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NUMBER 153, April 2003
ORGANIZATION NEWS
NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
NEWS FROM THE ORNITHOLOGICAL COUNCIL
REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE
POSITIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE
GRANTS AND AWARDS
PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE
PERSONAL EXCHANGES
MEETINGS
NEWS OF MEMBERS
THE FLOCK: SPECIAL SECTION
VISIT THE ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETIES OF NORTH AMERICA:
OSNA - http://www.osnabirds.org
AOU - http://www.aou.org
AFO - http://www.afonet.org/index.html
COS - http://www.cooper.org/
WS - http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET/CWS/index.html
RRF - http://biology.boisestate.edu/raptor
WOS - http://www.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/birds/wos.html
BIRDNET - http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET/index.html
PLEASE NOTE: NEW ADDRESS FOR ONLINE ORNITHOLOGICAL NEWSLETTER AND POSITION
ANNOUNCEMENTS - The new Newsletter address: (URL: http://birds.cornell.edu/osna/ornnewsl.htm) and job
announcements address (URL: http://birds.cornell.edu/osna/ornjobs.htm) have been running simultaneously with the
old address That has been discontinued. Please update your bookmarks.
THE ORNITHOLOGICAL NEWSLETTER has been online for some time now at: http://birds.cornell.edu/osna/ornnewsl.htm). It is our hope that in the interests of conservation of natural and financial resources more members will choose to use the online edition rather than to receive a hardcopy in the mail. To facilitate this, whenever a new issue is posted to the web we will send email notification to members who have provided an email address, along with a direct link to the current issue. If you have provided an email address but would prefer not to receive this notification on a regular basis, you may opt out. If you would like to receive notification but have not provided an email address to OSNA, please go to http://osna.allenmm.com and update your address information. This e-mail service alert will begin with this issue. If you do not receive the alert, but you have provided an email address, and your mailbox isn't full, you should check to see that your email address that is on file is correct (URL: http://osna.allenmm.com/common/TNT_Frontpage.cfm).
NOMINATIONS FOR AOU OFFICERS AND ELECTIVE COUNCILORS must be received by the Secretary three months before the Stated Meeting, i.e. by 7 May 2003. See Ornithological Newsletter 152 (February 2003) or contact Secretary M. ROSS LEIN (EM: mrlein@ucalgary.ca) for more information.
AOU FELLOWS AND ELECTIVE MEMBERS ARE REMINDED that ballots for election of new Elective Members will be distributed in early April 2003, and must be returned by mail by 16 July 2003. The deadline for nominations for EMs and Fellows has already passed. Newly-elected ELECTIVE MEMBERS will be announced at the Business Meeting of Members (7 Aug 2003) at the 121st Stated Meeting at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In early July 2003, FELLOWS will be sent balloting and other information related to their upcoming meeting (6 Aug 2003 at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign), during which they will elect new Fellows and conduct other business. Contact Secretary M. ROSS LEIN (EM: mrlein@ucalgary.ca) for more information.
AOU NEEDS YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS The AOU is undertaking several initiatives to increase the flow of information between the Council, Officers and Committees and the general membership. One aspect will involve the use of email messages to provide information to and to solicit input from members. Email addresses in the OSNA database will be used; these will not be released for any other purposes. Therefore it is important that all AOU members provide their current email address to OSNA. This information can be entered or modified on-line on the OSNA web site (URL: http://osna.allenmm.com/common/TNT_Frontpage.cfm). The AOU is also working on a complete revision of the AOU web site (URL: http://www.aou.org) to make it more useful in delivering information to members, and in allowing them to provide input on issues of interest. For further information, contact AOU Secretary M. ROSS LEIN (EM: mrlein@ucalgary.ca).
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HYBRID ESTRILDID FINCHES FOR RESEARCH. During my Ph.D. project I bred and collected different kinds of hybrids of estrildid finches from about 20 different interspecific crosses. I performed different immune assays on them and am looking for researchers who might be interested in conducting additional studies. Timor Zebra Finches and caging also available Please contact JUAN MARTINEZ (EM: mimodes@jinx.umsl.edu).
INTERNATIONAL TRAINING--The USDA Forest Service International Programs and its partners are pleased to announce four international training opportunities for 2003. The seminars stimulate deliberations and interactive problem solving for issues related to three unique areas of natural resource management. Invited participants are selected to reflect the widest possible geographic distribution and diversity of experience. Program activities will take advantage of the experience of the participants, as well as the unique heritage of the field locations included in each seminar. Three of the programs are intensive, interactive seminars designed for English speaking senior natural resource management professionals who desire to improve their managerial capabilities and administrative skills. The newest addition to our list of collaborative trainings includes a Spanish-language based field course on protected area management. Participants who have their own financial sponsorship are invited to get more information and apply via our website http://www.fs.fed.us/global/is/welcome.html. The seminars for which the deadlines have not passed include: B) INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON FORESTRY AND NATURAL RESOURCES ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT, co-hosted by USDA Forest Service International Programs and Colorado State University, presents a broad spectrum of natural resource management techniques and institutional arrangements so that participants may selectively gather ideas that can assist in the management of their lands. The seminar focuses on strategies and methods to develop, manage, and conserve natural resources for the sustained delivery of goods and services to meet the full range of human needs. Seminar Dates: 24 Aug - 11 Sep 2003. Tuition Cost: $5600. Application Deadline: 25 Jun 2003. C) INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT, designed for senior level planners and managers of nationally significant protected areas worldwide, examines strategies to conserve the world's most special places. The program, sponsored by the USDA Forest Service International Programs and the University of Montana, University of Idaho and Colorado State University, will evaluate policies and institutional arrangements that sustain both people and natural resources. Seminar Dates: 7-23 Aug 2003. Tuition Cost: $4750. Application Deadline: 1 May 2003.
