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NUMBER 165, APRIL 2005
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.waterbirds.org
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
AUCTION ITEMS NEEDED! As part of the exciting Cooper Society meeting in Arcata,
California 15-18 Jun, we will have live and silent auctions
to benefit student travel to meetings and the COS endowment. Take a look around,
do you have: Paintings you’d like to recycle? Books that a student would
treasure? Antique field equipment? Give yourself some room, and help the Society!
We will have hundreds of items for all manner of ornithological tastes: We
already have some fantastic items donated, including: Very rare original bird
plates from Dawson’s Birds of California; Bird books; Shorebird
decoys; Original 50-75 year old Condor printing plates (mounted on hardwood);
Various bird journal runs going back 50 years; Hard to get field books and
monographs; Illustrated works; Ornithological memorabilia from famous ornithologists,
present and past; Hand-carved birds from around the world; and many other special
items, including, (did we mention?) great, hard to get books. If you have suitable
items to donate, or have questions, please inform the organizers, ROB FOWLER
(EM: migratoriusfwlr@cs.com) or
C.J. RALPH (EM: cjr2@humboldt.edu, EM:
707 825-2992) to help tally, and if necessary, arrange for transport to the
meeting.
NOMINATIONS FOR AOU OFFICERS AND ELECTIVE COUNCILORS must be received by the Secretary three months before the Stated Meeting, i.e. by 24 May 2005. Consult the AOU web site (URL: http://www.aou.org/nominations.php3) or Ornithological Newsletter 164 (February 2005) or contact Secretary M. ROSS LEIN (EM: aousecretary@aou.org) for more information.
AOU FELLOWS AND ELECTIVE MEMBERS ARE REMINDED that ballots for election of new Elective Members will be distributed in early May, 2005, and must be returned by mail to the Secretariat by 3 Aug 2005. The deadline for nominations for EMs and Fellows has already passed. Names of newly-elected ELECTIVE MEMBERS will be announced at the Business Meeting of Members on 24 Aug 2005 at the 123rd Stated Meeting at the University of California in Santa Barbara, CA. In early July 2005, FELLOWS will be sent balloting and other information related to their upcoming meeting (23 Aug 2005 at the University of California in Santa Barbara), during which they will elect new Fellows and conduct other business. Contact Secretary M. ROSS LEIN (EM: aousecretary@aou.org) for more information.
THE ONLINE ORNITHOLOGICAL NEWSLETTER HAS MOVED! The new address is http://www.osnabirds.org/on. Please update your bookmarks.
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR AOU AWARDS WILLIAM BREWSTER MEMORIAL AWARD--Nominations are invited for the William Brewster Memorial Award for 2005. The Brewster Award is given for the most meritorious body of work (book, monograph, or series of related papers) on birds of the Western Hemisphere published during the past ten years. Each nomination must include: (1) the name and institution of the nominee, (2) a written description of the contributions of the nominee to ornithology, and (3) a bibliography that documents these contributions. Submit one electronic copy of the nomination to the Chair, AOU Awards Committee, ELLEN KETTERSON (EM: Ketterso@indiana. edu), by 1 Jun 2005.
ELLIOTT COUES AWARD--Nominations are invited for the Elliott Coues Award for 2005. The Elliott Coues Award recognizes extraordinary contributions to ornithological research and involves no limitation with respect to geographic area, sub-discipline(s) of ornithology, or the time course over which the work was done. Each nomination must include: (1) the name and institution ofthe nominee, (2) a written description of the contributions of the nominee to ornithology, and (3) a bibliography that documents these contributions. Submit one electronic copy of the nomination to the Chair, AOU Awards Committee, ELLEN KETTERSON (EM: Ketterso@indiana.edu), by 1 Jun 2005.
NED K. JOHNSON YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD--Nominations are invited for the Ned K. Johnson Young Investigator Award for 2005. The Ned K. Johnson Award recognizes outstanding and promising work by a researcher early in his/her career in any field of ornithology. Successful nominees will excel in research and show distinct promise for leadership in ornithology within and beyond North America. They must have received their doctorate within 5 years of being nominated, must not have received the award previously, and must be a member of the AOU at the time of nomination. To nominate a candidate for the Ned K. Johnson Young Investigator Award, submit one electronic copy of the following documents to the Chair, AOU Awards Committee, ELLEN KETTERSON (EM: Ketterso@indiana.edu), by 1 Jun 2005: (1) a letter summarizing why the nominee should be considered for an award, including statements on his/her scientific accomplishments, the relevance of his/her research to scientific ornithology, and his/her promise as a leader in ornithology; (2) the candidate's curriculum vitae; and (3) two letters of support from colleagues.
AOU CONSERVATION AWARD--Nominations are invited for the AOU Conservation Award for 2005. The AOU Conservation Award recognizes extraordinary scientific contributions to the conservation, restoration, or preservation of birds and/or their habitats by an individual or small team (usually less than 10 people). Contributions from throughout the world and over any time course are eligible. Appropriate activities include: Applied research, restoration, and educational actions that conserve birds, or preserve significant bird habitats; - Scientific examination of the principles of avian conservation and application of new insights into species restoration; - Scientific evaluation, guidance, creation, and oversight of avian recovery programs or habitat reserve/restoration programs. To nominate a candidate for the AOU Conservation Award, submit one electronic copy of the following documents to the Chair, AOU Awards Committee, ELLEN KETTERSON (EM: Ketterso@indiana.edu), by 1 Jun 2005: (1) a letter summarizing why the nominee(s) should be considered for an award, including statements on scientific, educational, and conservation accomplishments, the relevance of his/her science to avian conservation, and his/her leadership in avian conservation, documentation of the conservation implications of the candidate's work, and what birds have benefitted from the science; (2) the candidate's curriculum vitae; and (3) two letters of support from colleagues.
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CALL FOR PAPERS: Editors-in-Chief Thomas Nudds and Marc-André Villard are pleased to invite authors to submit articles to Avian Conservation and Ecology - Écologie et Conservation des Oiseaux (ACE-ÉCO). ACE-ÉCO is an open-access, fully electronic scientific journal, sponsored by the Society of Canadian Ornithologists and Bird Studies Canada. The journal publishes peer-reviewed, scientific papers pertaining to the conservation, ecology, and status of birds. In focusing on research that is simultaneously pure and applied avian ecology, the journal will complement other publications, such as traditional ornithological journals, conservation publications, general ecology journals and those focused on specific groups of birds. Although ACE-ÉCO is intended in part to enhance the international profile of Canadian ornithology and applied avian science, contributions will be welcomed from all over the world. " This journal is open-access, which means that all articles will be freely and fully available to everybody, anywhere in the world. This ensures that people involved in bird conservation will be able to make use of your scientific results regardless of their access to libraries and without expensive subscriptions. To cover this, authors must pay publication charges, but these are substantially less than the page charges levied by many traditional journals. For full details, see http://www.ace-eco.org/submissions/callforpapers.php
NEW WHSRN SITE IN SOUTH TEXAS--On 22 Jan, the La Sal Del Rey Tract of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge, near Raymondville, Texas, was dedicated as a Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) site at the South Texas Salt Lakes. The site received recognition in view of its use as a nocturnal roost for over 2,200 Long-billed Curlews. This constitutes over 10 percent of the estimated world population of the species. The salt lakes are also important for other species, with over 6,000 Wilson's Phalaropes and over 10,000 eared grebes having been documented there. The Lower Rio Grande Valley NWR now joins its sister refuge, Laguna Atascosa NWR, as a WHSRN-designated site. For background on WHSRN see these pages: (URL: http://www.manomet.org/WHSRN/what.htm). (Excerpted from “Swarovski Birding Community E-bulletin” March 2005.)
