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NUMBER 167, AUGUST 2005
ORGANIZATION NEWS
NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
NEWS FROM THE ORNITHOLOGICAL COUNCIL
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
AOUSTUDENTS: The American Ornithologists' Union is pleased to announce the
creation of AOUStudents, an electronic distribution list devoted to the exchange
of information regarding ornithology in general, and the AOU in particular.
This list is designed to encourage a sense of community among students interested
in ornithology, and to aid in networking (e.g., arranging for sharing rides
to annual meetings, meeting up with other student researchers at field sites,
etc.). Current student members of the AOU (who have provided their email address
to the membership data base) have received an email announcement explaining
how to subscribe. Students who are not currently members of the AOU, and other
interested individuals, please visit the AOUStudents homepage (URL: http://aou.org/mailman/listinfo/aoustudents)
to learn more about the group and how to subscribe and participate. Please
send any questions to listadmin@aou.org.
ORNITHOLOGICAL WORLDWIDE LITERATURE (OWL) is an indexed compilation of bibliographic citations that pertain to ornithology and come from the periodic, worldwide scientific literature. In the 21st Century, published scientific information that cannot be found at a later date is information lost to science. Ornithologists must be able to find all papers related to our science. Now ornithologists around the globe can access this important resource at no cost via the OWL web site, http://www.birdlit.org. Results of all bibliographic searches are downloadable to a spreadsheet or database. OWL currently adds nearly 6,000 literature citations each year to the database, which already contains more than 45,000 citations back to about 1990. One of OWL's particular strengths is that it covers periodicals and other publications not typically included in other searchable databases. The OWL depends upon a cadre of volunteer abstractors and editors around the globe who review their respective journals and compile the citation records. We are constantly looking for more volunteers to help in this effort. If you are interested in helping, please contact the project manager (information below). The more abstractors working on this effort and the more serials that are regularly being reviewed and abstracted, the more valuable a resource for ornithologists around the world. Worldwide, about 100-125 abstractors are reviewing 400-700 serials. Each is responsible for all the ornithological papers in a particular journal. Abstractors may submit data either via a spreadsheet template file (i.e., fill in the empty cells for author, year, title, citation, etc.) or by a direct ONLINE entry form at our web site. It takes approximately one afternoon a year to cover one medium-sized journal with 20-30 papers of interest to ornithologists. For a current list of journals in need of abstractors or for more information, contact KENNETH P. ABLE, Project Manager (EM: Kenable@direcway.com). Visit a Live, On-line Demonstration of O.W.L. and its capabilities at the poster sessions on Wednesday and Friday evenings at the AOU Meeting in Santa Barbara.
THE WILSON ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY held its annual meeting 21-23 April 2005 in Beltsville, Maryland with the Association of Field Ornithologists. The 2005 Margaret Morse Nice Medal was awarded jointly to DR. EUGENE S. MORTON of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and DR. BRIDGET J. M. STUTCHBURY of York University, who presented the plenary lecture, "Territoriality...Beyond the Temperate Zone." This award was established in 1997 to recognize the lifetime accomplishments of ornithologists and to provide them a venue for describing their scientific inquiry within the context of their careers in ornithology. The scientific program included 81 oral papers and 42 posters. Wilson Ornithological Society student travel awards were presented to COLLEEN BELL of Canisius College, ROSS ROBERT CONOVER of Mississippi State University, KRISTEN M. COVINO of Canisius College, MICHAEL F. GAYDOS of Xavier University, GEORGE S. HAMAOUI, JR., of Ohio Wesleyan University, JENNIFER MCNICOLL of New Mexico State University, JENNIFER NEWBREY of North Dakota State University, KAREN ODUM of Ohio Wesleyan University, ASHLEY M. PEELE of Ohio Wesleyan University, JENNIFER SMOLINSKI of Xavier University, RACHEL STURGE of the University of Toronto, REBECCA SUOMALA of the University of New Hampshire, JENNIFER URBANSKI of Canisius College, and KATE E. WILLIAMSON of Ohio Wesleyan University. The Wilson Prize for the best student oral presentation was awarded to CHRISTOPHER HOFMANN of the University of Maryland-Baltimore County for "Pigment co-deposition and the masking of carotenoids in Orchard and Fuertes's Orioles." and the Lynds Jones Prize for the best student poster was awarded to BETH A. HAHN of the University of Michigan for her poster, "Using song playbacks to influence breeding habitat selection by American Redstarts." The Louis Agassiz Fuertes Award was awarded to JOEL W. MCGLOTHLIN of Indiana University, for his study, "Phenotypic integration of sexually selected traits in Dark-eyed Juncos (Junco hyemalis)." Paul A. Stewart Awards were awarded to JULIAN AVERY of Eastern New Mexico University for "The effects of habitat fragmentation on landscape-level processes and habitat associations of Nearctic-Neotropical migratory birds in New Mexico," AARON TED BOONE of the Ohio State University for "Linking winter and migration events in a long-distance migratory songbird using stable-carbon isotope analysis," CHRISTY ANNE MELHART of the University of Arkansas for "Reproductive success and philopatry of Prairie Warblers, Blue-winged Warblers, Indigo Buntings and Field Sparrows in declining scrub successional habitat in Connecticut," and COLIN E. STUDDS of the University of Maryland for "Linking non-breeding habitat occupancy to population processes in a Neotropical-Nearctic migratory bird." The results of the annual election of officers and council members were as follows: President –DORIS J. WATT, First Vice-President –JAMES D. RISING, Second Vice-President –E. Dale Kennedy, Secretary –SARA R. MORRIS, Treasurer –MELINDA M. CLARK, Editor –JAMES A. SEDGWICK, and Members of Council (2005-2008) –KATHLEEN G. BEAL, DANIEL KLEM, JR., and DOUGLAS W. WHITE.