SOCIETY FOR THE STUDY OF AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES TO AUCTION ROBERT E. GORDON LIBRARY & STAMP COLLECTION- SSAR is pleased to announce that the family of the late Robert E. Gordon (1925-1996), the society's president in 1971, has recently donated his collection of books and stamps to SSAR. Gordon's library covers a wide variety of topics including ecology, evolution, herpetology, ichthyology, mammalogy, and ornithology. The society intends to auction the individual items beginning in April, with proceeds being used to set up The Robert E. Gordon Endowment for the support of book-length publications. Gordon spent most of his distinguished career at the University of Notre Dame where he was professor of biology and eventually vice president. He was a leading specialist on salamander behavior and ecology; he also published on his extensive philatelic interests. A full obituary was published in Herpetological Review, 27(3):109-110, 1996. If you wish to be notified about this auction, contact the SSAR Publications Secretary, BRECK BARTHOLOMEW, (EM: ssar@herplit.com, PH/FX: 801-453-0489). The auction will be held on-line at http://BiblioBid.com on or about April 2003.
BORROR LABORATORY ARCHIVE FULLY DIGITIZED (2/03)--The Borror Laboratory of Bioacoustics is pleased to announce that our archive of animal sounds is now fully digitized. The process, which began 5 years ago under NSF support, was completed in February. The result is 495 CDs containing 27,916 recordings of 1,416 species (the largest component being birds: 23,883 recordings of 957 species). In addition to digitizing the Borror Lab's original collection, we have digitized approximately 4,000 new acquisitions during the process. Digitizing new acquisitions will of course continue. In the meantime, we have made arrangements with the Ohio Library and Information Network (OhioLink) to make down-sampled versions of all recordings available for auditioning over the internet. This process has been started and will be completed, in stages, over the next year. Progress will be reported on the Borror Lab web site. JILL SOHA, curator, Borror Laboratory of Bioacoustics (URL: http://blb.biosci.ohio-state.edu).
BIOLOGY OF MARINE BIRDS--University credit course at the Bamfield Marine Station, west coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia: 21 Jul - 29 Aug 2003 (6 w). A combination of lectures and field projects, focusing on principles of ornithology, oceanography of seabirds, behavioral ecology and conservation biology. For upper-level undergraduates and graduate students. Individual student research projects are a key feature. Instructors: ALAN E. BURGER, Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria BC, and PETER J. HODUM, Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Long Beach, CA. For details e- mail info@bms.bc.ca. (URL: http://bms.bc.ca).
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NEWS FROM THE ORNITHOLOGICAL COUNCIL
Provided by DAVID E. BLOCKSTEIN, Chair, and ELLEN PAUL, Executive Director, The Ornithological Council, (EM: OC@cnie.org ) "Providing Scientific Information about Birds." The Ornithological Council is supported by voluntary individual contributions on the OSNA dues notice as well as memberships from the ornithological societies.
OC REPRESENTS SCIENTIFIC ORNITHOLOGY AT MAJOR BIRD CONSERVATION WORKSHOP - In an effort to identify and prioritize bird conservation needs, the Wildlife Management Institute organized a workshop held in Washington, D.C. in late Jan 2003. The workshop brought together state and federal wildlife biologists, conservation organizations, state and federal wildlife agency staff, leaders of the four major bird conservation initiatives (Partners in Flight, North American Waterfowl Management Plan, North American Shorebird Plan, and Waterbirds for the Americas), and many others for a two-day meeting. After a series of presentations and break-out discussions, a list of priorities was compiled and a strategy to increase federal funding for those priorities is now being developed. All seven of the break-out discussion groups identified research and monitoring as a priority, and the Ornithological Council, which is participating in developing this strategy, is working to assure that funding for the agencies and programs that conduct or fund ornithological research are included in this joint effort to persuade Congress to fund the priority components of bird conservation.
OC PUBLISHES FACT SHEET ON WNV RISK TO RESEARCHERS AND BANDERS - After reports from ornithologists that universities were suggesting that field ornithology classes be cancelled or that field research be curtailed, the Ornithological Council embarked on the preparation of a fact sheet on the risks of West Nile Virus to researchers and banders in the field and in the lab. The fact sheet, which was reviewed by experts at the Centers for Disease Control and the National Wildlife Health Center of USDA's Wildlife Services program, and by numerous ornithologists, is available on BIRDNET (URL: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET/) under Information for Professional Ornithologists and Students.
USFWS ISSUES LIST OF NONGAME MIGRATORY BIRDS OF CONSERVATION CONCERN - Under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act amendments of 1988, the USFWS is required to prepare a list every five years identifying species, subspecies, and populations of all migratory nongame birds that, without additional conservation actions, are likely to become candidates for listing under the Endangered Species Act [ESA] of 1973. The first list, named the List of Nongame Migratory Bird Species of Management Concern, was released in 1995 and can be found on the USFWS website (URL: http://migratorybirds.fws.gov/reports/speccon/tblconts.html). This listing confers no legal protection independent of protection that is afforded under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act or other, existing authorities. It should function as a guidance for prioritizing the expenditure of funds for bird conservation. On 6 Feb 2003, the USFWS announced the release of the 2000 list. It can be found at on the USFWS website (URL: http://migratorybirds.fws.gov/reports/BCC2002.pdf). The USFWS will accept comments, both on methodology and on specific listings or omissions. There is no deadline for comments.