ENDANGERED FALCON COULD BE REINTRODUCED IN THE SOUTHWEST–The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is proposing to reintroduce the endangered Northern Aplomado Falcon into its native skies above New Mexico using a flexible recovery tool under the Endangered Species Act. "We believe establishing a nonessential population will help ensure the long-term survival and recovery of this species," said Dale Hall, director of the Service's Southwest Region. "Using this tool, we have much more leeway to work with local citizens and other agencies to take their concerns into account so that current and future land uses and activities will not be restricted." The draft rule proposes to begin releases of captive-raised falcons in the summer of 2006. Up to 150 falcons could be released annually for ten or more years until a self-sustaining population is established. "Experimental reintroductions can be a great aid in the recovery of threatened or endangered species," said Hall. The proposed reintroductions are part of a larger recovery effort already underway for the falcon across its range. Falcons have been reintroduced on national wildlife refuge lands in Texas. Texas has a reintroduction program geared to private landowners with more than 1.4 million owned acres enrolled. Texas illustrates the rapidity with which a population can be established through releases. The Northern Aplomado Falcon population in the U.S. has gone from zero birds in 1994 to at least 39 pairs producing at least 179 young by 2004. Although no falcons have been documented in Arizona since the 1940s, sporadic falcon sightings have occurred in New Mexico. A breeding pair in Luna County, New Mexico successfully hatched three chicks in 2002 but no chicks have been documented since then. The proposed ruling, published 9 Feb 2005 in the Federal Register, is available online (URL: http://policy.fws.gov/library/05-2415.html). Comments on the proposed rule can be mailed or hand-delivered to the New Mexico Ecological Services Field Office, 2105 Osuna Road NE, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87113. Comments may be sent by facsimile to (505) 346-2542 or through electronic mail to R2FWE_AL@ fws.gov. Copies of the proposed rule and the draft environmental assessment are available from the above address, by calling (505) 346-2525. Comments are due by 11 Apr 2005.
BNA ONLINE--The Cornell Lab of Ornithology (CLO) and the AOU are pleased to announce the completed launch of BNA Online, the "live" version of The Birds of North America (BNA), the ground-breaking, 18-volume guide to the life-histories of North America's 700+ species of breeding birds. BNA Online has transformed all of the detailed information available in the hard-copy edition into an interactive, searchable web-based resource with linked literature citations, digital images, and full video and sound. This information will be continuously updated with new findings in ornithology and new links to Internet sources. OSNA members are invited to browse the BNA website (URL: http://bna.birds. cornell.edu/BNA/). Since launch of BNA Online in Sep 04, the BNA/CLO team have added considerably to the database: 12+ accounts have been revised, partially or in full; 250+ videos, from CLO's Macauley Laboratory, are now in place, illustrating key behaviors and plumages; representative songs and calls for most species, also from the Macaulay collection, can be heard as part of the BNA accounts; and 500+ new digital images from a variety of photographers provide the start for fully illustrated accounts. Current goals for BNA Online are to: 1) create the architecture for efficient online updating of species accounts; CLO's IT group recently received NSF funding to facilitate this, and we expect speedy revisions of all BNA accounts to be within reach by Jan 06; stay tuned for details; 2) develop full images galleries for all BNA species, illustrating plumage details, behaviors, and nests and eggs, among other aspects of life histories; BNA authors and other OSNA members are encouraged to send such photos to ALAN POOLE (EM: afp7@cornell.edu), editor of BNA Online; and 3) expand the video and sound archives for each species. BNA Online is a subscription-based service. Prices are listed on the website. Our effort is to recover some of the considerable investment made by the AOU and CLO in this project, but at the same time keep subscriber costs low enough that the information is widely accessible. Individuals can subscribe for only $40/yr -18 volumes, 18,000+ pages of information, continually updated. Costs for academic libraries (multiple users) are higher. OSNA members should encourage their institutional libraries to subscribe to BNA Online; all who use a subscribing library will thereby have access to this increasingly valuable resource.
RAPTOR WORKSHOP: A 5-day workshop entitled "Introduction to Raptor Field Techniques" will be held 13-17 Jun 2005 in Stevens Point, Wisconsin by Eugene Jacobs of the Linwood Springs Research Station. Loren Ayers of the Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources and Dennis Haessly of Roche A Cri Research will also be instructors in this unique workshop. Receive first hand experience working on live raptors including: capturing and handling techniques, broadcast call surveys, tree climbing and rappelling, habitat sampling techniques, video surveillance, telemetry equipment and more. Cost is $425 and space is limited. For more information visit http://www.RaptorResearch.com; for reservations contact: EUGENE JACOBS (EM: lsrs@raptorresearch.com).
VIREO ONLINE PHOTO DATABASE - The Academy of Natural Sciences' bird photograph collection, VIREO, is now on the web (URL: http://vireo.acnatsci.org). More than 20,000 of VIREO's 120,000 photos can now be viewed. Over 4,000 species are currently online, including virtually all North American birds. Users can search the database by common name, scientific name, or location. Other modes will be added. Upon registering, users can see larger images and set up lightboxes to facilitate orders. Images can be licensed for publication and JPEG's can be purchased for educational lectures. Please visit the site, pass the word on, and send us any comments or suggestions you may have.
CRP LANDS SHOW BOOST IN PRAIRIE-CHICKEN NESTING SUCCESS--Studies in Minnesota have shown that greater prairie-chicken nesting success on conservation reserve program (CRP) lands now approaches that of the species' nesting success on native grasslands, reports the Wildlife Management Institute. In the early years of CRP (the mid- and late 1980s), prairie-chicken nesting success on those set-aside acreages was in the neighborhood of 33 percent. Over time, with more lands in CRP, better cover crops and recovery of some native flora, nesting success now approaches 46 percent. Land managers of The Nature Conservancy indicate that predators have a difficult time finding prairie-chicken nests in the relatively dense grasses and there is a greater supply of food compared with vegetative conditions in those initial CRP years. For additional information, contact the Minnesota Prairie Chicken Society (URL: http://www.prairiechicken.org), or the Minnesota Chapter of The Nature Conservancy (EM: minnesota@tnc.org). (Outdoor News Bulletin,Wildlife Management Institute, March 2005.)
ORNITOLOGIA NEOTROPICAL IS NOW INDEXED IN CURRENT CONTENTS. Starting with Vol. 15 (1) 2004, the journal of the Neotropical Ornithological Society, Ornitología Neotropical, is now indexed in Current Contents (Agriculture, Biology & Environmental Sciences and SCIE). It was previously indexed in BioAbstracts and BioSIS. We encourage researchers and students to consider our journal for publication of the results of their ornithological research in Latin-American countries and/or the Caribbean. The Board of Directors of the NOS acknowledges the fine work of our past editor, Karl-L. Schuchmann, our past president, François Vuilleumier, and our current editor, Raymond McNeil, for their efforts to keep improving the quality of the journal and for having brought Ornitología Neotropical to the level of a first-class, international, and fully refereed scientific journal.
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Provided by DAVID E. BLOCKSTEIN, Chair (EM: oc@cnie.org), and ELLEN PAUL, Executive Director (EM: ellen.paul@verizon.net), The Ornithological Council. Major funding for the Ornithological Council is provided by its eleven member societies: American Ornithologists' Union, Association of Field Ornithologists, CIPAMEX, Cooper Ornithological Society, Neotropical Ornithological Society, Pacific Seabird Group, Raptor Research Foundation, Society of Canadian Ornithologists, Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds, Waterbird Society, and Wilson Ornithological Society. We also appreciate the support of individual ornithologists.
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE OC! Most of the support for the Ornithological Council is provided by our eleven member societies. However, support from individual ornithologists is also an important source of funding for OC's efforts to "keep the world safe for ornithology." This year, for the first time in several years, contributions from individual ornithologists have increased, which will help us to continue to "make the world safe for ornithology." Thank you to all who have contributed. We appreciate your support! Those who have not yet renewed their society memberships can still contribute. You will find a line on the printed renewal notice, at the top of the column where you will list your dues and contributions to the OSNA societies. You can also contribute via the website if you renew online. The line for contributions to the OC will appear on the same webpage as the society membership dues and contributions.
USFWS DECIDES AGAINST CONSOLIDATION OF BIRD PERMIT OFFICES - The Ornithological Council has learned that the USFWS has decided to against proceeding with a plan to consolidate the migratory bird permit offices, primarily because costs were higher than originally projected. However, the USFWS will continue to take measures to improve interregional consistency. The Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlfie Service requested that the Migratory Bird Washington office amend the regulations governing the appeal process for denied permits to transfer the final appeal decision to his office. The Washington Office expects to develop and publish a proposal later this year. In the interim, the Washington Office will be asking to be kept apprised of appeals received in the Regions.
