the species from Endangered to Threatened. Wind farms and local development may become new threats, but it is comforting to realize that this lovely falcon has essentially been restored to its former South Texas range. You can read a short summary on the bird’s current status from the USFWS here: https://www.fws.gov/news/blog/index.cfm/2016/6/23/Northern-Aplomado-Falcon-Now-a-Fixture-in-the-Coastal-Prairies-of-South-Texas
REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE
HAVE YOU SEEN THIS BILL DEFORMITY? – I am starting a research project which involves calling upon the world’s ornithologists to send me records about a rather ‘rare’ condition in birds. Sublingual oral fistulas were first documented in Stitchbirds (hihi) in New Zealand and since then we have found it in two species of seabirds in the South Atlantic – the Sooty Tern and the Masked Booby. My research project attempts to document the species in which it occurs, identify the cause(s) and describe the progression of the condition. Therefore, I am particularly interested in hearing from three groups of people who have close encounters with birds – wildlife photographers, field veterinary researchers and ringers, but also more broadly from anyone who has encountered the condition in birds . The essence of the project is captured in the following webpage which can be found at http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/oral-fistula where both an Information Sheet and a downloadable Reporting Form can be found. The latter can be completed and returned to me by e-mail (EM: J.Reynolds.2@bham.ac.uk). I launched the call for reports of the condition about a month ago to heads of various national ringing schemes around the world, to wildlife veterinary groups, to wildlife photographers etc. and at the time of writing I have received 28 completed report forms that describe the condition in 10 different species. However, I know that this is potentially only the ‘tip of the iceberg’ and I would really appreciate it if you could pour over your field notebooks and get in contact if this triggers any memories of birds with the condition. I am hoping that posting this call through The Ornithological Newsletter will result in others becoming aware of my research project. I am interested in receiving detailed records of birds with the condition including any high resolution photographs that you might be able to provide to accompany a completed form. You would of course be contacted to seek permission before any such photograph was used in a research output and any such photo would be accompanied by a photo credit. I am looking forward to hearing from you–S. James Reynolds, University of Birmingham, UK
POSITIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE
The Positions and Opportunities section is available only in the on-line edition. It can be accessed at (http://osnabirds.org/Jobs.aspx). Submissions can be made any time and are posted free of charge. Members may post directly to the board after logging in to OSNA using their OSNA member log in. Non-members may submit announcements on-line and the announcements will be posted after approval by a moderator. If problems occur with online submission, please send your announcement to the Ornithological Newsletter Editor, Cheryl Trine (EM: ctrine AT andrews.edu) in the body of the email message.
E-LIST SERVICE is available. Subscribers to this list will receive the same announcements that appear on-line in a weekly/biweekly list. To subscribe, send the following message to: < lyris@cornell.edu>, in the body of the message type: join Birdjobs-L “your name”. The subject line should be blank. Please use the “plain text only” e-mail format option, include your own name in the message, and put quotation marks around your name.
GRANTS AND AWARDS
FOR INFORMATION ON CONTINUING GRANTS PROGRAMS relevant to ornithological research, visit: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET/grants/index.html. For other grant opportunities, visit: http://ornithologyexchange.org/forums/forum/139-grants-awards/
PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE
CHARLES DARWIN’S LIFE WITH BIRDS: His Complete Ornithology, by Clifford B. Frith, 2016. Oxford University Press. 520 Pages, 6-1/8 x 9-1/4 inches, ISBN: 9780190240233 (Hardcorver, $69.95). “Charles Darwin’s Birds” is a comprehensive treatment of Darwin’s work as an ornithologist. Clifford Frith discusses every ornithological topic and bird species that Darwin researched, providing a complete historical survey of his published writing on birds. Through this, we learn how Darwin became an increasingly skilled and eventually exceptional ornithologist, and how his relationships grew with contemporary scientists like John Gould. It examines how Darwin was influenced by birds, and how the major themes of his research developed through his study of them. The book also features 4 appendices, which contain brief accounts of every bird species Darwin wrote about, basic ornithological information about each of the species, and a listing of where the species appears in Darwin’s work.