OC CHAIR DAVID BLOCKSTEIN PARTICIPATES IN FOREST SERVICE WORKSHOP on options to provide for diversity of plan and animal communities in land and resource management planning - The National Forest Management Act regulations, revised by the Clinton Administration after years of discussion, are undergoing further revision by the Bush Administration. The latest revisions were proposed on 6 Dec 2002, and expressly left open the key issue of ecological sustainability. Two different options were proposed and a workshop was held 18-20 February 2003 to give stakeholders an opportunity to discuss the two options. The first option would establish the viability of vertebrates and vascular plants well distributed within their ranges in the plan area as the primary basis for judging achievement of the NFMA diversity requirement. Drawing heavily on the expertise of its research scientists, the agency developed a second option on ecological sustainability. This option would establish, as the primary basis for judging achievement of the NFMA diversity requirement, planning decisions that foster the maintenance and restoration of biological diversity in the plan area. Both the ecosystem and species levels would be considered, within the range of diversity characteristic of native ecosystems in the larger landscape
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REQUEST FOR ASSISTANCE--SHOREBIRDERS, Please keep your eyes on Pluvialis plover legs during spring and fall migrations; a marked bird may come your way! We've been banding golden-plovers (Pacific and American) and Black-bellied Plovers for many years at Oahu, HI and/or Nome, AK. More recently, we marked Pacific Golden-Plovers at Johnston Atoll. Each bird wears a USGS metal band plus some combination of color-bands (a few have flags). It is important to record the exact sequence on each leg, and whether there is a color-band above or below the metal band. Send observations with as much information as possible to: WALLY JOHNSON, Dept. of Ecology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717 (EM: owjohnson2105@aol.com, PH: 406-587-7305, FX: 406-994-3190) or PHIL BRUNER, Natural Sciences Div., BYU-Hawaii, Laie, HI 96762 (EM: brunerp@BYUH.edu, PH: 808-293-3820, FX: 808-293-3825).
HELP US FIND COLOR-BANDED CASPIAN TERNS: Adult and juvenile Caspian terns have been banded at several tern colonies throughout the Pacific Northwest in order to measure survival, post-breeding dispersal, and movements among colonies. Each tern was banded with a federal numbered metal leg band and a unique combination of colored leg bands that allows for the identification of individual terns at a distance (i.e., at roosts or on colonies). A web site was developed to allow observers an easy way to report resightings of color-banded Caspian terns and immediately view the banding location and resighting history of a reported bird. These terns are part of the Pacific Coast/Western subpopulation and may be seen along the Pacific Coasts of South, Central, and North America, or at interior sites in the west. For more information or to report a resighting of a color-banded Caspian tern, please go to http://www.columbiabirdresearch.org.
WANTED! INFORMATION ON SIGHTINGS OF COLOR-MARKED RED-TAILED HAWKS--Please send us information on any sighting of Red-tailed Hawks with color markings on the outermost secondary feathers 1-4. Birds will be marked in eastern Pennsylvania but could appear anywhere throughout their range. If you see one of these marked birds, please report the following: Your name, address, phone number and/or email address; Date (including year); Time of Day; Location of sighting (state, county, locality); Age of bird (Adult/Immature); Right wing dye color; Left wing dye color; Behavior of bird when sighted (migrating south or north, hunting, perching, nesting, etc.). Report all sightings by phone, fax, email, or letter to: Wildlife Information Center, P.O. Box 198, Slatington, PA 18080 (PH/FX: 610-760-8889, EM: wildlife@fast.net). Thank you. A joint project of Little Gap Raptor Research Group, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, and the Wildlife Information Center.
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POSITIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE
NOTE the printed version of the Ornithological Newsletter no longer contains job advertisements. As of the August '97 issue, the Positions and Opportunities section is available only in the on-line edition. This edition can be accessed directly at http://birds.cornell.edu/OSNA/ornjobs.htm . This job list is edited once a week. Consequently, submissions can be made at any time, and advertisements are maintained until approximately the due date for submissions. Expect the on-line list to change both in content and format in the near future. Also, in the near future a list-serve service will be put into operation that will send job announcements to subscribers via e-mail. Many public libraries provide free Internet access.
A LISTSERVE SERVICE has been set up at Cornell University. Subscribers to this list will receive the new job announcements on a regular basis. These are the same announcements as will appear on-line. To subscribe send the following message to: listproc@cornell.edu , "subscribe BirdJobs-L your name". When sending your message, please send using the "plain text only" format option and be sure to include your name in the message. You leave by sending to listproc@cornell.edu "unsubscribe BirdJobs-L".
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READERS ARE REMINDED that information on deadlines, etc., of grants listed in the third edition of "Grants, Awards and Prizes in Ornithology" is not repeated here. Only revisions of information in that booklet can be reported here, because of space limitations. For information on continuing grants programs relevant to ornithological research, visit the new electronic home of the Grants, Awards, and Prizes booklet: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET/Grants/index.html .
RESEARCH GRANTS IN CICONIIFORM BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION--The Waterbird Society offers awards for work in the science and conservation of wading birds. The goal of Research Grants in Ciconiiform Biology and Conservation is to encourage significant scientific advances in the biology, ecology, or conservation biology of wading birds (i.e., herons, storks, ibises, and their taxonomic allies). The grants committee currently solicits proposals that focus on (1) species relationships within the group, and (2) the status, range, and population sizes of little-known species of Ciconiiformes. Grants are open globally to any student, professional, or amateur. Financial and education status of applicants are not considerations. Selection is made by a committee based on the applicant's likelihood of publishing timely and substantial contributions to the literature. Thus, projects should yield results that would merit submission as abstracts to scientific meetings and, subsequently, publication in peer-reviewed journals. In most years, one or more awards of from $3,000 to $7,000 will be made. Application materials should include contact information, and a not-more-than-one-page proposal. Depending on the scientific merit of the competition, awards will be offered in most years. Proposals are due by 15 Jul 2003. The award or awards, if any, will be announced no later than 1 October, annually. For proposal guidelines, write: KEITH L. BILDSTEIN, Acopian Center--Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, 410 Summer Valley Road, Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania 17961 USA; or email: bildstein@hawkmtn.org
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"FLORIDA'S BREEDING BIRD ATLAS: A COLLABORATIVE STUDY OF FLORIDA'S BIRDLIFE" is now available to the public on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FFWCC) website at http://www.wildflorida.org/bba/. The Florida Breeding Bird Atlas (BBA) documented the breeding distributions of all bird species in Florida during 1986-1991: 196 species were confirmed breeding, and another 19 species were found to be probable or possible breeders. This project was a collaborative effort of Audubon of Florida, the Florida Ornithological Society, and the FFWCC. Nearly 1,900 participants, most of them volunteers, were involved in conducting surveys and compiling data for the BBA. Project participants delivered a wealth of data that will fuel ornithological research in Florida for years to come. This internet resource is based on a final report by Herb Kale, Bill Pranty, Brad Stith, and Wes Biggs to the FFWCC. This is the first time that the BBA data have become widely available to the public. The electronic medium has many advantages, especially the provision of a custom search engine, which enables anyone to search and download BBA data. Other features included on the FFWCC website are an introduction, a discussion of methods and results, species accounts, and species distribution maps for all 215 species.