NEOTROPICAL MIGRATORY BIRD CONSERVATION ACT REAUTHORIZATION BACK BEFORE CONGRESS - Representatives Ron Kind (D-OR) and Wayne Gilchrest (R-MD) have reintroduced a bill to re-authorize the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (NMBCA). The bill - H.R. 518 - is substantially similar to the legislation introduced in the 108th Congress. It would re-authorize the currently authorized spending limits of $5 million per year for Fiscal Years 2006 and 2007 in annual increments of $5 million, then increase to $10 million in FY2008 and $15 million in FY2009. Once appropriations reach $10 million, projects in Canada would be eligible for funding. The required match would drop from 3:1 to 1:1, and the provision allowing in-kind match for projects outside the U.S. would continue. Despite the low funding levels, the NMBCA has been heralded as a major source of funding for migratory bird conservation. Eligible project activities include protection and management of neotropical migratory bird populations; maintenance, management, protection, and restoration of habitats of these birds; research and monitoring; law enforcement; and community outreach and education. See http://birdhabitat.fws.gov/NMBCA/eng_ neo.htm for more information.
FINAL WORD ON OPEN ACCESS (FOR NOW) - The National Institutes of Health has released the final version of its open access policy, which incorporates two major changes in response to concerns raised by scientific societies. Under the final proposal, authors funded by the NIH will no longer be required to submit papers for full-text, open-access publication in the NIH's public access database. Instead, they are requested to submit the papers, and they are encouraged to do so within 12 months of publication, rather than the six months called for in the original proposal. In a conference call with the many scientific societies and others who had submitted comments, NIH Director Elias Zerhouni said that the changes were made in response to the realization by NIH that the original policy might be quite harmful to nonprofit scientific societies, which reinvest their journal revenue into further publications and other scientific and educational endeavors. Some publishers are still concerned about the policy, saying that no author will risk future funding by failing to submit articles, but NIH staff insist that submission is truly voluntary. It is hoped that other funding agencies considering open access policies will be considerably more cautious as a result of NIH's experience, and will be more cognizant of the potential impact on nonprofit scientific societies as they begin to develop such policies. It is also hoped that other funding agencies will involve the scientific community as they begin deliberations. The NIH chose to defer discussion with the scientific community until the draft policy was already written, and this caused considerable difficulty for both the NIH and the scientific community.
SCIENCE INTEGRITY BILL INTRODUCED IN U.S. CONGRESS Congressmen Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Bart Gordon (D-TN) have introduced legislation to protect integrity of science in federal research and policymaking. The bill, which is H.R,839, is intended to counter some of the developments in recent years that have undermined the scientific process and the transmission of scientific information to policymakers and the public. Notable features are as follows: (1) this bill would invalidate OMB's federal peer review policy, which emanated from implementation of the Data Quality Act, although it does not seek to revoke the Data Quality Act itself; (2) the bill addresses the problem of federal agencies that alter or suppress scientific research, findings, and publications; (3) it also affords a degree of protection to fe-derally-employed scientists: "federal employees may not "take or fail to take, or threaten to take or fail to take, a personnel action with respect to any employee because of the development or dissemination, within the scope of employment, of scientific research or analysis that the employee reasonably believes to be accurate and valid;'' (4) it also seeks to prevent "packing" of federal advisory committees by selecting members known to agree with the administration's position while deliberately excluding other scientists - as qualified or more so - who are believed to disagree with the administration's stance. The violations of the Federal Advisory Committee Act's requirements for balanced representation have been rather flagrant in recent years; and (5) it requires the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) to compile an annual report of controversies involving scientific integrity, and of any federal policy changes related to science policy, including the right to publish, the use of data, communication with the public, participation in professional scientific activities, and Federal advisory committee membership. See http://www.democrats.reform.house.gov/features/politics_and_science/ index.htm for more information.
CHAFEE TO CHAIR SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE WITH JURISDICTION OVER ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT -Senator Lincoln Chafee (R-RI) has been named to chair the Fisheries, Wildlife, and Water subcommittee of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Conservation organizations are heartened by this appointment, because, although Chafee has no publicly-stated position on the Endangered Species Act, he is more moderate than other members of Congress who have introduced and supported legislation that would have seriously eroded protections for endangered species. According to the League of Conservation Votes, Chafee's voting record on environmental issues merits a 50% rating, but he is seen by conservation organizations as someone who is concerned about the environment and who will listen to all sides. Although Republican leaders in the House and Senate have expressed strongly a desire to move an ESA reform bill this year, and the chairs of the House Resources Committee and Senate Environment and Public Works Committee have made ESA reform a priority, Chafee, as chair of the subcommittee that would consider such legislation, will have significant control over whether any particular bill is even voted upon in the subcommittee.
USFWS DECLINES LEGAL PROTECTION FOR SAGE GROUSE - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, relying on an extensive review of scientific data and analysis by senior regional U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists, decided against listing the greater sage-grouse as a threatened or endangered species under the Endangered Species Act across its range. The decision drew controversy because of newspaper reports that Julie MacDonald, a deputy assistant secretary of the Department of the Interior who holds a degree in civil engineering, had edited the report before the decision was made by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. According to a report published in the Washington Post (5 December 2004), Ms. MacDonald dismissed the methodology behind studies that indicated significant declines in grouse population or habitat, denigrated many studies as mere "opinion", and sought inclusion of industry comments that she found compelling. The formal decision against listing was announced on 7 January 2005, at which time USFWS Director Steve Williams praised federal and state agencies, and local working groups for their current efforts to maintain or improve sagebrush habitat and encouraged them to continue to move forward with the new plans to develop and implement conservation strategies throughout the grouse's range. The North American Grouse Partnership, recognizing the political challenges raised by endangered species issues, particularly in the western states, felt that the listing would have hampered ongoing and future voluntary efforts of the federal land management agencies, state agencies, private landowners, and conservation organizations in the region to develop effective conservation strategies for sage grouse.
PRESIDENT'S BUDGET REQUEST FOR SCIENCE AGENCIES - For most federal science funding agencies or agencies with significant intramural research programs, the President's budget request for Fiscal Year 2006 is essentially flat. For the National Science Foundation (which took a 0.3% cut last year, most of it the transfer of the $140 million Math and Science Partnership to the Department of Education but the directorates also took cuts of as much as 2.5%), the overall request is $5.605 billion. This is a 2.4% increase over FY05. Research and Related Activities would get an overall increase of 2.7% (the phrase "would get .... means "if the Congress appropriates what the President has requested.") For every directorate, an increase is requested; for the Biological Sciences directorate - the request is for an increase of $5 million, a 0.9% increase over FY05. This requested increase is smaller than the increases requested for Engineering (3.5%), Geosciences (2.2%), Math and Physical Sciences (1.5%), and Computer and Information Science and Engineering (1.1%). Among the BIO director-ate's divisions, integrative organism biology would decrease by 1.7% and environmental biology would increase by 1.1%. Emerging Frontiers, which supports pioneering research and networking activities that arise from advances in disciplinary research, would increase by 16%, to $11.88 million. Funding to continue planning for the National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) will continue, but it will come from the BIO directorate (Biological Infrastructure division), not from the Major Research Equipment and Facilities Construction budget. Biocomplexity in the Environment would take a big hit - down a total of 15.5%, including a cut of 23.7% in the biological sciences. For those interested in the Education and Human Resources grant programs, such as Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeships, Graduate Research Fellowships, and Graduate Teaching Fellowships - this directorate would drop by 12.4% but none of those programs will be decreased. The big cuts in Education and Human Resources are in the Math and Science Partnership (part of No Child Left Behind; the Math and Science Partnership continues but most of the funding is now with the Department of Education); in Elementary, Secondary and Informal Education (-22.6%); and undergraduate education (which does NOT include the Research Experiences for Education program - the REU program would increase by 5%). The U.S. Geological Survey, which would decrease for the second year in a row, the President's budget request calls for a decrease of $1.95 million, though the Biological Resources Discipline would receive a very small increase of $1.226 million, bringing its total funding to $172.9 million. Most of the increase would go to biological research and monitoring; there would be a small increase for biological information, management, and delivery and the Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units budget would be cut by $142,000, making it impossible to fill current vacancies, much less proceed to open new units in states that do not have these valuable research programs.