REPORT OF THE SEVENTY-FIFTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE COOPER ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY–The Cooper Ornithological Society held its 75th annual meeting at Humboldt State University, Arcata, California, 14-19 June 2005. T. LUKE GEORGE chaired the Local Committee. MATTHEW D. JOHNSON chaired the Scientific Program Committee. There were 242 registrants, including 76 students. The program included 15 posters and 100 papers, 11 of which were in the symposium "Beyond Mayfield: Measurements of Nest Survival Data" organized by STEPHANIE JONES and GEOFF GEUPEL, and 14 in the symposium "Choices and Consequences of Habitat Selection" organized by WILLIAM KRISTAN, MATTHEW JOHNSON, and JOHN BERRY. Three plenary lectures were included in the program: IAN NEWTON: "Population limitation in birds: a review of the experimental evidence," ROCKY GUTIERREZ: "Spotted Owls: a quarter century of contributions to ornithology, ecology and wildlife management," and JOHN GOSS-CUSTARD: "Individual-based models and the management of wading bird and wildfowl populations." The inaugural Katma Lecture, given by DAVID B. LANK, was "Too many peregrines cause problems: neglected influence of danger management on life history of their prey." The Katma Lecture was preceded by a presentation about the new Katma Award, which will be given to the author(s) of an outstanding paper published in The Condor or Studies in Avian Biology that offers unconventional ideas or innovative approaches, backed by a well-reasoned argument. The Katma Award has not yet been given. The Society's award for lifetime achievement in ornithological research, the Loye and Alden Miller Award, was presented to JOHN A. WEINS. A full citation will be published in The Condor. JOHN ROTENBERRY, the President of the Cooper Ornithological Society, read the full citation. DR. WIENS graciously accepted the award in a short address at the meeting. The Painton Award, given for the best paper in The Condor during the past 4 years, was presented to SHER L. HENDRICKSON for her 2003 paper "Low genetic variability in the geographically widespread Andean Condor, Condor 105 (1): 1-12. Hendrickson's co-authors were Robert Bleiweiss, Juan Carlos Matheus, Lilly Silva de Matheus, Norberto Luis Jácome, and Eduardo Pavez. BARBARA KUS and MARTIN G. RAPHAEL were recognized with Honorary Membership to the Cooper Ornithological Society for their service to the society. DR. KUS served (and is currently serving) on the Board of Directors. She has been book review editor for The Condor, served on and chaired the student paper award committee many times, co-chaired the Local Committee for the 1996 meeting, was a committee member for the centennial meeting, and has served on various other committees. DR. RAPHAEL served on the Local Committee for the 1984 meeting, was chair of the membership committee for 6 years, was assistant secretary for 8 years, and chaired the Scientific Program Committee for the 1987 meeting. Dr. RAPHAEL served two terms on the Board of Directors, and has chaired the Painton Award Committee and the Nominating for Directors Committee. Mewaldt-King Student Research Awards were presented to LORI HARGROVE, University of California-Riverside, "Avian demographics at a chaparral-desert scrub ecotone undergoing rapid climate change;" NATHAN GREGORY, Princeton University, "The role of anthropogenic fire and livestock grazing in sustaining avian diversity in east African savannas;" and JHERIME L. KELLERMANN, Humboldt State University, "Resident and migratory Neotropical bird abundance, distribution, and predation of an economic insect pest on Jamaican coffee farms." Grinnell Student Research Awards were presented to DANIEL A. LEVITIS, University of California-Berkeley, "Chemical defense in birds: Linking diet, toxicity and defense;" and FRANK RHEINDT, University of Melbourne, "Systematics and character evolution in the Elaenia albiceps complex." The Cooper Ornithological Society presents four awards for outstanding student papers: the A. Brazier Howell Award, the Frances F. Roberts Award, and two Board of Directors awards. KRISTINA ECTON, Northern Arizona University, was awarded the A. Brazier Howell award for her paper (with co-authors Charles Van Riper and Tad C. Theimer) "Spatial and temporal migration patterns of Wilson's Warbler in the southwest revealed by stable isotopes." JENNIFER WHITE, University of Missouri-Columbia, was awarded the Frances F. Roberts award for her paper (with co-authors Thomas Gardali, Frank R. Thompson, III, and John Faaborg) "Factors affecting nest and post-fledging survival in a Swainson's thrush population." Board of Directors Student Paper Awards were presented to JOHN WITHEY, University of Washington (and co-author John Marzluff) "Modeling dispersal behavior and urban population growth of American Crows in the Seattle area," and STACY SMALL, University of Missouri-Columbia (with co-authors Frank R. Thompson, III, David Falat, Geoffrey R. Geupel, and John R. Faaborg) "Nest predation risk factors for the Spotted Towhee in a riparian restoration context." Through the annual balloting by all members of the Society, FRITZ KNOPF, BARBARA KUS, and MERCEDES FOSTER were elected to three-year terms on the Board of Directors. In the Board of Directors' meetings, the following were elected to, or to continue in, office:, JOHN T. ROTENBERRY, President; TOM MARTIN, President-elect;EILEEN M. KIRSCH, Secretary; CAROL BEARDMORE, Assistant Secretary; KIMBERLY A. SULLIVAN, Treasurer; THOMAS EDWARDS, Assistant Treasurer; DAVID DOBKIN, Editor of The Condor; and CARL MARTI, Editor of Studies in Avian Biology. BONNIE BOWEN became Pastpresident. The next annual meeting of the Cooper Ornithological Society will be held in conjunction with the 4th North American Ornithological Conference 3-7 Oct 2006, in Veracruz City, Mexico. CHARLES M. FRANCIS and JOSE LUIS ALCANTARA co-chair the Steering Committee. JOHN FAABORG and J. FRANCISCO ORNELAS co-chair the Scientific Program Committee, and ERNESTO RUELAS INZUNZA and JUAN E. MARTINEZ GOMEZ co-chair the Local Committee. In the general business meeting we discussed financial and membership issues facing the society and other North American ornithological societies. Good ideas were brought up by the membership. The officers and Directors seek further input as we plan for the future of the Cooper Ornithological Society. Contact President JOHN ROTENBERRY if you have ideas or would like to be involved in strategic planning for improving and expanding the Society.
