The Ornithological Newsletter On-Line

ORGANIZATION NEWS

NOMINATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP CLASSES of Fellow and Elective Member of the AOU are due 5 May 2006 (5 months prior to the Stated Meeting). Fellows and Elective Members are encouraged to submit nominations of deserving colleagues. Following its official charge to supplement nominations, the Committee on Nomination of Fellows and Elective Members will prepare only a few nominations, and thus timely submissions from members are imperative. Nominations and full supporting information are to be supplied by the nominators. Lists of current Fellows and Elective Members are available on the AOU website (URL: http://www.aou.org/membership/special.php3). Nominators seeking to endorse a nominee must first obtain the instructions and forms for 2006, available on the AOU web site (URL: http://www.aou.org/nominations.php3) or from the Secretary, M. ROSS LEIN, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, CANADA (PH: 403‑220‑6549, FX: 403‑289‑9311, EM: aousecretary@aou.org). For ELECTIVE MEMBER nominations, the Secretary will compile and prepare ballot packets to be sent to current Fellows and Elective Members in July 2006. Ballots must be returned by mail to the Secretariat by three weeks before the Stated Meeting (i.e., by 14 Sep 2006) and the names will be announced at the Business Meeting of Members on 5 Oct 2006 at the World Trade Center in Veracruz, México. For FELLOW nominations, the Secretary will compile and prepare packets to be sent to current Fellows in Sep 2006. Voting will take place at the Fellows Meeting on 3 Oct 2006.

NOMINATIONS FOR AOU OFFICERS AND ELECTIVE COUNCILORS must be received by the Secretary three months before the Stated Meeting. Thus, this year nominations are due 5 Jul 2006. Officers to be elected at the 2006 Business Meeting of the Members (5 Oct 2006 at the World Trade Center in Veracruz, México), will be President-Elect, Vice‑President, Secretary, Treasurer, and three Elective Councilors. The Bylaws of the AOU require that the Vice-President be elected annually and serve only one term, and that the Secretary and Treasurer be elected or re‑elected annually. At the conclusion of the 124th Stated Meeting, James A. Kushlan will conclude his two‑year term as President, and Erica H. Dunn will commence her two-year term as President. The incumbent Treasurer (Frank B. Gill) is willing to stand for re-election, but the incumbent Secretary (M. Ross Lein) will be retiring. Of the total of nine Elective Councilors, three are elected annually to serve terms of approximately three years, beginning at the close of the Stated Meeting. Elective Councilors to be replaced at the conclusion of the 124th Stated Meeting in 2006 are Peter P. Marra, Kathy Martin, and Patricia G. Parker. Continuing to serve in 2006-2007 will be Elective Councilors Terrell D. Rich, Thomas W. Sherry, Kimberly A. Sullivan, Reed Bowman, Robert L. Curry, and Helen F. James. The procedure for nominating AOU officers and Elective Councilors is outlined in the Bylaws (Art IV, Sec 2). "Each Fellow and Elective Member shall be invited in advance of the Stated Meeting at which an election is to be held, to nominate to the Secretary, persons for President-Elect, for Vice-President, for Secretary, for Treasurer, and for Elective Councilors. These nominations shall be received by the Secretary three months before the Stated Meeting and shall be presented at the business session of the Stated Meeting. Nominations for all officers and Elective Councilors must be accompanied by documented consent of the nominee." Nominations may be submitted in writing, or electronically to the Secretary, M. ROSS LEIN, Department of Biology, University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, CANADA (PH: 403‑220‑6549, FX: 403‑289‑9311, EM: aousecretary@aou.org).

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NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

ORNITHOLOGY SHORT COURSE at Charles Sturt University, Australia, "Principles of Ornithology" 21 ‑ 30 Nov 2006–Would you like to update your ornithological skills? Learn more about the anatomy and ecology of birds? Understand methods for field surveys and specimen‑based research? Meet some of southeastern Australia's stunning wildlife? This exciting new short course combines lectures from specialist ornithologists and ecologists with a range of laboratory and field activities to deliver a fascinating overview of current approaches to studying birds. Syllabus topics include: behavioral ecology of birds; flight; adaptation; avian anatomy; wing and skeletal morphology; mist‑netting, banding and marking birds; bird survey techniques; field data collection; quantifying behavior; and specimen‑based research methods. Field trips to exceptional locations in southeastern Australia will offer outstanding birding opportunities. A range of evening activities will include night spotting, an outback barbecue, and a trivia night. Upon completion of this course, participants will be awarded credit towards Charles Sturt University's internationally recognized Graduate Certificate of Ornithology and Graduate Diploma of Ornithology. This course is strictly limited to 20 participants, on a first come first served basis. The cost for the course is US$2,500, which includes all accommodation and ground transport and most meals. The course will be based at Charles Sturt University's Albury campus, in New South Wales, Australia. For further information visit http://www.csu.edu.au/faculty/sciagr/eis/orn_course.htm or email KERRY WHITWORTH (EM: kwhitworth@csu.edu.au).