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ARE BLACKFLIES KILLING YOUR NESTLINGS? Work on Red-tailed Hawks and Great Horned Owls in the Yukon, and Red-tailed Hawks in Wyoming have shown clear evidence that blackfly attacks on nestling raptors can kill; either directly through blood loss and trauma, or indirectly through the impacts of a blood parasite transmitted by the flies. I'm seeking information on the observation of blackflies on nestlings and/or evidence of attacks (scabbing around the neck, large numbers of apparently healthy young falling from nests) in raptor species. Please contact FRANK DOYLE (EM: doyle@bulkley.net or Tel/Fax: Canada 250-846-5100).
REQUEST FOR OBSERVATIONS ON SCENTING AND SCENT MARKING IN BIRDS–We are conducting a survey on scenting and scent marking in birds. We have done a literature review of the subject, but now we are looking for personal observations and unpublished or less searchable information, which can't be obtained for instance using the web of science on the use of odorous substances by birds (free ranging or captive birds, common to rare or extinct birds). This includes birds that smell (even if you have not detected any use for such a characteristic), and birds that use odor to convey information (through excretions like feces or via secretions, through various glands or vomit or even by applying foreign scents from plants or other animal substances). Please send information to ANNA GSELL by email (EM: A.C.Gsell@massey.ac. nz) or to ISABEL CASTRO (EM: I.C.Castro@massey.ac.nz), or post it to Dr. Isabel Castro at the Behavioural Ecology and Conservation Programme, Ecology, Institute of Natural Resources, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealand. Any help will be acknowledged in any kind of written document that may come out from the data obtained. We thank you very much for your assistance!
SHOREBIRDERS: Please keep your eyes on Pluvialisplover legs during the upcoming migration and breeding season! Pacific Golden-Plovers banded at various sites (Oahu, HI; Johnston Atoll; Saipan, Mariana Is; Nome, AK) might be coming your way, also American Golden-Plovers, and Black-bellied Plovers captured near Nome. Our marking of plovers at Saipan this spring is the first project of its kind in that region of the winter range. The migratory routes of Saipan birds are unknown – probably their destination is Siberia, but Alaska is a possibility. Each bird wears a metal band plus a unique combination of color-bands; a few are flagged; some will also be radio-tagged. 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).
CALL FOR DCCO SAMPLES-- I am working with Dr. Sue Haig at Oregon State University on population genetics in Double-crested Cormorants and am seeking DCCO samples from throughout their range. For each breeding site, I need samples from about 15-20 non-related individuals. Samples can be obtained from bleeding birds, collecting abandoned eggs, or from dead birds. Once obtained, the tissue/blood should be placed in a small vial of buffer and stored at room temperature, not refrigerated. They can then be mailed by regular post to the lab at OSU (see http://fresc.usgs.gov/staff/haig/conservation/collection-prot.doc). Ifyou are able to help with this project, please reply to me directly at dacmercer@yahoo.com and include your site location, mailing address, and number of samples you may collect. We will then supply you with the necessary vials and buffer for collection. If you have any questions please contact me. Thanks for all of your help and time.
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The Positions and Opportunities section is available only in the on-line edition. This information can be accessed from the Ornithological Newsletter Home Page (http://www.osnabirds.org/on), or directly at (http://www.osnabirds.org/on/ornjobs.htm). Submissions can be made at any time. Please send submissions to the Ornithological Newsletter Editor, Cheryl Trine, (EM: ctrine@andrews.edu). This posting service is free of charge.
A LISTSERVE SERVICE is available. 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". The subject line should be blank. Please send your message using the “plain text only” e-mail format option and include your name in the message.You leave by sending the message "unsubscribe BirdJobs-L" to listproc@cornell.edu.
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FOR INFORMATION ON CONTINUING GRANTS PROGRAMS relevant to ornithological research, visit: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET/Grants/index.html.
ANNOUNCING AWARDS OF FREE LICENSES FOR RAVEN SOUND ANALYSIS SOFTWARE--Raven (URL: http://birds.cornell.edu/raven) is a software application for the acquisition, visualization, measurement, and analysis of acoustic signals. Raven has been developed by the Bioacoustics Research Program (BRP) at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to provide a powerful, user-friendly research and teaching tool tailored to the needs of biologists working with acoustic signals. BRP plans to award a small number of free licenses for Raven to researchers in the field of animal bioacoustics. These awards are intended to make Raven available to investigators for whom the standard $400 license fee would be prohibitive, such as researchers in developing countries and graduate students without access to large research grants. Awards may be for basic research on the functions, mechanisms, development, or evolution of animal acoustic communication systems, or for conserva-tion-oriented applied research. To apply, please send email to raven_awards@cornell.edu. Your application should include the following information: 1. Your name, the name of the institution or organization with which you are affiliated, and your position (e.g., graduate student, faculty, staff, etc.). 2. A brief description (no more than 500 words) of your proposed research and how you would use Raven in your work. If you are selected for an award, this description of your work, or excerpts thereof, may be used by BRP (with attribution to you) on its website or in other publications. 3. An explanation of the financial need for this award. List all sources of funding for your research already available, and (separately) other funds for which you have applied or expect to apply in the next three months. This section of your application will be confidential and will be seen only by the award selection committee. 4. A statement that, if selected, you agree (a) to provide BRP with a photograph of yourself that may be used on the BRP website, and (b) to provide at least one update to BRP within a year of the award date on scientific progress made using Raven. Applications should be submitted no later than 6 May 2005. Awards will be announced by 3 June 2005. Award decisions will be made by a committee of BRP scientists and software developers on the basis of scientific merit and financial need. Raven was developed with the support of the National Science Foundation.
2004 MORLEY NELSON FELLOWSHIP WINNER--Conservation Research Foundation announces the awarding of the 2004 Morley Nelson Fellowship to RICHARD SEATON of Massey University, New Zealand, for a study entitled “The Ecological Requirements of the New Zealand Bush Falcon (Falco novaeseelandiae) in Plantation Forestry”.
THE MORLEY NELSON FELLOWSHIP--The Morley Nelson Fellowship, awarded by the Conservation Research Foundation, is a stipend of up to $600 to support work reflecting the multi-faceted career of Morley Nelson. Priority will be given to applicants pursuing projects on raptors, especially involving conservation, education, photography, cinematography, documentary, or research. Active conservation efforts, innovative research on new threats to sensitive raptor populations or raptor species of concern is encouraged. The significance of the project will be considered, as well as the extent to which knowledge gained will be shared with a wider audience. Send 3 copies of a brief proposal (<4 pages, including a 1-page personal resume) outlining goals, objectives, and expected results/products of the study or activity, names and addresses of 3 references, total budget, and other sources of support. Send by post, not e-mail. Contact: WILLIAM G. MATTOX, Conservation Research Foundation, 8300 Gantz Ave., Boise, ID 83709. For more information only, not applications: e-mail wgmattox2@earthlink.net. Deadline: 1 Oct 2005.