THE AOU RESEARCH AWARDS COMMITTEE is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2005 AOU Research Awards: ALLISON ALVARADO, University of California--Los Angeles, Subspecific differentiation in the Hermit Thrush: The role of migratory divides in promoting diversification; JONATHAN W. ATWELL, Indiana University, Endocrine mechanisms of behavior and reproduction in a unique season strategist, the Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens); BRADLEY H. BAKKEN, University of Wyoming, The osmoregulatory quandary of nectarivory: modeling the effect of body size on mechanisms of water balance; JON BEADELL, University of Maryland, College Park, Disease, genetic bottlenecks and the evolution of immune response in island avifauna; FRANCES BONIER, University of Washington, Life in the city: Physiological variation in urban-adapted birds; ALAINE F. CAMFIELD, University of British Columbia, Environmental variability, reproductive success and parental effort in alpine populations of horned larks and savannah sparrows; SHARON J. COE, University of California--Riverside, The influence of temperature on avian reproduction; JAMIE M. CORNELIUS, University of California--Davis, Unraveling the complexity of nomadic migration: environmental and social effects on migratory physiology in Red Crossbills (Loxia curvirostra); VALENTINA FERRETTI, Cornell University, Disentangling breeding synchrony from extra-pair paternity in birds; BETH HAHN, University of Michigan, Habitat selection by a migratory songbird, the American redstart (Setophaga ruticilla): the role of social facilitation and population density; BRENT HORTON, University of Maine, Are adjustments in baseline corticosterone mediating reproductive trade-offs? JILL E. JANKOWSKI, University of Florida, Interspecific territoriality as a mechanism for avian species replacements along tropical altitudinal gradients; JENNIFER B. KLOMP, Portland State University, An evaluation of avian cloacal microbes with DGGE: Do microbes affect nesting success, health, return rates, and change with diet?; SHANA LAVIN, University of Wisconsin, Is most nutrient absorption in birds passive? DANIEL A. LEVITIS, University of California--Berkeley, Chemical defense in birds: Linking diet, toxicity and defense; JENNIFER L. NEWBREY, North Dakota State University, Effect of female immune function on carotenoid tradeoffs in free-living Yellow-headed Blackbirds (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus); JACQUELINE K. NOOKER, Kansas State University, Testosterone- mediated life history trade-offs in male Greater Prairie Chickens; JUAN LUIS PARRA, University of California--Berkeley, Mechanisms of diversification in Andean hummingbirds: Geographic isolation and non-random mating; NOAH PERLUT, University of Vermont, Experimental manipulations of synchrony: the relationship between social and genetic mating systems; DOROTHEE RAULIN, University of Pau and "Pays de l'Adour", Parent-offspring resemblance in dispersal behavior: which processes are involved? An experimental approach in the collared flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis); MATTHEW REUDINK, Queen's University, Molting latitude, winter habitat, plumage quality, and mate choice in the American Redstart; ORIEN RICHMOND, University of California--Berkeley, Incorporating temporal habitat variability into avian metapopulation dynamics; WENDY M. SCHELSKY, University of Florida, Does what your neighbors do matter?; RACHEL E. SEABURY, University of Texas at Austin, Endocrine regulation of physiology and behavior in fasting seabirds; DAIZABURO SHIZUKA, University of California--Santa Cruz, Multiple signals, dominance status, and behavior: The evolution of crown plumage in Golden-crowned sparrows (Zonotrichia atricapilla); WENDY P. TORI, University of Missouri--St. Louis, Are female white-crowned manakins choosing mates to gain genetic heterozygosity for their offspring?; NINA E. TRICHE, The University of Texas--Austin, Systematics, biogeography and evolutionary history of fossil and extant penguins (Aves: SPHENISCIDAE); AMY WILSON, University of British Columbia, Patterns and processes of intraspecific divergence in insular populations of song sparrows (Melospiza melodia); PAUL ZWIERS, Smithsonian Institution and University of Maryland, A test of MHC-dependent mate choice in the Satin Bowerbird (Ptilonorhynchus violaceus).
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LEAST BELL'S VIREO, a Songbird Missing from Central Valley for 60 Years Reappears at San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge–This little songbird, once common in California's Central Valley but not heard there for the last 60 years, has reappeared on the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) west of Modesto. The sighting of a nesting pair of Least Bell's Vireo occurred on the refuge, a unit of the San Luis NWR Complex that was restored under the CALFED program. The restoration began just three years ago and was completed this spring. In that time, the former farm field has quickly grown into a tangle of willows, blackberry, wild rose and other native riverside plants, some already 30 feet high. It is reminiscent of the original valley riverside habitat, and Least Bell's Vireos soon found the area, even though they haven't nested in the Central Valley for 85 years. "Hearing the Least Bell's Vireo again demonstrates that a good recovery plan, committed partners and resources to carry it out, can bring many species back to life in areas where they seemed lost forever," said Steve Thompson, manager of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's California-Nevada Operations Office. The wildlife refuges increasingly play a major role in the survival and recovery of species. The Least Bell's Vireo once was common from Red Bluff down throughout the Central Valley and south into Baja California. But the removal of 90 per cent of the riparian habitat resulted in their steep decline. The last time Least Bell's Vireo breeding was confirmed in the valley was 1919. Exhaustive searches for the bird in the 1970s and 1980s came up empty-handed, and biologists sadly concluded that the bird no longer nested in the valley. When the Least Bell's Vireo was federally listed as endangered in 1986 only 300 pairs were left, all along small streams in Southern California. This week's success is the outcome of a broad partnership involving at least nine different organizations. CALFED spawned the effort in 1998 when it provided key funds to purchase an 800-acre farm. Many other agencies also contributed, among them the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the California Resources Agency, the Army Corps of Engineers, and the Audubon Society. Three years ago, CALFED provided funds to the San Luis NWR to restore a 164-acre section along the San Joaquin River where the Least Bell's Vireo now has nested. The restoration quickly filled in the farmed land with classic Central Valley riparian habitat. The hands-on restoration work was an adaptive effort by three conservation partners -- PRBO Conservation Science, River Partners and the Endangered Species Restoration Program at CSU-Stanislaus. Geoff Geupel of PRBO said the Least Bell's Vireo's return "is a success for CALFED's adaptive management approach to habitat restoration." Learning from earlier restoration efforts, they planted more shrubby understory and created a varied pattern of planting that mimics the natural floodplain habitat. That created an area perfect for the Least Bell's Vireo -- dense shrubby understory.