THE SOCIEDAD ORNITOLOGICA DE LA HISPANIOLA has published, 'Aves Comunes de la Republica Dominicana / Common Birds of the Dominican Republic.' This is a bilingual guide to 60 of the most common or interesting birds of the country. The book, written by Steven Latta and illustrated with photographs by Eladio Fernandez and others, is an introduction to birds for tourists, schoolchildren, and birdwatchers. The guide is available in the United States from the author for $12 which includes shipping. All proceeds are used to provide free copies to schoolchildren in the Dominican Republic. Contact: STEVEN LATTA, PRBO, 4990 Shoreline Hwy, Stinson Beach, CA. 94970-9701.
"BIRDS OF VENEZUELA, 2ND ED.," by Steven L. Hilty. 2003. Princeton University Press. 896 pp., 67 color and b/w plates, 44 color photos, 20 line illus, 1,378 maps, 6" x 9" format. ISBN: 0-691-09250-8 (paper, $55.00); 0-691-02131-7 (cloth, $99.50). This completely new text, accompanied by more than 800 bibliographic entries covers all 1,381 known species and their subspecies from the Caribbean coast to the jungles of the Amazon, from the Andes to the Gran Sabana plateau-nearly 40 percent of all bird species in South America. Detailed range maps plot collection localities and sight records for almost all species. Plumage descriptions are provided for each bird, as is extensive information on voice, behavior, and status. Introductory chapters cover physical geography, climate, biogeography, vegetation and habitats, conservation, migration, and the history of ornithology in Venezuela. A gallery of forty-four stunning color habitat photos and color habitat and relief maps completes the opening section. Birds of Venezuela is a definitive resource for all birders with an eager eye on this splendid country and the surrounding region. Princeton University Press Website (URL: http://www.pupress.princeton.edu).
"BIRDS AND LIGHT," By Lars Jonsson. 2003. Princeton University Press. 224 pp., 200 color illust., 11-13/16" x 11" format. ISBN: 0-691-11489-7 (cloth, $49.50). Lars Johsson is widely considered one of the greatest nature artists of his generation. Jonsson's beautiful and inspirational artwork depicting birds and other wildlife has been appearing in print for more than thirty years. This is an autobiographical account of a life's work studying and capturing the relationship between birds and light. Superbly reproduced artwork appears throughout the book, including pages from Jonsson's earliest sketchbooks, finished plates from his renowned field guides, and some of the artist's majestic full-scale canvases, presented at various stages of development. Jonsson discusses the artistic process, from the importance of sketching from life, to the discipline of painting for field guides and the ability to express subtlety of environment and atmosphere in paint. Jonsson's thoughts on wildlife artistry, and his engaging account of his own career, make Birds and Light a fascinating read for all those interested in birds, birdwatching, and bird art. And the illustrations, many published here for the first time, make this book something to be treasured forever. Princeton University Press Website (URL: http://www.pupress.princeton.edu).
"OPPORTUNITIES FOR BIRDERS," 2003.American Birding Association, Supplement to Birding 25 (1). Opportunities for Birders is presented in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Service, and the Bureau of Land Management. Are you interested in spending a month surveying shorebirds on the North Slope of Alaska, at the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge? Maybe monitoring Greater Sage-grouse on their courtship grounds on the BLM and private lands in Montana, Nevada, or Wyoming might interest you? Checking the nest boxes for shy Flammulated Owls on the Forest Service lands in Oregon is another possibility. Volunteers are needed for these efforts and many more that offer adventure, high and low, throughout North America. Details on these volunteer projects are in the American Birding Association's most recent edition of its Opportunities for Birders directory. With this edition, containing over 550 varied bird-oriented projects, the organization challenges birders of all stripes to engage in volunteer activities to appreciate and conserve our birds. Most of the projects listed in the directory are in the U.S., with a number in Canada, but there are even multiple projects from other countries, particularly from Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition to offering birders a chance to contribute to bird conservation and research, birders utilizing this directory have an opportunity to visit new areas and experience birding in a new way. Skills required, of course, run the gamut from very basic to expert, offering something for virtually everyone. Copies of the 80-page directory can be obtained by sending $2.00 to cover mailing charges to: American Birding Association, Opportunities for Birders, P.O. Box 6599, Colorado Springs, CO 80934. You can also review the volunteer listings online on our growing ABA web site (URL: http://www.americanbirding.org/opps/).
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS is happy to announce three new Photographic guides covering the birds of
south and southeast Asia.
"A PHOTOGRAPHIC GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF SOUTHEAST ASIA: Including the Philippines and Borneo,"
Morten Strange, 2003. Princeton University Press. 400 pp., 700+ color photos, 668 maps, 5" x 7". ISBN: 0-691-11494-3 (Paper, $29.95). For sale only in the U.S., Canada, Latin America, and Africa. This is the first
comprehensive photographic guide ot the birds of mainland Southeast, one of the world's riches avifauna regions,
which includes: the Philippines, Borneo, Peninsular Malaysia, Thailand, Indochina, South China, Hong Kong, and
Taiwan. It is an ideal volume for travelers to the region as well as for all bird lovers.