NISBET RESEARCH GRANT of The Waterbird Society--The Nisbet Research Grant is awarded to support research on waterbirds with a preference to research on gulls or terns. The Waterbird Society's Grant Committee makes awards to proposals that are most likely to provide significant advances in the biology, ecology, or conservation of waterbirds, particularly gulls or terns. The education (student, professional, or amateur) and financial status of the applicant are not considerations. Rather, awards are based on scientific merit alone. The results of the work supported by Nisbet Grants should be published in the peer-reviewed scientific literature and both the Nisbet Research Grant and the Waterbird Society should be acknowledged in resulting publications. The Grantee must submit a 1-2-page report to the Grant Committee on the work conducted within three months after the end of the grant period (1-2 pages). The report will be posted on Waterbird Society's web page and preserved in the Society's archives. Grant applications should be submitted to: KEITH L. BILDSTEIN, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Acopian Center 410 Summer Valley Road, Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania 17961 USA; or email: (EM: bildstein@hawkmtn.org). Proposals are due by 15 Jul. The award or awards, if any, will be announced no later than 1 October, annually. PROPOSALS FOR THE NISBET RESEARCH AWARD--General information for applicants: *The award is open to applicants, professional or amateur, of any age, globally. *Proposals will be judged on the basis of their likelihood to contribute significant new information to the published literature regarding the biology, ecology, or conservation biology of waterbirds, particularly gulls or terns. *The award, if offered, will be $900 in 2005 and at least $1,000, whenever possible, thereafter. *All proposals must be printed in English in standard 12-point font format. *Proposals should be brief (3 pages, maximum), and should include a one-page cover sheet, one-page narrative, and one-page budget. *The cover sheet should include a brief title, the name and address, phone number and email address of the investigator, the amount requested, and a brief (<150 word) summary of the proposed work. *The narrative should provide a rationale, methodology, and publication strategy for the work, including why the work is important, and why it is likely to produce interpretable results. *The budget should include details regarding how the money requested is to be spent, the total cost of the project, and other sources of potential funding already applied for. *Receipt of your application will be acknowledged provided a self addressed stamped envelope is enclosed. *Proposals will not be returned. *All applicants will be notified as soon as a decision regarding each year's awards has been made. *Verification of appropriate permits from relevant government agencies to carry out the work must be provided in advance of any award. *Awardees must provide a 1-2-page report of their work within 3 months of the end of the 1- or 2-year grant period. *Awardees are expected to publish their work in peer-reviewed journals and to cite support from the Nisbet Research Award and the Waterbird Society in their publications. *Proposals are due 15 July. Awards will be announced 1 Oct, annually. Proposals (hard copies in triplicate) should be sent to: KEITH L. BILDSTEIN, Acopian Center, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, 410 Summer Valley Road, Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania 17961 USA. (EM: bildstein@hawkmtn.org). PROPOSALS FOR THE NESBIT RESEARCH AWARD--Information and instructions for the award selections committee: *The award is open to applicants of any age, professional or amateur, globally. *Proposals will be judged on the basis of their likelihood to contribute significant new information to the published literature regarding the biology, ecology, or conservation biology of waterbirds, particularly gulls or terns. *As much as 4.5% of the five-year running average value of the fund will be made available annually. The committee may, however, decide not to grant an award as many as two years in a row. *The award, if offered, will be $900 in 2005 and at least $1,000, whenever possible, thereafter. *All proposals must be printed in English in standard 12-point font format. *Proposals must brief (a one-page narrative is recommended) and should include a requested amount of support. *Verification of appropriate permits from relevant government agencies to carry out the work must be provided in advance of any award. *Proposals, which are due by 15 Jul annually, will be reviewed by members of the three-person award selection committee appointed by the Waterbird Society President, and awards will announced no later than 1 October, annually. *The award selection committee chair, determined by the President of the Waterbird Society, will serve as chief correspondent for the award. *Neither members of the award selection committee, their students, nor their project coworkers, will be eligible for the award.
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. 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 (EM: bildstein@hawkmtn.org).
PROPOSALS FOR THE WS KUSHLAN AWARD–General information for applicants: *The award is open to applicants, professional, amateur, or student, of any age, globally. *Proposals will be judged on the basis of the described work's likelihood to contribute significant new information to the published literature regarding the biology, ecology, or conservation biology of wading birds *For the purposes of this award, wading birds include herons, egrets, storks, ibises, and spoonbills. *In most years, all awards together will amount to as much as $7,000, with individual awards of from $1,000 to $7,000. *All proposals must be printed in English in standard 12-point font format. *Proposals should be brief (one-page maximum), and should include a narrative and a budget. *The narrative should provide a rationale, methodology, and publication strategy for the work, including why the work is important and likely to produce interpretable results. *The budget should include details regarding how the money requested is to be spent, the total cost of the project, and other sources of potential funding already applied for. *Receipt of applications will be acknowledged provided a self addressed stamped envelope is enclosed. *Proposals will not be returned. *All applicants will be notified as soon as a decision regarding each year's awards has been made. *Verification of appropriate permits from relevant government agencies to carry out the work must be provided in advance of any award *Proposals are due 15 Jul. Awards will be announced 1 October, annually. *Awardees should submit reports on expenses, progress, and products, annually on 1 October, until completion of these events. Proposals (hard copies in triplicate) should be sent to: KEITH L. BILDSTEIN, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, 1700 Hawk Mountain Road, Kempton Pennsylvania 19529 USA.
THE NATURE OF LEARNING GRANTS PROGRAM--The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (Foundation), in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) National Wildlife Refuge System and the National Conservation Training Center (NCTC), The Keystone Center, and National Wildlife Refuge Association, is pleased to solicit applications from organizations interested in initiating or expanding The Nature of Learning in their communities. The Nature of Learning is the National Wildlife Refuge System’s new community-based environmental education initiative that seeks to: * Use National Wildlife Refuges as outdoor classrooms to promote a greater understanding of local conservation issues; * Encourage an interdisciplinary approach to learning that seeks to enhance student academic achievement; and, * Utilize field experiences and student-led stewardship projects to connect classroom lessons to real world issues; * Involve a partnership among local schools, community groups, natural resource professionals and local businesses. Grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded on a competitive basis to support start-up expenses associated with new programs. In addition, grants of up to $3,000 will be awarded on a competitive basis to provide continued support to existing Nature of Learning programs. For more information visit National Fish and Wildlife Foundation website (URL: http://www.nfwf.org/programs/tnol.htm). Applications must be postmarked by 15 Jun 2005. Applicants will be notified of their awards by 1 Sep 2005.
SANDPIPER TECHNOLOGIES AWARDS 2005 EQUIPMENT GRANTS--Sandpiper Technologies awarded 11 equipment grants for the 2005 field season to universities and nonprofit organizations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Recognizing the need for video equipment to help student complete their research objectives, the California-based company has offered free use of its rental fleet to students since 1997. The annual application deadline for each upcoming field season is 1 Dec and off-season grants are awarded as equipment becomes available. For rental or grant information go to the Sandpiper Technologies web site (URL: http://www.Sandpipertech.com). The TreeTop (tm) is one of three lines of video equipment offered through the grant program. This telescoping inspection system surveys open cup and cavity nests, bats and other tree dwelling critters. The Peeper 2000 (tm) burrow probe utilizes gooseneck video extensions of either 1.0 inch or 2.3 inch diameter with a head mounted video display. The Sentinel System (tm) is a stationary auto-color camera with time-lapse recorder. The Sandpiper Equipment Grants applied to three major areas of wildlife research: avian, mammal and reptilian. The Avian Grant winners were as follows: TreeTop Peepers, sometimes referred to as the “pole cam,” “video stick” or “peeper scope” were granted to Chris Forristal of Montana State University to study the influence of post-wildfire timber harvest on Black-backed Woodpeckers and Matthew Schlesinger of University of California, Davis to study the effects of urbanization on cavity-nesting birds. Sentinel Surveillance Systems were awarded to: Brent Horton, University of Maine, to study the influence of baseline corticosterone on parental behavior; William Keeley, Boise State University and the Raptor Research Foundation, who is studying Ferruginous Hawks in Central and West-central New Mexico; Heather Mathewson, University of Nevada, to monitor willow-nesting passerines in the Central Sierra Nevada; and Carie Wingert, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, who is working collaboratively with the Endangered Species Recovery Program (ESRP) on a burrowing owl study. Simon Valdez, ITESM Campus Monterrey, was awarded the 2.3-inch diameter Peeper 2000 System to study the Maroon-fronted Parrot in Nuevo Leon and Coahuila states in Mexico. Sandpiper Technologies has designed and manufactured equipment for wildlife reserach since 1994. It incorporates a collaborative approach with biologists and provides technical expertise in optics, electo-mechanics and mechancial engineering. Contact: ANN CHRISTENSEN (EM: cdesigns@softcom.net, PH: 209-239-7460, URL: http://www.sandpipertech.com)
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THE BIRDS OF AZERBAIJAN, Patrikeev, M. 2004. Pensoft Publishers, Sofia-Moscow. Pensoft Series Faunistica No 38, ISSN 1312-0174. ISBN 954642207x, 170x240, 250 distribution maps, 6 graphs, 70 colour and black and white photographs, complete bibliography, index. In English. Hdb, 500pp. EURO 68.80. Azerbaijan, a country with a rich variety of habitats and wildlife, lies south of the Caucasus Mountains on the western seaboard of the Caspian and shares a common border with Russia, Georgia, Armenia, Iran and Turkey. This first full description of its birdlife includes an introduction to the geography of Azerbaijan, a history of bird studies in the country, an analysis of the avifauna, discussion of conservation issues, 372 species accounts, detailed distribution maps, an annotated bird list, as well as sections on Important Bird Areas, colonial birds, waterfowl, and the influence of cold winters and oil pollution. The reference list is the most comprehensive yet compiled on the country’s birds. Birds of Azerbaijan will be a most valuable addition to zoological libraries, and many professional ornithologists, students of ornithology, nature conservationists and specialists in biogeography will learn much from its pages. It will similarly appeal to birdwatchers wanting to find out about a relatively unexplored part of the western Palearctic and to all those with a keen interest in natural history. Michael Patrikeev, a graduate of St. Petersburg University, Russia, lived and worked in Azerbaijan for 14 years, and the expertise he acquired there meant that he was able to make a valuable contribution to such books as Birds of the Western Palearctic, Concise Edition (Snow & Perrins 1998) and Important Bird Areas in Europe (Heath & Evans/BirdLife International, 2000). Michael is now an Avian Biologist at the World Birding Center (Texas) and President of the Institute for the Conservation of World Biodiversity (Canada). He is currently involved in bird studies and conservation activities in Canada, Texas, Mexico and Peru.