LONG-LIVED KIRTLANDS' WARBLERS--The Huron National Forest's Kirtland's Warbler census, run mid-month, resulted in tallying 459 singing males. This is the highest-ever count on National Forest lands, and it's something to celebrate. Almost all these males were located on habitat developed through forest management. Currently, no wildfire habitat exists on Huron NF, so something that the Forest Service is doing for the warblers must be working. On 8 June, the team captured a male in Ogemaw County that was previously banded in 1996 as an adult. That would make him at least 10 years old, the oldest Kirtland's warbler ever documented. Four days later, also in Ogemaw County, another male Kirtland's was captured, this one originally banded as an adult in 1995, a bird at least 11 years old! Records are, indeed, meant to be broken. Both males were observed defending territory, and appeared to be "in great shape." Assuming an annual round-trip migration of approximately 3,000 miles, these little birds would have logged at least 30,000 and 33,000 miles, respectively, during migrations throughout their lives. It's very exciting that the Kirtland's Warbler has been exhibiting recent recovery and has responded to hands-on management, but the species' future is still far from secure. (Reduction of cowbird control, threatened though current budget demands is, similarly, a risky proposition.)
ALASKA: FREE STREAMERS KEEP AWAY SEABIRDS--Beginning last year, and now extending to this fishing season, most fishing-vessels in Alaska are being required to use streamer-lines and other avoidance devices to keep seabirds away from longline fishing gear. The seabirds will otherwise attack baited hooks and get dragged beneath the water to die. Four types of avoidance devices were developed through collaboration between the USFWS, Alaska Sea Grant, the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission and fishermen. The devices were made available for free. In the recent past, tens of thousands of seabirds were killed annually in the Alaska longline fishery alone. These birds included albatrosses (e.g. Laysan and Black-footed), Northern Fulmar, and shearwaters (e.g. Sooty and Short-tailed). The problem is an industry-wide and global issue, with numerous unresolved concerns, especially with industrial-type longline fishing expansion, and fishing lines which extend for 60 miles. Research conducted through the University of Washington Sea Grant Program has shown that streamer-lines, when properly deployed, can reduce seabird bycatch by almost 100%. It is particularly important for fishermen in Alaska waters to keep a safe distance from the endangered Short-tailed Albatross, a rare species that has recently been recovering and appearing in Alaska waters. (From a population low of approximately a dozen, almost 2,000 of these albatrosses now wander the North Pacific.) The destruction of just a few of these birds could literally shut down fisheries. (No more than four Short-tailed Albatrosses can be taken by longliners over a two-year period, and no more than two by trawl fisheries.) For more information: URL: http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/protectedresources/seabirds/freelinesmay05.pdf and additional reports from the American Bird Conservancy: http://abcbirds.org/policy/seabird_reports.htm. (From Swarovski Birding E-bulletin - July 2005)
PARTNERS ESTABLISH PROTOCOL TO REPORT SIGHTINGS OF IVORY-BILLED WOODPECKER--The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology announce the establishment of an e-mail address (EM: ivorybill@cornell.edu) and associated web site (URL: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/ivory/story17.htm) to report sightings of the rediscovered Ivory-billed Woodpecker. Since the announcement in April that the Ivory-billed Woodpecker has been confirmed, we've had numerous calls reporting sightings, said Sam D. Hamilton, Southeast Regional Director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We need to gather this information so biologists can explore any promising leads. Because the Ivory-billed Woodpecker looks very similar to the more common Pileated Woodpecker, biologists urge the public to carefully review the information on the web site, including range maps, habitat descriptions, field marks, and photos of both birds, before reporting sighting information. People who believe they've seen an Ivory-billed Woodpecker should fill out the form available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/ivory/story17.htm and send it to ivorybill@cornell.edu. Those without Internet access may request the form by calling the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (PH: 800-843-2473). The Service has established a second e-mail address (EM: ivorybill@fws.gov), where the public can submit questions or comments about the recovery of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker. The public may also write to: Ivory-billed Woodpecker Recovery Team Leader, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 1875 Century Boulevard, Atlanta, GA 30345. The Service and Cornell Lab of Ornithology will work closely with partners to investigate credible reports of Ivory-billed Woodpeckers. The partners hope that those who spend time exploring the bottomland hardwood swamps of the Southeast may be able to help search for the bird.
VIDEO RECORDING SERVICE-- Since 1989, I have been a bird/nature film-maker producing videos that tell stories about people and organizations devoted to scientific study and environmental work. What would your bird-work look like if it was turned into moving images–a video? Could you save time and money by utilizing training videos as reference tools? Would you like to document the special project that may only occur once? Would you like to give video presentations of your work that aren't static, that show the dynamic movement of birds and nature, and chronicles your contributions/research? Finished videos can be: distributed, used as training tools, the main or supportive part of a presentation, a television program, or used as video clips on the internet. I am a Field Research Associate for Cornell Lab of Ornithology–one of three videographers collecting video images for CLO's New Visual Media Collection; produce videos for the online version of Birds of North America, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, and Watchable Wildlife; and make video presentations for organizations interested in the science, conservation, preservation and recreation activities associated with birds. To see samples of my work, email your MAILING ADDRESS for a VideoCD disc that will play in your computer. My new website will be available online in the next few weeks, but until then I suggest watching the disc. Every video project is unique and requires detailed preplanning if it is to be successful. Price quotes will be available after we discuss particulars of your project. LARRY ARBANAS, Earthwhile Nature Productions (EM: earthwhile@comcast.net, PH: 925-932-9245).