BIRDS OF MONTANA by Jeffrey S. Marks, Paul Hendricks, and Daniel Casey; Sponsored by Montana Audubon. Buteo Books, 2016. ISBN: 9780931130199. (Hardcover, $75.00) The first comprehensive reference on the state’s birds since 1921, and the only work that provides a thorough review of the status, distribution, relative abundance, ecology, and conservation of the 433 bird species that have been found in the state since Montana entered the Union in 1889. Detailed species accounts provide a range map for selected species and summarize information under the subheadings Status and Occurrence, Habitat, Conservation, Historical Notes, Contemporary Work, and Banded Birds. http://www.buteobooks.com/product/BBMT.html
FIELD GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF MACHU PICCHU AND THE CUSCO REGION, PERU: Includes a bird finding guide to the area by Barry Walker. Co-published by Buteo Books and Lynx Edicions, 2015. ISBN: 9788496553972. 243 pp. (Paperback, $35.00) A comprehensive field guide that illustrates all the bird species recorded in Machu Picchu, including Cusco and Abra Malaga. Also includes a bird finding guide to the region. Color plates, a color map of the Sanctuary and a comprehensive introduction that deals with the biogeography and conservation, and a checklist. The 165 color plates on pages facing the text are drawn from the excellent illustrations painted for the Handbook of the Birds of the World. http://www.buteobooks.com/product/MACHU.html
MEETINGS
A ‘permanent’ meeting list is maintained on BIRDNET (URL: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET/ornith/birdmeet.html) showing planned ornithological meetings as far into the future as possible.
* in this section indicates new or revised entry
THE SIXTH NORTH AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGICAL CONFERENCE (NAOC VI), Washington, D.C., 16-21 Aug 2016. The theme we have chosen is “Bringing Science and Conservation Together.” It’s an appropriate theme at an appropriate time for a conference in DC. Federal agencies and conservation partners are excited about the diverse community that will come together for this meeting. We hope to provide something of interest to a wide audience, from agency staff to young ornithologists from all over the globe. You’ll not want to miss this meeting where we will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (August, 1916), and lay out a science agenda for bird conservation for the next 100 years. We have an extraordinary line-up of pre-conference workshops, plenary speakers, and symposia. Visit us on the web (http://naoc2016.cvent.com) or on Facebook.
6TH INTERNATIONAL ALBATROSS AND PETREL CONFERENCES (IAPC6), 19-23 Sep 2016, at Paranimf de la Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. Website: http://www.iapc6.info/
THE 40TH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE WATERBIRD SOCIETY, New Bern, North Carolina, 20-23 Sep 2016. Because the Waterbird Society is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2016, we are planning a celebration of the first 40 years of the Society, complete with displays of the Society’s early formative days, so please make plans to join us in New Bern. Meeting information, including details on the New Bern Riverfront Convention Center, field trips, accommodations, and special events is posted on the Waterbird Society web site (http://www.waterbirds.org/). Daily early morning and evening birding trips will be offered, as well as longer field trips on 24 and 25 September. Historical New Bern, a city of approximately 30,000 people, is located at the confluence of the Trent and Neuse rivers as they flow into the Pamlico Sound, bordered by the Outer Banks chain of barrier islands; it is a water wonderland! We look forward to seeing you in New Bern in 2016.