WHEATEARS OF PALEARCTIC. Ecology, Behaviour and Evolution of the Genus Oenanthe, Panov, E. 2005. Pensoft Publishers, Sofia-Moscow. Pensoft Series Faunistica No. 40, ISSN 1312-0174. ISBN 9546422266, 165x240, b/w drawings, tables, over 120 color photographs, bibliography, index. In English. Hardback, 439pp. EURO 58.80. Wheatears are elegant and colorful birds often found in wild and beautiful settings and appeal to ornithologists and birders alike. This new book by an acknowledged expert is unique in its detailed treatment of the 14 Palearctic species. Richly illustrated, it presents a wealth of information, largely derived from studies in Russia and other parts of the former Soviet Union, on a variety of subjects: taxonomic questions; flamboyant displays and highly varied, sometimes mimetic, songs; the construction of stone platforms at the nest; the striking polymorphism of the Eastern Pied (or Variable) Wheatear; range expansion by the Northern Wheatear and its impressively long migrations; the bur-row-nesting habits of the Isabelline Wheatear, and on many other topics. The author has drawn on his immense experience of many hours spent watching wheatears in the field; he has reared young wheatears in captivity, and has studied the wheatear literature, including that on species distributed outside the Palearctic. The book's thought-provoking text is well supported by an array of diagrams, tables, drawings by the author, and color photographs of birds and habitats.
THE WESTERN FOUNDATION OF VERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY recently published a new Proceedings: Vol. 8, No. 1: Biometrics of birds throughout the greater Caribbean Basin. 2004. By Wayne J. Arendt, John Faaborg, George E. Wallace, and Orlando H. Garrido. 33 pages + CD. The CD includes a large morphometrics table and more than 270 individual species files. This publication summarizes 40 years of banding data collected from projects on islands throughout the Caribbean. The cost of the publication is $25.00 each. Shipping and handling costs (for both inside and outside the U.S.) are included in the price. Orders can be sent via e-mail (EM: wfvz@wfvz.org) or fax (PH: 805/388-8663). We cannot accept credit cards, but we do accept checks and money orders made out to the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology. For more information, please call 805/388-9944.
DRAWING BIRDS, John Busby. 2005. Timber Press. 144 pp., 118 color illustrations, 63 b/w illustrations, 8 1/4 x 10", paperback. ISBN 0-88192-697-3, $19.95. Anyone with an interest in drawing or painting form life will find birds challenging and rewarding of their time. This book is written for a range of people--for beginners taking their first steps in a knotty subject, for more experienced artists wishing to tackle birds in flight, and for anyone who simply wants to see birds afresh. Nearly every artist has his or her own distinctive style. A bird species may not vary much in nature, but its image surely will on the page or canvas. Some will be almost photographically accurate; others will have no background at all. The fact is, give a group of artists the same bird to draw or paint and no two versions will look the same. As well as the author’s own drawings and paintings, this book contains pieces from 37 other bird artists–including many of the world’s foremost figures. Thus, this book is not only a tool for learning, but also a display of the best in bird art today. Timber Press, Inc., 133 S.W. Second Avenue, Suite 450, Portland, OR 97204-3527 (URL: http://www.timberpress.com).
BIRDS OF WESTERN AFRICA, Nik Borrow and Ron Demey. 2005. Princeton University Press. 512 pp, 147 color plates, 3000+ color illustrations, 1285 maps, 5 3/8 x 8 1/2" . ISBN 0-691-12321-7 (paper), $40.00. This new field guide uses all 147 color plates from Princeton’s A Guide to Birds of Western Africa,with concise, authoritative text on facing pages, to create a compact, lightweight field reference covering all 1285 species found in the region–from Senegal and southern Mauritania east to Chad and the Central Africa Republic and south to Congo. It is the first field guide to cover this region exclusively and in such comprehensive depth, and will enable birders to identify any species found in any of the twenty-three countries and territories covered. Birds of Western Africa also has an updated color distribution map for each species, conveniently placed on interleaved pages within the color plates. The plates, all original and painted by the same leading illustrator, comprise over 3000 figures–including a number of new images painted for this guide–and depict almost all the species described. The entries opposite the plates focus on key identification marks for all main plumages. Princeton University Press,41 William Street, Princeton, NJ 08450 (PH: 609-258-7879, FX: 609-258-1335, URL: http://pup.princeton.edu/birds/).
SHOREBIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA: The Photographic Guide, Dennis Paulson. 2005. Princeton University Press. 384 pp., 534 color photographs, 5 ½ x 8 ½". ISBN (paper): 0-691-12107-9, $29.95; (cloth) 0-691-10274-0, $65.00. Identifying shorebirds can be a challenge–and having a field guide specifically devoted to the species gives any birder an edge. Yet until now, no guide has illustrated or described the complete range of North and Central American shorebirds. To help birders or interested individuals identify these wonderful animals, Dennis Paulson has encapsulated a vast amount of vital information into this beautifully-illustrated book. This volume represents the first complete guide to North and Central American shorebirds ever published. Unlike other guidebooks, which have traditionally relied on paintings to represent shorebirds, Shorebirds of North American contains an extensive series of striking photographs–most never published before. More than 530 photos illustrate all shorebird species in their varied plumage, and are accompanied by text that points out the variation within the common species. It also includes identification tips for distinguishing shorebirds from all similar species, at rest and in flight. Brief descriptions of voice, behavior, habitat, and range are given for each species. Princeton University Press,41 William Street, Princeton, NJ 08450 (PH: 609-258-7879, FX: 609-258-1335, URL: http://pup.princeton.edu/birds/).