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 at http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/BNA/. Since launch of BNA Online in Sep 2004, the BNA/CLO team have added considerably to the database: 20+ accounts have been revised, partially or in full; 400+ 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 1000+ 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 2006--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; students, colleagues, and all who use a subscribing library will thereby have access to this increasingly valuable resource.
SAGE-GROUSE AND WEST NILE--We again visit the beleaguered sage-grouse scene, now with warnings about West Nile Virus. Over the past few years, Greater Sage-Grouse have been found infected with West Nile Virus at a number of locations, including Wyoming, Montana, and Alberta. Ongoing studies have suggested that the species is highly susceptible to the disease. None has shown neutralizing antibodies, intimating that most sage-grouse do not survive WNV. Indeed, researchers have yet to find a Greater Sage-Grouse that has survived infection by WNV, a grave situation for a species already facing diminishing habitat. Even the smallest doses of the virus have killed sage-grouse during experimentation. There is also evidence that WNV, usually spread by mosquitoes, can spread directly between sage -grouse. A 2003 study found that sage-grouse survival had fallen by an average of 25 percent in two locations in the Wyoming portion of the Powder River Basin, as well as at another site in Wyoming and one in Alberta. Studies are ongoing. (From Swarovski Birding E-bulletin - July 2005)
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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.
OC NOMINATES ORNITHOLOGISTS TO TWO USDA ADVISORY COMMITTEES–Many federal agencies establish advisory committees of experts to help guide agency decisions on specific issues. Among the many advisory committees established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture are the Wildlife Services Advisory Committee and the Foreign Animal and Poultry Diseases Advisory Committee. The Ornithological Council has nominated Glenn Dudderar, Ph.D to serve on the Wildlife Services Advisory Committee. Dr. Dudderar has extensive academic and practical experience pertaining to wildlife-human interactions and conflicts. He would bring superior research and academic credentials as well as decades of experience of dealing with the thorny issues of wildlife management, as did ornithologist Clait Braun, who served two terms on this committee, one as chair, following nomination by the Ornithological Council. Another advisory committee established by the USDA advices the Secretary of Agriculture regarding program operations and measures to suppress, control, or eradicate an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, or other destructive foreign animal or poultry diseases, in the event these diseases should enter the United States. Given the potential threat of the H5N1 strain of avian influenza to both human health and wild bird populations, should it be introduced to the United States, the Ornithological Council plans to nominate ornithologists David Mindell, Ph.D and Douglas Causey, Ph.D to serve on this advisory committee. Drs. Causey and Mindell have extensive research experience pertaining to avian influenza and other viral diseases. Their research has ranged from molecular studies to transmission models and epidemiology. In addition to the research experience, Dr. Causey chaired the National Science Foundation's Ecology and Evolution of Emergent Disease Organisms, Initiative Committee (1998-2000) and served as a consultant to the National Academy of Sciences, Commission on Infectious Disease and Biotechnology (2004). Dr. Mindell has been an invited speaker at numerous conferences in the United States and abroad, delivering a number of recent talks on virus evolution. Their expertise will be invaluable to the committee in developing recommendations to the Secretary for assessing the potential impact of HPAI and other bird-transmitted diseases, and for evaluating possible methods of prevention, control, and eradication.
USGS DIRECTOR CHIP GROAT STEPS DOWN–Charles "Chip" Groat has resigned as director of the U.S. Geological Survey. Chip Groat was the 13th Director of the USGS and started his 7 year tenure in 1998. During his tenure, he presided over the incorporation, mandated by Congress two years earlier, of the National Biological Service into the USGS, where it became the Biological Resource Discipline. Though a geologist, Groat clearly appreciated the importance of the biology research program. The Ornithological Council and other organizations of biologists took note of and were grateful for Groat's dedication to making USGS a good home for biological research. In recent years, as described in a BioScience article (Cohn, Jeffrey P. 2005. After the Divorce: Improving Science at Federal Agencies. BioScience 55: 10-14), Groat worked with USFWS officials to heal the rift between the USGS and the Department of Interior natural resource management agencies, particularly the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Dr. Groat also devoted much of his energy to integrating the scientific research endeavors at the USGS and to developing place-placed studies that would look at all components of an ecosystem. Now known as the Priority Ecosystems Science Initiative, the program provides science in support of adaptive management of ecosystems that have near-term societal concern and significant long-term societal value; programs are based on collaboration and integration of expertise from the four USGS disciplines, Biology, Geology, Geography, and Water to achieve a system-scale understanding of the natural and anthropogenic factors affecting ecosystems and to better understand the interactive nature of resources and the environment. Current PES study units include the Greater Everglades, San Francisco Bay, Chesapeake Bay, the Mojave Desert, and the Platte River. More information on each study unit can be found below. Dr. P. Patrick Leahy was named the acting director of the USGS on 13 Jun 2005. Leahy has spent his entire professional career at the USGS and was the associate director for Geology, responsible for federal Earth-science programs, including worldwide earthquake hazards monitoring and research, geologic mapping of land and seafloor resources, volcano and landslide hazards, and assessments of energy and mineral resources. He was also responsible for all USGS international activities.