THE WESTERN BIRD BANDING ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING at Point Reyes Station, California, 6-9 Oct 2016. The 2016 meeting’s theme is “Making ornithological history: past and present”. The Western Bird Banding Association is pleased to invite you to our annual meeting, hosted jointly by Institute for Bird Populations and Point Blue Conservation Science, at Point Reyes Station, California. Point Reyes Station is on scenic Tomales Bay, and adjacent to the Point Reyes National Seashore. Nearby rivers, wetlands, rocky headlands, and coastal scrub offer plenty of possibilities for birding trips and recreation as well as the opportunity to visit banding stations originated by the visionary founders of Point Reyes Bird Observatory (now Point Blue) in 1965. The meeting will include demonstrations and workshops on a diverse array of bird research, banding, data management, and analysis of banding data. In addition, there will be an Advanced Molt and Ageing Workshop led by renowned bird expert Peter Pyle. Evening sessions will include catered meals, campfires and live music as well as a special panel of esteemed researchers and a presentation by the founders and biologists from Point Blue, Institute of Bird Populations and Golden Gate Raptor Observatory. The panel’s discussion theme is making ornithological history, over the last 50 years and to this day. Visit the meeting webpage for information regarding registration and abstract submission: http://westernbirdbanding.org/meeting_2016.html
IV NEOTROPICAL RAPTOR CONFERENCE AND II SYMPOSIUM ON NEOTROPICAL OWLS, La Fortuna, Costa Rica from 10-13 Oct 2016. Hosts for the conference are The Neotropical Raptor Network, The Peregrine Fund, Fundacion Rapaces de Costa Rica, and Grupo de Especialistas de Buhos Neotropicales. Biologists, students, falconers, educators, and other conservationists are invited to come together to share their latest research results, successes and challenges. The conference will also act as a meeting point to foster discussion and collaboration on solutions to both present and future conservation issues such as habitat destruction, electrocution, human persecution of raptors and climate change. In addition to three days of scientific oral and poster sessions, social events and a full day of Raptor Skills Courses, there will be time to enjoy the town of La Fortuna de San Carlos and the fantastic birding in the forests on the slopes of Mt. Arenal. One of the most-visited areas of the country, La Fortuna is surrounded by national parks, hot-springs, streams, waterfalls and of course, the now dormant Arenal volcano, making it an excellent location for birding, hiking, zip-lining, rafting, and other outdoor activities. The conference hotel is home to gorgeous tree-top walkways that provide breath-taking views and spectacular birding opportunities. Registration is now open! Visit http://nrn.peregrinefund.org for conference details and to register online today. The deadline to submit an abstract is 10 Jul 2016. Early registration ends 10 Aug 2016.
*RAPTOR RESEARCH FOUNDATION CONFERENCE on 16-20 Oct 2016. New Jersey Audubon’s Cape May Bird Observatory will host the annual conference at historic Cape May, New Jersey. The conference will be held on the oceanfront at the Grand Hotel of Cape May and will commemorate the 50 year anniversary of the Raptor Research Foundation and the 40 year anniversary of the Cape May Hawk Watch. Plenary speakers will include raptor ecologist Dr. Ian Newton, Dr. Carol McIntyre (Wildlife Biologist with Denali National Park in Alaska), and Dr. Yossi Leshem (Director of the International Center for the Study of Bird Migration in Israel). The 70th annual NJ Audubon Cape May Autumn Birding Festival will be held immediately following the RRF Conference, allowing conference attendees to take advantage of being in one of North America’s top birding destinations during peak migration. For conference information and registration go to: http://www.raptorresearchfoundation.org/conferences/current-conference
24TH SWAN CONFERENCE, 16-18 Nov 2016, Duncan, British Columbia, Canada. Swan experts and enthusiasts will gather in British Columbia’s beautiful Vancouver Island to discuss the latest in swan research, conservation, management and protection at a joint conference of The Trumpeter Swan Society and the Somenos Marsh Wildlife Society. Special attention will also be given to the status, management, and conservation of Trumpeter Swans in the Pacific Flyway and potential conflicts between swans and agriculture during winter. Declining winter habitat is becoming a critical issue for Pacific Flyway Trumpeter Swans. Trumpeter Swan issues and opportunities across North America will be presented. The conference will feature three days of contributed scientific papers, posters and workshops, a banquet and silent