"A PHOTOGRAPHIC GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF INDONESIA," Morten Strange, 2003. Princeton University Press.
416 pp., 700 color photos, 686 maps, 5" x 7". ISBN: 0-691-11495-1 (Paper, $29.95). For sale only in the U.S.,
Canada, Latin America, and Africa. This is the first comprehensive photographic guide to the birds of Indonesia.
Attractive and easy to use, this volume covers 686 species.
"A PHOTOGRAPHIC GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF INDIA and the Indian Subcontinent-including Pakistan, Nepal,
Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives," Bikram Grewal and Bill Harvey, Photographs by Otto Pfister.
2003. Princeton University Press. 520 pp, 1,050 color illustrations, 1,050 maps, 5" x 7". For sale only in the U.S.,
Canada, Latin America, and Africa. This volume is the most comprehensive photographic guide to the birds of India
and the Indian subcontinent. Never before have so many of the region's species been illustrated in one book. The
photographs have been carefully selected to show not only the most common Passerine and non-Passerine species,
but also more elusive species and distinctive subspecies. This is an essential volume for all birdwatchers and wildlife
enthusiasts traveling to the region.
EACH OF THESE THREE BOOKS covers over 668 species, contains an up-to-date distribution map for each
species, contains more the 700 brilliant color photographs, includes concise text providing all the information needed
to accurately identify species, contains an index in which birds are listed by both their common and scientific names,
provides photos and maps in close proximity for an easy at-a-glance overview for each species. Princeton University
Press Website (URL: http://www.pupress.princeton.edu).
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OLD AND RARE BIRD BOOKS--San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory is selling a number of old and rare bird books, including field guides, natural history, and scientific books dating back to the 1940's. Please help support this not-for-profit organization by bidding generously. Search for "SFBBO" on eBay using the "by seller" search option. For further information contact the auction volunteer at sfbbo@hotmail.com. All purchases are tax deductible.
FOR SALE OR DONATION: Complete set (26 volumes) of A.C. Bent's Birds of North America. $300 plus shipping or will donate to charitable institution for shipping costs and letter of receipt. ROGER LEDERER, Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Chico 95929-555 (PH:530-898-6317; EM: rlederer@csuchico.edu).
FOR SALE: complete bio-acoustics package--Sennheiser ME66 Shotgun Mic $173; K6 Power Supply $177; MZW66 Windscreen $30; Audio Technica AT8415 Shockmount $44; 2 Conquest 4' mic cords, XLR-to-1/8" plugs $46; Sony Walkman Pro Cassette $330; 5 Maxell XL-II 60min cassettes (un-used) $8; Whole package: $800 or best offer, nearly a $1000 value! All you need to record birds in the field! Everything purchased in 2001, used only once! Contact JOEL J. ADAMSON (EM: trashbird1240@yahoo.com, PH: 303-245-6098).
FOR SALE: Birder's World 1990-2000. $24 plus media/book rate postage to your zip code. J. Forestry 1987-2000, all years complete except 1987-1989, & 1999. $50 plus media postage. PER&S (Photogrammetric Engineering and Remote Sensing). 1994-2002, all years complete except 1997, 2001 & 2002. $50 plus media postage. Will consider a trade for a Breeding Bird Atlas publication that I don't have yet. Contact KELLY BETTINGER (EM: kellybettinger@bellsouth.net), P.O. Box 902, Watkinsville, GA 30677.
FOR SALE: Large number of ornithological books and journals. See http://www.hslc.org/~simon/birdbooks.html, EM: simon@hslc.org, write to: ALAN SIMON, 795 Ridley Creek Road, Media, PA 19063, or call 610-565-7622 for a list.
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A 'permanent' meeting list is maintained on BIRDNET ( http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET/BIRDMEET.html ) that focuses mainly on meetings of the Societies that are members of the OC, showing the planned sites and dates of ornithological meetings as far into the future as possible. Note that BIRDNET also maintains a site for the International Ornithological Committee, which includes links to past and future Congresses, at: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET/IOC/index.html .
* in this section indicates new or revised entry
EASTERN BIRD BANDING ASSOCIATION annual meeting 4-6 Apr 2003 at the Hidden Valley Resort near
Ligonier, PA Workshops to learn different banding techniques as well as improving banding skills will be held at
Powdermill Nature Reserve. For information please contact BRAD S. SILFIES, 1525 Blue Mountain Drive
Danielsville, PA 18038 (EM: bssilfies@entermail.net).
SYMPOSIUM ANNOUNCEMENT - INNOVATIONS IN SPECIES CONSERVATION: Integrative Approaches to
Address Rarity and Risk. Join invited speakers on 28-30 Apr 2003 in Portland, Oregon as they describe and discuss
innovative management strategies directed at conserving rare or poorly known species. Participants will examine
various conservation strategies, discussing their ecological, social, and legal context and the risks and uncertainties
associated with their implementation. Case studies will be presented that address conservation efforts in multiple
locations throughout the United States plus one case study from Australia. The symposium is national to
international in scope, and the event should be informative for public and private natural resource managers,
scientists, policy makers, members of conservation groups, and the general public. The symposium provides a
particularly timely opportunity to discuss conservation strategies because of a recent proposal by the U.S. Forest
Service and Bureau of Land Management to change management standards and guidelines for rare and little-known
species in a regional management plan. The symposium was originally scheduled for the Sep 2002, but was moved to
a later date to avoid conflicts with the fall firefighting efforts in the western United States. Symposium details,
including registration forms, are available on the Internet at http://outreach.cof.orst.edu/species/ or call 541-737-2329
or email outreach@for.orst.edu. RUTH JACOBS, USGS Forest & Rangeland Ecosystem Sci. Ctr. Information and
Outreach Office (PH: 541-750-1047, EM: ruth_jacobs@usgs.gov).