PETITION FOR PROTECTION OF RED KNOTS–Defenders of Wildlife, the American Bird Conservancy, and the New Jersey Audubon Society are working together to prepare a petition for an emergency listing of the Red Knot as endangered. A recent survey of red knots in South America set the population at 17,653, down from already low counts of 51,255 in 2000 and 27,242 in 2002. Ten years earlier, scientists estimated the red knot population at 100,000. Eric Stiles, vice president for conservation and stewardship with the New Jersey Audubon Society, said a recent study suggests that if nothing is done, the red knot population will be at or near extinction by 2011. Larry Niles, chief biologist for the New Jersey's Department of Environmental Protection's Fish, Game and Wildlife Division, predicts the Western Hemisphere's red knots may go extinct by 2010 if current population trends continue A member of Pennsylvania Audubon has already filed a petition that is under review by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, but it is thought that because the petition contains very little information, it is likely to be denied. Meanwhile, a Washington Post article suggested that the Department of the Interior might be willing to take measures to expedite review of this new petition. Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton told Washington Post reporter Juliet Eilperin that her deputies are examining whether to take quick action on the Red Knot, bypassing the department's usual procedures for listing threatened species. It can take 20 years or longer to get a species listed; in this instance federal officials estimate they could make a decision within 18 months. What impact a listing might have is uncertain; New Jersey and Delaware officials have already taken several actions to protect the horseshoe crab population, whose eggs provide critical migration fuel for shorebirds. In addition to a ban on horseshoe crab harvesting prior to June 1 (imposed several years ago), they have closed beaches on a temporary basis and this year, New Jersey extended the ban on horseshoe crab harvesting for an additional two weeks.
SWAN SONG? On 15 Jun 2005, Judge Emmet Sullivan (United States District Court for the District of Columbia) refused to issue an injunction against the decision of the US Fish and Wildlife Service that Mute Swans are not a protected species under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This clears the way for the State of Maryland to proceed with its plan to reduce the Mute Swan population in the Chesapeake Bay. Although this is just a decision about issuing an injunction, and not a final ruling on the merits of the case, the Judge's strongly worded decision makes it clear that the Fund for Animals (the group suing the USFWS) is unlikely to win later down the road. In fact, the decision reads, "the Court is persuaded that defendants overwhelming likelihood of success on the merits ...." Much as the strongly-worded decision last year persuaded the USFWS that it would ultimately lose the case (this was prior to the enactment of the Migratory Bird Treaty Reform Act), and that it might as well throw in the towel and go back to write an Environmental Impact Statement, it is possible that this strongly-worded decision will persuade the Fund for Animals (as well as Joyce Hill, the plaintiff in the other pending Mute Swan case) that they've reached the end of the road. Language in the opinion also upholds the validity of the Migratory Bird Treaty Reform Act and that it applies to Mute Swans. Moreover, while this did not factor into the decision, the court even recognized that "Maryland has been prohibited from using lethal means to carry out its mute swan population control program for at least the last four years, and that further delay may now or at some point in the future rise to the level of substantial harm to Maryland's environmental interests or to defendant-intervenors [Safari Club International and Ducks Unlimited]."
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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.
THE D.H. SPEIRS AWARD for outstanding lifetime contributions to Canadian ornithology is given annually by the Society of Canadian Ornithologists (URL: http://www.sco-soc.ca/speirs_award.htm). Nominations of candidates for the 2005 award will be accepted until 15 Sep, and the award will be presented at the Society's Meeting in Halifax in October. Please submit nominations, preferably with supporting information, to DR. GILLES SEUTIN (EM: gilles.seutin@pc.gc.ca).
DENNIS RAVELING SCHOLARSHIP--The Dennis Raveling Scholarship for Waterfowl Research is awarded annually to a student(s) with a desire to pursue a career in waterfowl or wetlands ecology. Awards are based on the candidate's resolve, high academic achievement, and project merit. Candidates must be pursuing an advanced university degree in: Wildlife, Zoology, Botany, Ecology, or other pertinent biological science. Applicants should submit a ONE page proposal summary description on an original research or management project. Applicants should be prepared to submit a detailed project proposal if requested. The Scholarship is intended to provide field experience and training in the tools, methods, and concepts of waterfowl and wetlands research and management. A committee composed of previous students and professional colleagues of Dennis Raveling will select the winning candidates. There will be 2 Awards given this year. 1st Place will be $2000 paid in quarterly installments 2nd Place will be $1,000 paid in quarterly installments Applicants should submit a resume and a brief (one page) study proposal or statement explaining the course of study for which they need support. This material must be accompanied by a letter from a faculty member indicating willingness to sponsor the candidate and detailing any requirements (e.g. provision for a final report or thesis) for receiving university credit. Names and phone numbers of two references are also required (include at least one University instructor and/or previous employment supervisor). All materials should be submitted by 31 Oct 2005. Complete package should include: One page, single-spaced Proposal Summary; Resume; Statement of Interest; Letter of Support from faculty member; Names and phone numbers of two references. Mail to: California Waterfowl Association 4630 Northgate Blvd., Suite 150 Sacramento, CA 95834 ATTN: NICOLE BERSET
SEA DUCK JOINT VENTURE -- SOLICITATION OF PROPOSALS for Funding and/or Endorsement, FY06 (1 Oct 2005 to 30 Sept 2006)–The Sea Duck Joint Venture (SDJV) is a partnership-based conservation program under the North American Waterfowl Management Plan that promotes the conservation of sea ducks by providing greater knowledge for effective management. The SDJV currently has a limited amount of USFWS seed money for projects/studies that advance our understanding of sea duck biology and ecology and is seeking proposals from interested parties. About $140,000 is available for new projects in FY06. Proposal guidelines, format, evaluation criteria, and other information is posted on http://seaduckjv.org. Proposals must be received by 29 Sep 2005.
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ERRATA--The phone number listed for the book "Birds of Two Worlds: The Ecology and Evolution of Migration" in the June issue of the Ornithological Newsletter (#166, June 2005) is incorrect. The correct number is 1-800-537-5487.