auction, and a one day field trip. Papers will cover all aspects of swan ecology. A panel discussion Wednesday evening will offer insights into winter habitat issues, including agricultural feeding which is so important to wintering swans in the Pacific Northwest. Conference proceedings are anticipated to be published. The conference will be held in Duncan, British Columbia at the Aboriginal Quw’utsun’ Cultural Centre honoring the ancient roots of the Coast Salish in the valley. World famous wildlife artist, Robert Bateman, will be the Friday night Gala’s keynote speaker. Stay for the WildWings Festival as Trumpeter Swans and other birds return for winter. The staff and boards of The Trumpeter Swan Society and Somenos Marsh look forward to welcoming you to beautiful Vancouver Island! Follow us on our official website: http://www.trumpeterswansociety.org/2016-conference.html
5TH WORLD OWL CONFERENCE, 22-26 Mar 2017. NOTE REVISED DATES. Conference will take place in Italy, where it was held in 2007 the last time. Save the date and start thinking about what kind of research you would like to present during the most rich and interesting convention about owls ever. Apart from the plenary convention session, the 5th World Owl Conference will take place in a location, Venaus, that will give you the chance to attend many side events and owl-and-nature-themed initiatives. Soon we will give you all the technical information about travelling and overnight stay, and all the practical information about the scientific reports. Fllow us on our official website, http://www.woc2016.it and on our official facebook page. The deeds of this important conference will be published in an elegant volume that will be released as a supplement to an important Italian ornithology magazine. The convention will take extra care of anyone who will come with you: families, friends, wives, children, etc. During the whole conference, special guided tours will be arranged to visit stunning Italian locations. An owl conference in Italy is also a unique chance to visit the most beautiful country in the World! For information you can write to (EM: info@woc2016.it). We are waiting for you in Italy! Organizing Committee, World Owl Conference 2016.
QUAIL 8 – NATIONAL QUAIL SYMPOSIUM, 26-28 Jul 2017, Knoxville, Tennessee, US. Sponsored by the University of Tennessee, Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency, National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative & National Bobwhite Technical Committee, Quail 8 is part of a series of quail symposia dating back to 1972, featuring management and research. For more information see, http://www.quailcount.org/quail8/home.html
2017 JOINT MEETING AOU / COS and SCO/SOC, 31 Jul – 5 Aug, 2017, Michigan State University, Lansing, Michigan. The American Ornithologists’ Union, Cooper Ornithological Society, Society of Canadian Ornithologists will meet jointly at Michigan State University, Lansing, MI
27TH INTERNATIONAL ORNITHOLOGICAL CONGRESS, 19 – 26 Aug 2018, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The meeting venue is the Vancouver Convention Centre. Nominations for plenary speakers and proposals for symposia must be received on or before 1 May 2016. For general meeting information and updates, including special events, field trips, local attractions, and links to social media pages, please register on http://www.IOCongress2018.com. Mid-Congress Tours on Friday, 24 August 2018 will showcase the best of birding on the spectacular west coast of beautiful British Columbia. Pre- and post-Congress tours will not only include prime Canadian, including the Arctic, destinations but also Ecuadorian Cloud Forest, Amazon and Galapagos expeditions – in celebration of this being the first Congress on the Pacific Coast of the Americas.
NEWS OF MEMBERS
SCOTT LANYON has accepted a new position at the University of Minnesota as Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Education. EM: slanyon@umn.edu. PH: 612-625-7840
ELAINA TUTTLE, a member of the AOU and WOS, passed away on 15 June 2016. She was a professor at Indiana State University, known for her long-term studies on White-throated Sparrowsin the Adirondacks of New York and Fairy-wrens in Australia. She was a co-founder of The Center for Genomic Advocacy and Genetic Counseling Program at Indiana State University
THE FLOCK – SPECIAL SECTION
To correct your address in the membership database please send the new information to the OSNA Business Office, 5400 Bosque Blvd., Suite 680, Waco, TX 76710 (EM: business@osnabirds.org, PH: 254-399-9636, FX: 254-776-3767) or change it yourself online (URL: http://www.osnabirds.org). To alert your colleagues of new address information, contact the Ornithological Newsletter Editor, CHERYL L. TRINE (EM: ctrine AT andrews.edu).
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