*An ESTIMATING AVIAN ABUNDANCE WORKSHOP will be held in conjunction with the Cooper
Ornithological Society 2003 meeting in Flagstaff, Arizona. This one-day workshop will be held on Wednesday, 30
Apr, and will provide researchers with information on the theory, design, field protocol, and software involved in
applying detectability-based procedures. Distance sampling is well suited for avian population monitoring and we are
planning this workshop to instruct individuals interested in learning how to use this method. Workshop instructors
include: STEVE ROSENSTOCK, Arizona Game & Fish Dept. Research Branch, Phoenix, AZ; FRANK HOWE,
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Non-game Avian Program Coordinator, Salt Lake City, UT; RUSSELL
NORVELL, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Non-game Avian Program, Salt Lake City, UT; and AARON
ELLINGSON, Colorado Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
For more information, please visit the workshop webpage (URL: http://www.usgs.nau.edu/cos2003/Distance.htm).
*WORKSHOP ON FEDERAL PERMITS for Threatened and Endangered Species Research-- Everyone conducting
research on threatened or endangered species is required to obtain a Federal endangered species permit. This task can
sometimes appear daunting, especially for first-time applicants. Learn what is really needed to successfully navigate
the permitting process, and why it is important to you, the USFWS, and the endangered species you are working on.
This 2-hour workshop is being offered as part of the 2003 Cooper Ornithological Society Annual Meeting (URL:
http://www.usgs.nau.edu/cos2003/), being held 30 Apr - 3 May, in Flagstaff Arizona. It will be taught by Stephanie
Weagley and Sarah Rinkevich of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Albuquerque, NM. The objectives of this
workshop are: 1. explain the Federal endangered species permitting process (who, what, where, why) 2. educate
researchers, consultants, and others on how to obtain the proper permits 3. provide outreach to those who already
have an endangered species permit, and answer any questions regarding permit processes and reporting 4. gather
feedback from permit applicants and holders on ways to improve the endangered species permit process 5. highlight
ways in which the permit process and permitting office can act in partnership with researchers in recovering
endangered species. Although the instructors are based in USFWS Region 2, the workshop material will be
applicable to other USWFS regions in the western U.S. Attendees must be registrants of the COS conference; there
is no additional fee for this workshop. To assure a space in this workshop, please register for the Cooper
Ornithological Society conference (URL: http://www.usgs.nau.edu/cos2003/registration.htm), and RSVP with
SARAH RINKEVICH (EM: Sarah_Rinkevich@fws.gov) no later than 15 Apr 2003.
2003 COOPER ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY ANNUAL MEETING--Meeting Announcement and Call for
Papers. Conference web site (URL: http://www.usgs.nau.edu/cos2003/index.htm). The Cooper Ornithological
Society will hold its 75th Annual Meeting from 30 Apr - 03 May, 2003 in Flagstaff, AZ, hosted by the U.S.
Geological Survey and Northern Arizona University. Planned symposia and workshops include: Federal Endangered
Species Permit Workshop; Ecology and Management of the Yellow-billed Cuckoo symposium; Estimating avian
abundance workshop; Shrubland/Shubsteppe bird symposium. The registration form can be downloaded from the
conference website; registration forms and other conference materials can be mailed to those without web access,
upon request (contact MARK SOGGE). Local Committee Chair: MARK SOGGE, USGS Southwest Biological
Science Center, Colorado Plateau Field Station, P.O. Box 5614, Flagstaff, AZ 86011 (PH: 928-556-7311 x 232; FX
928-556-7500; EM: mark.sogge@nau.edu). Scientific Program Chair: CHARLES VAN RIPER, USGS Southwest
Biological Science Center, Colorado Plateau Field Station, P.O. Box 5614, Flagstaff, AZ 86011 (PH: 928-556-7311 x
228, FX 928-556-7500; EM: charles_van_riper@usgs.gov). For more details visit http://www.usgs.nau.edu/cos2003
Note: This announcement will also be distributed via U.S. mail to all COS members.
The ANIMAL BEHAVIOR SOCIETY's 40th annual meeting will be held 19-23 Jul 2003 at Boise State University,
in Boise, Idaho. We have an exciting schedule planned, including a keynote address by Ken Dial, a special talk by
Richard Alexander winner of the ABS Distinguished Animal Behaviorist Award and an ABS Fellows lecture by
Peter Narins. Planned symposia include "The neuroethology of decision making," among others. For further
information see http://www.animalbehavior.org/ABS/Program, or contact the local hosts JIM BELTHOFF (EM:
jbeltho@boisestate.edu) and AL DUFTY (EM: adufty@boisestate.edu).
HUMCONFERENCE 2003, the 5th biennial Hummingbird Research Group conference, will be held 30 Jul - 2 Aug
2003 at the Audubon California Kern River Preserve in Weldon, CA. There will be banding sessions, workshops,
demonstrations, and paper sessions. For more information contact DONALD MITCHELL (EM:
dmitchel@pressenter.com; PH: 715-381-9685)
*LIMNOLOGY AND WATERBIRDS CONFERENCE The 4th Conference of the Working Group on Aquatic Birds
of the International Society of Limnology (SIL) "Limnology and Waterbirds 2003" will be held in Sackville, New
Brunswick, Canada, 4-9 Aug 2003. You will find the Preliminary Announcement and the return form of Expression
of Interest at: http://www.links.umoncton.ca/lw/. Please return the completed form to receive further notices. (If you
previously received this notice, please note that the web address changed from the earlier notice.) The Proceedings
will be published in the journal Hydrobiologia as well as a separate volume published in the "Advancements in
Hydrobiology" series of Kluwer Publishers, [similar to that of an earlier symposium: "Aquatic Birds in the Trophic
Web of Lakes" (Dev. in Hydrobiology 1994, vol. 96, 524p. or Hydrobiologia, 1994, vol. 279/280)]. The Proceedings
of the 2nd Conference of the SIL Aquatic Birds Working Group, held in Mérida, México, November 1997, are
available. The Table of Contents of the Proceedings and other information are listed at:
http://www.ramsar.org/w.n.book_limnology.htm. One other matter: you may find the web page of the Diver/Loon
Specialist Group of Wetlands International at: http://www.briloon.org/diver.htm. For additional information, please
contact: DR. AL HANSON, Wetlands and Waterfowl Ecologist, Canadian Wildlife Service, 17 Waterfowl Lane,
Sackville, N.B. E4L 1G6 (PH: 506-364-5061, EM: al.hanson@ec.gc.ca).
*AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION 121st Stated Meeting will be held at the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign, 5-9 Aug 2003. For Information on local arrangements contact ELAINE WOLFE, Conferences
and Institutes, 202 Presidential Tower, 302 East John St., Champaign, IL 61820; (PH: 217-333-2880; FX:
217-333-9561; EM: aoumeeting@ad.uiuc.edu). For information on the Scientific Program contact PETER E.
LOWTHER, The Field Museum, 1400 South Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60605-2496, (PH: 312-665-7953; EM:
lowther@mail.fmnh.org). Circular of Information will be distributed to members in March 2003. Webpage for
meeting is: http://www.conted.uiuc.edu/aou. Deadline for Student Award applications and for place on Scientific
Program is 2 May 2003; information on Student Awards and Call for Papers available in Circular and at web page.
THE RAPTOR RESEARCH FOUNDATION, 2003 annual meeting (3-7 Sep 2003), Hilton Hotel in Anchorage, AK. Hosted by the Alaska Bird Observatory. Abstracts for oral and poster presentations on any aspect of raptor biology, ecology, conservation, or management are welcome. Deadline for presentation abstracts is 1 Jun 2003. Details and instructions will be posted on-line (URL: http://www.alaskabird.org) as they become available. An all-day INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON THE ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT OF NORTHERN GOSHAWKS will be held in conjunction with the conference. The goal of the symposium is to assemble researchers and managers from around the world for an exchange of information with which to assess the current state of knowledge on northern goshawks. Topics of special interest are 1) population ecology and demographics, 2) linkages between habitat and demographic performance; and 3) landscape level management, but submissions dealing with any aspect of northern goshawk ecology and management will be considered. For information regarding the goshawk symposium, contact DR. CLINT BOAL, Texas Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409-2120 (EM: clint.boal@ttu.edu). For information regarding the conference, contact NANCY DEWITT, Alaska Bird Observatory, P.O. Box 80505, Fairbanks, AK 99708 (PH: 907-451-7159; EM: birds@alaskabird.org).
*WORKSHOP--The Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling (CREEM) is hosting Introductory and Advanced Distance workshops (10-17 Sep 2003). The aim of these workshops is to train participants in the latest methods for design and analysis of distance sampling surveys, including line and point transects, automated survey designs, adaptive sampling, incorporating covariates into the detection function, methods for where g(0) <1, and spatial modeling of density. Participants will also learn to use the Distance software program. Further information and forms can be found on http://www.ruwpa.st-and.ac.uk/workshop2002/workshoppage.php or contact CATHERINE BROWN, CREEM, University of St Andrews, The Observatory, Buchanan Gardens, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9LZ, Scotland (PH: +44 1334 461829, FX: +44 1334 461800, EM: cathy@mcs.st-and.ac.uk).
2003 MEETING OF THE WATERBIRD SOCIETY will be held 24-27 Sep in Cuiabá, Brazil, the capital of the state of Mato Grosso. This is in the area of the famous Pantanal, the largest freshwater wetland in the world, home to over 700 species of birds. The scientific program will consist of symposia, contributed papers and posters. If you would like to sponsor a symposium please contact BETTY ANNE SCHREIBER (EM: SchreiberE@aol.com). Further details on submitting contributed papers and posters will be on the society web site, accessible through BIRDNET on the web. For travel: direct flights are available to Cuiabá from S o Paulo or Rio de Janeiro International Airports and costs US$100 - 120. Flights to Cuiabá from most major cities in the USA average between US$650-US$1000. The Hotel Fazenda Mato Grosso offers inexpensive, comfortable rooms right next to the meeting conference center (US$23/ person, double occupancy). Additional, more luxurious, accommodations are available at the Best Western Hotel (US$26/person, double occupancy) which is located in the center of Cuiabá, approximately 6 km from the Conference Center. Transport between the two hotels will be provided. Field trips will be offered before and after the meeting. For further information on the location see the website. Registration information will be posted on the web after 1 Mar 2003.
THE VIITH NEOTROPICAL ORNITHOLOGICAL CONGRESS will take place in Chile's Puyehue National Park,5-11 Oct 2003. The Congress is sponsored jointly by the Neotropical Ornithological Society (NOS) and the Unión de Ornitólogos de Chile (UNORCH). The scientific program will include plenary lectures, concurrent symposia sessions, oral papers, poster sessions, and round-table discussions. English and Spanish will be the working languages of the Congress. Members as well as non-members of the NOS and UNORCH are encouraged to plan on attending this 2003 quadrennial meeting in Chile. The site and the accommodations are beautiful, comfortable, and only steps away from excellent nature trails through the park. An exciting scientific program is planned. Visit the Puyehue National Park web site (URL: http://www.gochile.cl/eng/Guide/ChileNationalParks/Puyehue/Puyehue-1.asp) for information on the region, but do not attempt to use this site for reserving accommodation. CALL FOR PAPERS AND MEETING INFORMATION SOURCES: The deadline for proposals for Symposia, Workshops, and Round-tables has been extended to 30 Jun 2003. A rolling acceptance system is in use. The Scientific Program Committee will notify submitters of acceptance or rejection shortly after receipt of each abstract or proposal. This system will allow submitters to begin seeking funding immediately. Submitters are encouraged to submit proposals as early as possible. If all time slots for oral presentations are filled, late submissions may have to be presented as posters. To be sure of getting a time slot for an oral presentation, be sure to submit as early as possible. Submit the proposals and abstracts through the Congress website (URL: http://www.nocchile.cl - the website is available in both English and Spanish). Details about the Scientific Program and Instructions to Authors (for Plenary and Symposia talks) also can be found on the website The Proceedings of the VIIth Neotropical Ornithological Congress will be published after the congress as a special issue or supplement of Ornitologia Neotropical. This publication will be peer-reviewed and edited and will include the full texts of the plenary lectures and of the symposia papers, and abstracts of the contributed papers. A variety of pre- and post-Congress tours throughout Chile will be offered. The Congress web page (URL: http://www.nocchile.cl) should be used for registration, accommodation, student travel awards, travel, and tour information. Membership in the NOS is inexpensive and open to all with interests in the study Neotropical resident and wintering migratory birds. See the NOS web page for more information (URL: http://www.neotropicalornithology.org).