BIRDS OF WASHINGTON: STATUS AND DISTRIBUTION, Edited by Terence R. Wahl, Bill Tweit, and Steven G. Mlodinow. 2005. Hardcover, 448 pages. ISBN 0-87071-049-4. This volume is the first complete reference work on Washington's birds to be published in more than fifty years. Designed to enrich the popular study of Washington birds, this comprehensive volume includes individual accounts of the 483 species recorded in the state. Birds of Washington is not a field guide for identifying birds. Instead, it compiles and presents in a single volume current information about the population status and distribution of each species, as well as their habitat preferences, their seasonal activities, apparent trends and changes in occurrence or abundance, the occurrence of subspecies, and any management or conservation issues. Seasonal distribution maps are included for many selected species. Nearly fifty contributing authors from all corners of the state volunteered their time and expertise to create these authoritative accounts, which draw on a wide range of sources, including scientific journals, wildlife agency reports, field observations, and surveys such as Christmas Bird Counts and Breeding Bird Surveys. This volume relates changes in the avian population to the effects of human population, habitat modification, and natural events, and identifies current threats such as forest practices, farming, fishing, irrigation, and waste management. While establishing a benchmark for future studies, Birds of Washington provides an indispensable source of information on avian life in the state for a broad audience of birders, wildlife biologists, land managers, conservationists, hunters, and wildlife enthusiasts in general. At bookstores or order (PH: 1-800-426-3797; Secure online ordering: http://oregonstate.edu/dept/press/).
NESTLING MOUTH MARKINGS AND COLORS OF OLD WORLD FINCHES ESTRILDIDAE: Mimicry and Coevolution of Nesting Finches and Their Vidua Brood Parasites. Payne, R. B. 2005. Misc. Publ. Univ. Mich. Museum of Zoology 194. Available from UMMZ Publications Office for $20.00. For the cover and table of contents, see http://www.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/birds/pdf/RBP.192.pdf. To order, see http://www.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/resources/pubs/ummzpubs.html).
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AVAILABLE: The periodical "Living Bird" from Volume One until present. Contact ELIZABETH PULLMAN (EM: pullmans@aol.com, PH: 919-544-1609).
AVAILABLE: I have the following copies of ornithological journals that I will be happy to donate to one or more non-profit organizations or institutions. Packing and shipping costs at the recipients expense: Auk, Vol. 94-117, January 1977-October 2000; Wilson Bulletin, Vol. 88-112, March 1976-December 2000; Condor, Vol. 89-102, February 1987- November 2000. Contact: WILLIAM BELTON, 1099 Woodmont Road, Great Cacapon, WV 25422-3236 (EM: wbelton@direcway.com)
WANTED: A copy of: Hahn, P. 1963. Where is that vanished bird? Royal Ontario Museum, University of Toronto. Please contact: birdbooker@zipcon.net.
FOR SALE: Several old bird books are being auctioned on-line by the Alaska Bird Observatory, including a complete, hardcover set of Bent's Life Histories of North American Birds and Gabrielson & Lincoln's Birds of Alaska. For details visit http://www.alaskabird.org, e-mail auction@alaskabird.org, or call (PH: 907-451-7159). The auction will end 15 Sep 2005.
TO DONATE–Back issues (1998-present) of Ecology, Evolution, The Condor, and J. Field Ornithol. I'm especially interested in donating these to institutions or organizations outside of the United States and Canada without access to academic libraries. For more information contact JOHN LLOYD (EM: jlloyd@masonbruce.com).
JOURNALS looking for a good ornithological home: (you pay shipping)-- The Auk, volumes 103-107 complete, vol. 108 No.1-3, vol. 109 No. 3-4; The Condor, volumes 2-97 (1900-1995) complete (most are bound). Contact KURT LEUSCHNER (EM: kleuschner@collegeofthedesert.edu, PH: 760-349-3515 Desert Cities Bird Club).
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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
THE SOCIETY FOR THE CONSERVATION AND STUDY OF CARIBBEAN BIRDS (SCSCB) will be holding its 15th Regional Meeting in Guadeloupe, 1-6 Aug 2005. 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
THE 30TH MEETING OF WESTERN FIELD ORNITHOLOGISTS will be held from 28 Sep - 1 Oct 2005 in Santa Maria, California. Visit the WFO web site (URL: http://www.wfo-cbrc.org) for details about presentations, venues, lodging, and field trips. This announcement also serves as the first call for papers and poster presentations. A special session will be held on the "Status, distribution, conservation, and management of birds in human-dominated landscapes." Other conference themes include Systematics and biogeography of birds of the Pacific Coast region; Techniques for field study of birds (especially censusing and monitoring); and New information on field identification problems of birds in western North America and the eastern Pacific Ocean." Contact TED FLOYD (EM: tedfloyd@aba.org).
IV NATIONAL PERUVIAN ORNITHOLOGICAL CONFERENCE (9-12 Oct 2005) at Universidad Catolica Santo Toribio de Mogrovejo, Chiclayo, Peru is being organized by Naturaleza and Cultura Internacional, Asociacion Cracidae Peru. For more information visit: http://www.darwinnet.org/ VICNO/ or contact vicno@darwinnet.org.
*The RAPTOR RESEARCH FOUNDATION (RRF), 2005 annual meeting will be held from 12-16 Oct 2005 at the KI Convention Center and adjoining Regency Suites Hotel 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). The meeting will include social gatherings and scientific sessions: 20-minute presentations on topics such as raptor migration, management, conservation, and ecology. One such session, on raptor education, has been identified to date and is being organized by KATE DAVIS, Executive Director of Raptors of the Rockies. Field trips include a visit to EUGENE JACOB'S 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). Though the deadline for submission of abstracts has passed (was Jun 30), plenty of hotel space is available!
28TH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE WATERBIRD SOCIETY will be held in Jacksonville, FL, during 13-16 Oct 2005.