BIRD SONG WITH AMBIENT SOUND--This 5 CD set includes a 30 page booklet and features 122 species arranged according to family. There are 412 selections, all recorded in Manitoba's Southern Interlake Region. Almost five hours of bird song includes songs, calls, duets, imitations, interactions and fledglings. All CDs are free of human voice and music. For a species and price list, please contact the recordist: CATHERINE THEXTON, 327-622 Centre Avenue, Stonewall, MB ROC 2ZO Canada (PH: 204-467-5658, EM: cmt1@mts.net) or search for Bird Sounds online (URL: http://www.prairiehabitats.com)
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AVAILABLE FOR FREE -You pay for shipping: Condor - 32 issues 1980 through 1987; Wilson Bulletin -30 issues - 1980 through 1987 (missing 2 issues); Auk - 118 issues - January 1955 through July 1995; Recent Ornithological Literature - 1976 through 1985; 1989;1992 (3 issues); Systematic Zoology - 40 issues - 1974 through 1983; Journal fur Ornithologie (in German; publ. in Berlin) - 28 issues - 1962 through 1968; Der Preparator (in German) -10 issues - 1970 - 1974; Peregrine Fund Newsletter Sep 1976 (Tom Cade, Stan Temple, et al); ASC Newsletter (Assn. of Systematics Collections) - 49 issues - 1975 - 1984; Herpetologica Vol. 20-26 - 28 issues - 1964 through 1970; Also, 115 issues of Journal of Mammology - 1963 through Feb 2004; Recent Literature of Mammalogy - Feb 1970-Nov 1985. Contact (email preferred): MERRY JO BAUER (EM: mjb921@lightlink.com), 921 Coddington Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850.
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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.i-o-c.org/IOComm/index.htm.
* in this section indicates new or revised entry
82ND ANNUAL MEETING OF THE EASTERN BIRD BANDING ASSOCIATION will be hosted by Braddock Bay Bird Observatory at the Airport Holiday Inn in Rochester, NY on 15-17 Apr 2005. Information on the paper session, workshops, poster session, accommodations, field trips, and the bucket raffle will be posted as it becomes available on the EBBA website (URL: http://frontiernet.net/~bpbird/index.htm) or contact BETSY BROOKS (EM: ebrooks@bbbo.org).
THE WILSON ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY and the ASSOCIATION OF FIELD ORNITHOLOGISTS will meet jointly Thursday-Sunday, 21-24 Apr 2005 at the Sheraton College Park Hotel in Beltsville, Maryland, at the invitation of the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center and the Maryland Ornithological Society. Members or others planning in participating in the meeting are urged to register and to make hotel reservations promptly. For questions about this meeting, write or call the Chair of the Organizing Committee, RICHARD C. BANKS, USGS-PWRC, National Museum of Natural History, MRC-111, P. O. Box 30712, Washington, DC 20013-0712 (PH: 202-633-0783, EM: banksr@si.edu) or visit the website at http://www.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/birds/pdf/wos-ann2005.pdf.
ASSOCIATION OF FIELD ORNITHOLOGISTS, 21-24 Apr 2005–See WILSON ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY
COOPER ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY MEETINGS at Humboldt State University, Arcata, California, 15 - 18 Jun 2005. The meeting will be held on the campus of Humboldt State University,
THE SOCIETY FOR THE CONSERVATION AND STUDY OF CARIBBEAN BIRDS (SCSCB) will be holding its 15th Regional Meeting in Guadeloupe, 1-6 Aug 2005. Registration materials, call for papers will be available by mid-March. For further details, please contact CAROLYN WARDLE (EM: cwardle@batelnet.bs), SCSCB, PO Box 863208, Ridgewood NY 11386 USA.
THE 123RD STATED MEETING OF THE AOU will be held at the University of California–Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, CA, 23 - 27 Aug 2005. Further information can be obtained on the conference webpage (URL: http://www.aou.org/2005meeting/). Contact person: STEVE ROTHSTEIN (EM: rothstei@lifesci.ucsb.edu).
THE 11TH MEETING ON ARGENTINE ORNITHOLOGY will take place from 7-10 Sep 2005, in the Argentine Museum of Natural History "Bernardino Rivadavia", in Buenos Aires. The conference is organized by Aves Argentina/ Asociacion Ornitologica del Plata. During the 4 day conference participants will be informed on research topics in ornithology and current work in Argentina and other countries, in plenary sessions, symposia, oral presentations, posters and other complementary activities. To obtain the first circular, with information about inscription, plenary sessions, confirmed symposia, datelines for summaries, and an invitation to present new topics for symposia, please contact rao@avesargentinas.org.ar
*30TH ANNUAL MEETING OF WESTERN FIELD ORNITHOLOGISTS is 28 Sep - 1 Oct 2005 in Santa Maria, California at the Raddisson Hotel, Santa Maria. Call for papers & posters, registration information, meeting description, and reservation details are on the WFO website (URL: http://wfo-cbrc.org). Contact person for the meeting is CATHERINE WATERS, (EM: cpannellwaters@yahoo.com, PH: 562-869-6718).
*The RAPTOR RESEARCH FOUNDATION (RRF), 2005 annual meeting will be held from 12-16 Oct at the KI Convention Center in Green Bay, Wisconsin (URL: http://www.regencygb.com/convention.html). The meeting will be hosted by the Cofrin Center for Biodiversity, which is part of the University of Wisconsin, Green Bay (URL: http://www.uwgb.edu/ biodiversity). Green Bay is a thriving community with many attractions (URL: http://www.titletown.org/default.asp) located in eastern Wisconsin on one of the largest freshwater estuarine ecosystems in the world. A substantial fall raptor migration occurs along Green Bay and the nearby Lake Michigan shore, including thousands of Saw-whet Owls and other species characteristic of eastern North America and Canada. One special session, on raptor education, has been identified to date (see description below). Field trips include a visit to the Linwood Springs Research Station near Stevens Point to observe Saw-whet Owl banding and an outing to observe raptor migration on the Lake Michigan shore. Details on the meeting are posted and updated periodically on the RRF web site (URL: http://biology.boisestate.edu/raptor) or for general information, contact RRF Conference Committee Chair DAN VARLAND (PH: 360-538-4582; EM: daniel.varland@rayonier.com). Abstracts for the scientific program are due 30 Jun; for information on the scientific program, contact ANGELA MATZ, Scientific Program Chair (PH: 907-456-0442; EM: angela_matz@fws.gov). A circular with meeting details will be mailed to members in March or April. SPECIAL SESSION ON RAPTOR EDUCATION. We would like to gather raptor educators from around the country, both those who care for live birds and those who do not. We will discuss what is educational and how to get the message across, from program content to methods of presentation; we will also cover the "big picture" of conservation and habitat preservation. Presenters from raptor organizations will discuss topics on bird care which birds to use, raptor housing and enclosures, diets, transportation, bird health, enlisting volunteers and volunteer responsibilities. The federal regulations in place for keeping live birds will be explored, and finally we would like to have actual raptor programs presented for critique by local students. This special session will be comprised of a series of 20-minute presentations. If you would like to participate or for more information, contact session organizer: KATE DAVIS, Executive Director of Raptors of the Rockies (PH: 406-829-6436; EM: raptors@montana.com; URL: http://www.raptorsoftherockies.org).
*THE SOCIETY OF CANADIAN ORNITHOLOGISTS will meet at the Delta Barrington Hotel in Halifax, Nova Scotia from 20 - 22 Oct 2005. Information on the program, accommodations and deadlines for abstracts and registration will be posted on the society website (URL: http://www. sco-soc.ca/) as it becomes available or contact ANDREW BOYNE (EM: Andrew.Boyne@ec.gc.ca) or MARTY LEONARD (EM: mleonard@dal.ca).
20TH TRUMPETER SWAN SOCIETY CONFERENCE **CALL FOR PAPERS** The 20th Trumpeter Swan Society (TTSS) Conference will be held in Council Bluffs, Iowa, 20-22 Oct 2005. The Conference will be co-hosted by TTSS and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources and held at Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites at Ameristar. The biennial conferences of TTSS provide the only public forum in North America that brings together private citizens and conservation groups, policy makers, swan managers, and researchers to examine the status and needs of Trumpeter Swans in the U.S. and Canada and to work together to make all populations secure. The focus of the 20th Conference will be the restoration of the Interior Population of Trumpeter Swans. Presentations will examine the restoration accomplishments and lessons learned, the challenges and opportunities that remain, and highlight the role of private/agency partnerships in this effort. In addition, the Conference will include sessions on the biology, habitat concerns, and management of all Trumpeter Swan populations in the U.S. and Canada. Papers and posters that will increase the understanding of the biology and management of Tundra Swans and Mute Swans in North America or their interactions with Trumpeter Swans are also invited. We strongly encourage the private partners involved in Trumpeter Swan restoration, management, and research, as well as the agency managers and biologists to participate. If you are interested in making a presentation at the 20th Conference, please contact MADELEINE LINCK (EM: ttss@threeriversparkdistrict.org, PH: 763-694-7851) for additional information, including presentation guidelines and submission dates.