The EURING 2003 CONFERENCE will be held 6-11 Oct 2003, at the Radolfzell Ornithological Institute (Germany). Details on EURING 2003 can be found at http://www.phidot.org/euring/main_ie.html.
*THIRD NORTH AMERICAN DUCK SYMPOSIUM--Please mark your calendars for the Third North American Duck Symposium to be held in Sacramento California (5-9 Nov 2003). Continuing in the tradition of the 1st North American Duck Symposium, held in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1997, and the 2nd Symposium held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in 2000, the conference program will include invited plenary papers by internationally recognized speakers, contributed oral and poster paper session and evening workshops. Our goal is to provide a forum for managers, researchers, students and other concerned individuals to share their concerns, ideas and solutions to the issues facing North American ducks in the new century. Plan on visiting one of North America's premier wintering waterfowl areas and enjoying our pleasant fall weather! More information can be found at our website (URL: http://www.ducksymp3.com). Important dates are: Abstract deadline: 1 May 2003. Early Bird Registration: 30 Jun 2003. Special hotel rates: 5 Oct 2003. The Conference: 5-9 Nov 2003.
3RD INTERNATIONAL WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT CONGRESS (1-5 Dec 2003) "Ki te raki ki te tonga - Ki uta ki tai (From North to South - From Mountains to Sea); Christchurch, New Zealand; hosted by Manaaki Whenua/Landcare Research (New Zealand), the Wildlife Society (USA), Australasian Wildlife Management Society, Ngai Tahu (Maori tribe of New Zealand's South Island), and the New Zealand Department of Conservation/Te Papa Atawhai. For information, please contact: 3rd IWMC, Conference Office, Centre for Continuing Education, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand (EM: wildlife@cont.canterbury.ac.nz, PH: 64 3 364 2915, FX: 64 3 354 2057, URL: http://www.conference.canterbury.ac.nz/wildlife2003).
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DEAN AMADON, a member of the AOU since 1930, elected Elective Member in 1944 and Fellow in 1949, President of the AOU from 1964 - 1966, member of AFO (1995), member of COS (1943) and Honorary member (1973), life member of RRF (1997), and life member of WOS (1935), died in his sleep at his home in Tenafly, NJ on 12 Jan 2003 at the age of 90 years. He had been going into his office at the American Museum of Natural History up until several months ago, and had only recently been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
ROBB BRUMFIELD finished his NSF postdoc with Scott Edwards at the University of Washington and has moved to LSU to take up his new position as Curator of Genetic Resources. His address is now: Museum of Natural Science, 119 Foster Hall, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803. PH: 225-578-3081, FX: 225-578-3075, EM: brumfld@LSU.edu.
GREGORY S. BUTCHER is now director of citizen science for Audubon, working with Christmas Bird Counts, Important Bird Areas, eBird, and the Great Backyard Bird Count. He can be reached at: Audubon Science Office, 545 Almshouse Road, Ivyland PA 18974, PH: 215-355-9588, x. 20, FX: 215-355-2353, EM: gbutcher@audubon.org.
R. WAYNE CAMPBELL was recently awarded The Commemorative Medal of Canada for the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. This medal is awarded to persons who have made a significant contribution to Canada, their community or to their fellow Canadians.
ELIZABETH CIUZIO has recently joined the KY Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources as a Wetland Bird Biologist.
G. STUART KEITH, a member of the AOU since 1959, elected Elective Member in 1970 and Fellow in 1991, and a life member of WOS, died in his sleep while on a birding/snorkeling trip to Micronesia with family and friends in late February. He was a co-editor of the monumental series "The Birds of Africa" and a founding member of the American Birding Association.
DIANE EVANS MACK recently left the USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest Research Station to accept a position as a nongame biologist with Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Her new contact information is Idaho Dept. of Fish & Game, 555 Deinhard Lane, McCall, ID 83638. PH: 208-634-8137, EM: devansmack@idfg.state.id.us.
DAVID N. NETTLESHIP, retired senior scientist and former head of the CWS 'Seabird Research Unit', has recently been elected President of the Bedford Institute of Oceanography's Ocean Association, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada's premier marine research facility. His new address is: Lundy Environmental Consulting, 25 Tidewater Lane, Allen Heights, Head of St. Margaret's Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada B3Z 2G7 (phone, fax and e-mail address remain unchanged).
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THE FLOCK, the 2001 Membership directory of all six OSNA societies has been mailed. Please check your listing (especially your e-mail address). To correct your address in the membership database please send the new information to the OSNA Business Office at Allen Press, P.O. Box 1897, Lawrence, KS 66044-8897 (PH: 913-843-1221; FX: 913-843-1274; EM: osna@allenpress.com ). To alert your colleagues of your new address information contact theOrnithological Newsletter Editor, CHERYL L. TRINE (address below). Additional copies ofThe Flock can be purchased from the OSNA Business Office.
CHANGES/ADDITIONS:
NEVILLE, JULIE A. EM: jan2h@virginia.edu
ZUROVCHAK, JOSEPH. EM: jzurovch@sunyorange.edu.
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