THE SOCIETY OF CANADIAN ORNITHOLOGISTS will meet at the Delta Halifax Hotel in Halifax, Nova Scotia from 20 - 22 Oct 2005. Information on the program, accommodations and deadlines for abstracts and registration is posted on the society website (URL: http://www.sco-soc.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. The registration fee for the Conference is ZAR 3,000.00 (*genuine students ZAR 1,700.00) and is payable to the Conference Organizers. This fee includes access to all Conference facilities and documents, an icebreaker 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/Birds/hornbillconf_website/index.html) or contact 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 SECOND NORTH AMERICAN SEA DUCK CONFERENCE, sponsored by The Sea Duck Joint Venture, is scheduled for 7-11 Nov 2005 at the Loews Annapolis Hotel in Annapolis, Maryland, USA. Various federal and private organizations are also sponsors of this international conference and the USGS Patuxent Wildlife Research Center (PWRC) is the host agency. This meeting of sea duck scientists from around the world provides a forum to exchange information about sea duck biology and management. The conference will provide a stimulating environment, in which scientists may expand their scientific vision in hopes of a better understanding and conservation of sea ducks. All research disciplines dealing with sea ducks will be considered for oral or poster presentations. Workshops will be conducted on topics including offshore wind farms, contaminants, satellite telemetry, and seaduck harvest (sport and subsistence). Tours available for the conference include Baltimore Inner Harbor (Aquarium), Historic Annapolis (Naval Academy), and the PWRC sea duck colony. A website has been established for more information and includes registration and abstract submission guidelines. (URL: http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/seaduck_conf2005/, EM: SeaDuckConf@usgs.gov). Conference Chair: MATTHEW C. PERRY; Conference Coordinator: ALICIA M. WELLS.
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.
33RD ANNUAL MEETING OF THE PACIFIC SEABIRD GROUP will be held in Girdwood, AK, during 15-19 Feb 2006.
GAMEBIRD 2006 - A Joint Conference - Quail VI and Perdix XII. 31 May - 4 Jun 2006 at The University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA. The Warnell School of Forest Resources is hosting Gamebird 2006, an international conference on management of gamebirds. This meeting combines the 6th North American Quail Conference and the 12th Perdix Conference to encourage international collaboration and exchange of ideas. The primary focus of this conference will be ecology of gamebirds in managed ecosystems in the previous focus areas of North America and Europe, but also South America, Africa, and Asia. Participation of biologists involved in all aspects of management and research of gamebirds is encouraged. Please see the conference website for details (URL: http://gallus.forestry.uga.edu/QuailVI/) or contact DR. JOHN P. CARROLL (EM: jcarroll@forestry.uga.edu).
24TH INTERNATIONAL ORNITHOLOGICAL CONGRESS 2006, 13-19 Aug 2006, Hamburg, Germany. Call for contributed orals, posters and round table discussions is now posted on the website (URL: http://www.ioc.org). Final deadline for contributions is 1 Jul 2005.
4TH NORTH AMERICAN DUCK SYMPOSIUM AND WORKSHOP, Ramkota Hotel, Bismarck, North Dakota, 23-26 Aug 2006. Organized by North Dakota Game and Fish Department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Delta Waterfowl, Ducks Unlimited, Inc., USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, North Dakota Chapter of the Wildlife Society, and Bureau of Reclamation. The theme is "Integrating Waterfowl Science and Management." Contact MIKE JOHNSON (EM: mjohnson@state.nd.us PH: 701-328-6319) for additional information or to be put on the email list for future information and announcements.
THE INLAND BIRD BANDING ASSOCIATION will hold its annual meeting in Kalamazoo, MI the weekend of 30 Sep through 2 Oct 2005. The meeting will be at the Kellogg Biological Station on Gull Lake. Presentations will include work on the Kirtland's Warbler in the Bahamas, the search for the Ivory-billed Woodpecker along with others, as well as banding demonstrations and other field trips. Go to the IBBA website (URL: http://aves.net/inlandbba/ibbamain.htm) to download a pdf file of the registration materials.
*NEXT ANNUAL MEETING OF THE COOPER ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY will be held in conjunction with the 4th North American Ornithological Conference 3-7 Oct 2006, in Veracruz City, Mexico.
4TH NORTH AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGICAL CONFERENCE, Veracruz City, Mexico, 3-7 Oct 2006--The 4th NAOC is being organized jointly by the American Ornithologists' Union, Cooper Ornithological Society, Society of Canadian Ornithologists-Société des Ornithologistes du Canada, Association of Field Ornithologists, Wilson Ornithological Society, Waterbird Society, Raptor Research Foundation, and Sección Mexicana del Consejo Internacional para la Preservación de las Aves - CIPAMEX (local host). The conference is also endorsed by the Neotropical Ornithological Society, Pacific Seabird Group, and Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds. The conference theme is "Wings without borders". The Steering Committee is co-chaired by CHARLES M. FRANCIS (EM: charles.francis@ec.gc.ca) and JOSÉ LUIS ALCÁNTARA (EM: jlalcant@colpos.mx). The Scientific Program Committee is co-chaired by JOHN FAABORG (University of Missouri, EM: faaborgj@missouri.edu) and J. FRANCISCO ORNELAS (Instituto de Ecología, EM: ornelasj@ecologia.edu.mx). The Scientific Program Committee will issue a call for symposia in the early fall 2005, and the full conference program is expected to beassembled in December 2005. The mailing of the Circular of Information and call for papers will be made in January 2006. The Local Committee is co-chaired by ERNESTO RUELAS INZUNZA (EM: ruelas01@prodigy.net.mx) and JUAN E. MARTÍNEZ GÓMEZ (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. Check the NAOC website for updates on organization (URL: http://www.NAOC2006.org).
10TH AMERICAN WOODCOCK SYMPOSIUM (4-6 Oct 2006), hosted by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources at the Ralph A. Mac- Mullan Conference Center near Grayling, MI. For information visit the symposium website (URL: http://www.michigandnr.com/woodcocksymposium/)
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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P. DEE BOERSMA, is the first holder of the Wadsworth Endowed Chair in Conservation Science of the Department of Biology, University of Washington which will enable continuation of the long-term research on penguins.
JAMES F. CLEMENTS of Temecula, CA., a member of the AOU since 1981, died on 9 June 2005 at the age of 77. Dr. Clements was best known as the author of Birds of the World: A Checklist, now in its fifth edition.
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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).
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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.