WILDSPECTRA, SOUND DISPLAY AND ANALYSIS FOR MAC OSX–WildSpectra is now two programs for use with Mac OSX. WildSpectra 1 opens files (AIFF, WAV, SD2, 22.05 and 44.1 kHz, monoaural), even very big files, even WAV files with defective headers such as those produced by Edirol and Marantz digital recorders, and displays spectrograms (also called sonagrams) and frequency and time sections. It allows editing, saving PICT files of spectrograms, logging time‑frequency points, and if you are lucky some automatic data acquisition. It can fill your screen (even a 30‑inch screen) with big spectrograms or long periods of time. WildSpectra 2 digitizes and records sound while displaying spectrograms in real time. It accepts input from the audio input port on a Mac or a USB interface (either from a microphone or a tape‑recorder). It can save digitized files for subsequent use by WildSpectra 1. It can fill your screen with big spectrograms or long periods of time ‑‑ all in real time. All instructions are accessible in Help! items in the menus. These programs are available for noncommercial use for teaching and research, free of charge (URL: http://www.unc.edu/~rhwiley/wildspectra). Both programs are in continual development so check periodically for updated versions. We welcome suggestions. HAVEN WILEY, Department of Biology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599‑3280 (EM: rhwiley@email.unc.edu).

ETHNO‑ORNITHOLOGY RESEARCH AND STUDY GROUP–Robert Gosford of the Australian Nationial University reports that the Ethno‑ornithology Research and Study Group (ERSG) website and Discussion group is online at http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/ethnoornithology/. The success of the site and Discussion Group will be dependant upon your interest and contributions! The website currently includes the Abstracts and Update from the Ethno‑ornithology Symposium held at the recent Australasian Ornithological Conference at Blenheim, NZ in December 2005 on the site and some of my own material, including an annotated Bibliography of the Northern Territory (Australia) Ethno‑ornithology and the same material (unannotated) broken down into its Ornithological, Anthropological and Historical components. If you have an interest in this area please join the group and make a contribution. As a recognized discipline (or perhaps sub‑discpline within Ethno‑biology?) ethno‑ornithology is relatively new, but there is much published material available on the subject. The ERSG group might help to bring researchers, students and others interested in this fascinating area together. The organizers are also proposing that a Birds Australia "Special Interest Group" be established. If you are interested in the formation of an Ethno‑ornithology SIG please forward your expression of interest to the group. Other views on this matter are welcome. To find out more about BA's SIGs see: http://www.birdsaustralia.com.au/addresses.html#sigs. A senior Chilean researcher has suggested that an Ethno‑ornithology Symposium might be organized at the Southern Connection conference at Adelaide in early 2007. "Southern Connection is a large group of scientists from all continents who study aspects of biology and earth history of the Southern Continents.... One of the main aims of Southern Connection is to develop and emphasize differences between North and South. Africa , for example, with its long history of hominids and its relatively well preserved megafauna, is a stark contrast to most of the Northern Hemisphere.." See the Southern Connections site (URL: http://www.southernconnection.org/).

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NEWS FROM THE ORNITHOLOGICAL COUNCIL

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 JOINS IN INFORMATION CAMPAIGN ABOUT AVIAN INFLUENZA AND WILD BIRDS ‑ The Ornithological Council is working with ornithologists Peter Marra (National Zoological Park), Scott Newman (Wildlife Trust), and Mike Fry (American Bird Conservancy), as well as Billy Karesh (Field Veterinarian, Wildlife Conservation Society) to help inform the media, the public, and policy makers about the role of wild birds as avian influenza vectors. Among these efforts were: letters to the editor by Karesh and OC Executive Director Ellen Paul, published by the Washington Post; numerous radio interviews including two appearances by Marra on National Public Radio programs; and several published newspaper articles quoting Karesh. These efforts are intended to counter the assertions and assumptions by the media and some public health officials that overlook the role of the poultry trade and the use of poultry manure as issues of key concern, and that also overlook the substantial uncertainty about the role of wild birds. These ornithologists are also attempting to establish the understanding that culling wild birds is neither feasible nor necessary, and that culling efforts could actually spread the disease if, in fact, it is present in the flocks that are subject to culling.

OC TO PRESENT WORKSHOP AT ANIMAL WELFARE CONFERENCE–The Applied Research Ethics National Association (ARENA) is the largest organization of professionals concerned about or responsible for the humane treatment of research animals. ARENA has accepted OC's proposal to present a workshop entitled "Wildlife biology: from principle to practice." Speakers will include Scott Newman, DVM, Ph.D., a seabird biologist at the Wildlife Trust (and OC Board member); Anne B. Clark (Binghamton University), an evolutionary biologist who studies bird behavior, shorebird ornithologist Ian C.T.Nisbett, and Mark Pokras, DVM and director of the Wildlife Clinic at Tufts University's Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine. Most members of Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees and other university officials responsible for research animal welfare are active participants in this organization. The meeting itself is co‑sponsored by the National Institutes of Health Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare and the U.S. Dept of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Animal Care Program.