*4TH INTERNATIONAL HORNBILL CONFERENCE, Mabula Game Lodge, South Africa, 6-9 Nov 2005. Theme: "The Active Management of Hornbills and their Habitats for Conservation." Organized by The Ground Hornbill Research and Conservation Project, South Africa, in association with the Hornbill Research Foundation, Thailand, the Conference will be held at Mabula Game Lodge inside the Mabula Game Reserve, 40 km west of Bela Bela, South Africa and two hours drive north of Johannesburg International Airport. This 4th Conference aims to bring together field researchers from Asia and Africa on the conservation and management of hornbill populations, as well as zoo and bird park curators, veterinarians and all others interested in the field of management, reproduction and conservation of hornbills. The Conference will focus on topics such as provision of nest boxes, supplementation of food, captive breeding and husbandry, reintroduction and translocation, genetic analysis, capture and marking, comparison with sympatric species, habitat analysis and habitat alteration. However, there will also be opportunities to report on new information for other aspects of hornbill biology. On the final day there will be two separate sessions, one by the IUCN/SSC Hornbill Specialist Group to identify global problems and priorities for conservation action, and a second on the Ground Hornbills and their conservation in Africa. Papers and posters are welcomed on the Conference theme or other aspects of hornbill biology, and must be submitted to the Conference Organizers by31 Jul 2005. The registration fee for the Conference is ZAR 2,600.00 (*genuine students ZAR 1,300.00) and is payable to the Conference Organizers by 31 Jul 2005. After that date, registration fees will increase to ZAR 3,000.00 (*genuine students ZAR 1,700.00). This fee includes access to all Conference facilities and documents, an ice-breaker on the first evening, and a copy of the Conference proceedings. Financial aid to attend and participate in the Conference will be sought for deserving participants from developing countries on a case-by-case basis. All participants will be required to stay at the Lodge. The rates for all accommodation are as follows and all payments must be made in South African Rands (ZAR, current exchange rate for rough estimation, US$1.00 = ZAR 5.80). For further information, please visit the Conference Website (URL: http://www.nfi.org.za/tmpage.html) orcontact Conference Organizers: ALAN & MEG KEMP, Postnet Suite #38, Private Bag X19, Menlo Park, 0102 South Africa (PH/FX: +27-12-804-7637, EM: hornbillconference2005@yahoo.co.uk).
*THE WATERBIRD SOCIETY will hold a special meeting in the city of Tainan, Taiwan 24-27 Nov 2005. The theme of the meeting will be Avian Disease and the Migration of Birds. Recent outbreaks of avian influenza in Asia, Europe and North America sparked concern about the transmission between birds and humans. The Waterbird Society will sponsor symposia on avian diseases and bird migration focusing on Asia to understand the evidence for transmission between wild and domestic birds. There will also be symposia on the biology of the black-faced spoonbill, conservation of long-legged wading birds, shorebird migration, and workshops on regional conservation. This meeting promises to be an exciting event with legendary Taiwanese hospitality and a full program of international scientists. You will likely be pleasantly surprised to see how much of the natural beauty of Taiwan remains and field trips are being planned to whet your travel appetite. For more information go to http://www.waterbirds2005.org.
24TH INTERNATIONAL ORNITHOLOGICAL CONGRESS, 13 - 19 Aug 2006, Hamburg, Germany. Call for contributed orals, posters and round table discussions will be posted on the website in Jan 2005 (URL: http://www.i-o-c.org/).
4TH NORTH AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGICAL CONFERENCE, Veracruz City, Mexico, 2-7 Oct 2006. The 4TH NAOC is being organized jointly by the AOU, COS, SCO-SOC, AFO, WOS, WS and CIPAMEX (local host). RRF, PSG, and SCSCB currently are evaluating full participation or presentation of symposia. NOS is also a sponsor. The Steering Committee is co-chaired by CHARLES FRANCIS (EM: charles.francis@ec.gc.ca) and JOSE LUIS ALCANTARA (EM: jlalcant@ colpos.mx). The Scientific Program Committee will be co-chaired by JOHN R. FAABORG (EM: faaborgj@missouri.edu) and a distinguished Mexican ornithologist. The Local Committee is co-chaired by ERNESTO RUELAS INZUNZA (EM: ruelas01@prodigy.net.mx) and JUAN E. MARTINEZ GOMEZ (EM: endemicos_insulares@yahoo.com.mx). The conference will feature a rich scientific program, symposia, plenary lectures, business meetings of societies, and social activities. Pre- and post-conference activities will include training workshops, and birding, culture, and nature tours. Veracruz is home to a rich avifauna, with over 700 species reported for the state, of which >230 species are Neotropical migrants and >20 species are endemic to Mexico. The conference is scheduled to coincide with the peak of the migration season in the world's largest raptor migration bottleneck. The Circular of Information will be mailed in early 2006. Check the NAOC website for updates on organization (URL: http://www.NAOC2006.org).
VIII NEOTROPICAL ORNITHOLOGICAL CONGRESS will be held in Jun 2007 in Maturín (Monagas, Venezuela) together with the Unión Venezolana de Ornitología and our Secretary General will be Carlos Bosque.
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DORCAS WARD BEATTY of Greenville, DE, a member of the AOU since 1957, died recently.
FRANK C. BELLROSE of Havana, IL, a member of the AOU since 1934, elected Elective Member in 1947 and Fellow in 1969, died on 19 Feb 2005 at the age of 88.
SCOTT CASHEN has accepted a position with TSS Consultants to assist developing the Forest Resources group. His new address is: 3264 Hudson Ave., Walnut Creek, CA 94597. EM: Scashen@tssconsultants. com.
DR. RICHARD N. CONNER recently received the Director’s 2005 Distinguished Science Award, USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station. In his 29 years of federal service, Dick Conner has authored or coauthored more than 200 scientific papers, book chapters, and books on wildlife ecology and management. His research has primarily focused on bird communities, snag ecology, and woodpecker (especially the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker) behavior and ecology. Conner has been Elective Council Member, Second Vice President, First Vice President, and President of the Wilson Ornithological Society. He is currently a permanent executive council member of the Wilson Ornithological Society. Conner was elected as an Elective Member of the American Ornithologists’ Union in 1983 and a Fellow of the American Ornithologists’ Union in 1996.
JOHN H. DICK of Meggett, SC, a member of the AOU since 1957, died recently.
THOMAS H. FOSTER of Bennington, VT, a member of the AOU since 1948, died on 28 Dec 2004.
ERNST MAYR died on 3 Feb 2005 in Bedford, MA at the age of 100. He joined the AOU in 1929 and was elected Elective Member in 1936 and Fellow in 1937. He served as President of the AOU from 1957-1959 and was the recipient of the William Brewster Memorial Award in 1965 and the Elliott Coues Award in 1977. He was President of the 13th International Ornithological Congress (Ithaca, NY, 1962). A detailed memorial will appear in a forthcoming issue of The Auk.
STEPHEN POTTER of Darien, CT, a member of the AOU since 1942, died recently.
CARMEN TARANTINO of Buffalo, NY, a member of the AOU since 1999, died recently.
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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 (address below).
CHANGES/ADDITIONS:
HUNT, PAMELA. 26 Whitewater Drive, Penacook, NH 03303. PH: 603-753-9137.
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The Ornithological Newsletter(ISSN 0274-564X) is published bimonthly by the Ornithological Societies of North America(OSNA) in electronic and paper forms. Membership dues in any OSNA Society include $3.50 for the cost of publication. Separate subscriptions are not available. For application to membership, write the OSNA office, 5400 Bosque Blvd., Suite 680, Waco, TX 76710.
Questions, comments and notices can be sent to Cheryl L. Trine, Ornithological Newsletter Editor at ctrine@andrews.edu
All contents copyright © 2005 The Ornithological Societies of North America. All Rights Reserved.