FOREST SERVICE PUBLISHES FINAL FEE RULE ‑ The Forest Service in 1999 proposed to adopt regulations for the recovery of costs for processing special use applications (which includes scientific research on Forest Service land) and monitoring compliance with special use authorizations. The notice explained that the proposed rule would apply to applications and authorizations for use of NFS lands, including situations where the land use fee may be exempted or waived, and to applications and authorizations involving Federal, State, and local governmental entities. In the final rule, the Forest Service explained that the fees will be used to fund the time and the resources that the agency expends on the decision-making process in response to special use applications and to monitor compliance with the terms and conditions of the special use authorizations. Thus, like the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service permit fees, these Forest Service fees will be used to fund the permit program itself. The OC commented on the proposed rule, which would have imposed permit processing fees and fees for monitoring permitted activity. The OC took the position that the Forest Service should recognize the role and value of biological research in achieving proper management of Forest Service land and natural resources; we suggested that fees for scientific research be waived or substantially reduced. The Forest Service declined this request, along with all other requests for categorical exemptions, but authorizes waivers for entities in processing their applications when the studies to be undertaken had a public benefit or the proposed facility or project provided a free service to the public or supported a program of the Secretary of Agriculture. There is no provision for waiver of monitoring fees. Fees for processing permits and for monitoring permitted activities vary depending on the processing and monitoring time and range from $100 to $953 for applications; the fees for monitoring also range from $100 to $953. Waivers may be granted, at the discretion of the Forest Service, for projects or uses that will provide "a valuable benefit to the general public or the programs of the Secretary of Agriculture." Fees for "major category" permits and monitoring ‑ defined as those that require more than 50 hours of agency time ‑ will be based on cost recovery, and may be reduced upon application. Please check the BIRDNET permits page (URL: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET/PERMITS.html) for further details regarding the fee structure, procedures, and waiver requests.

DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR SEEKS NOMINATIONS FOR INVASIVE SPECIES ADVISORY COUNCIL ‑ SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of the Interior, on behalf of the interdepartmental National Invasive Species Council, proposes to appoint new members to the Invasive Species Advisory Committee (ISAC). The ISAC provides advice to the National Invasive Species Council (NISC) on a broad array of issues including preventing the introduction of invasive species, providing for their control, and minimizing the economic, ecological, and human health impacts that invasive species cause. The Council is Co‑chaired by the Secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture, and Commerce. The Council's duty is to provide national leadership regarding invasive species issues. Pursuant to the Executive Order, the Council developed a National Invasive Species Management Plan, which is available on the web (URL: http://www.invasivespecies.gov). The Council is responsible for effective implementation of the Plan including any revisions of the Plan. The Council also coordinates Federal agency activities concerning invasive species; encourages planning and action at local, tribal, State, regional and ecosystem‑based levels; develops recommendations for international cooperation in addressing invasive species; facilitates the development of a coordinated network to document, evaluate, and monitor impacts from invasive species; and facilitates establishment of an information‑sharing system on invasive species that utilizes, to the greatest extent practicable, the Internet. The role of ISAC is to maintain an intensive and regular dialogue regarding the aforementioned issues. ISAC provides advice in cooperation with stakeholders and existing organizations addressing invasive species. After consultation with the other members of NISC, the Secretary of the Interior will actively solicit new nominees and appoint members to ISAC. Prospective members of ISAC should be knowledgeable in and represent one or more of the following communities of interests: weed science, fisheries science, rangeland management, forest science, entomology, nematology, plant pathology, veterinary medicine, the broad range of farming or agricultural practices, biodiversity issues, applicable laws and regulations relevant to invasive species policy, risk assessment, biological control of invasive species, public health/epidemiology, industry activities, international affairs or trade, tribal or state government interests, environmental education, ecosystem monitoring, natural resource database design and integration, and internet‑based management of conservation issues. Prospective nominees should also have practical experience in one or more of the following areas: Representing sectors of the national economy that are significantly threatened by biological invasions (e.g., agriculture, fisheries, public utilities, recreational users, tourism, etc.); representing sectors of the national economy whose routine operations may pose risks of new or expanded biological invasions (e.g., shipping, forestry, horticulture, aquaculture, pet trade, etc.); developing natural resource management plans on regional or ecosystem‑level scales; addressing invasive species issues, including prevention, control and monitoring, in multiple ecosystems and on multiple scales; integrating science and the human dimension in order to create effective solutions to complex conservation issues including education, outreach, and public relations experts; coordinating diverse groups of stakeholders to resolve complex environmental issues and conflicts; and complying with NEPA and other Federal requirements for public involvement in major conservation plans. Members will be selected in order to achieve a balanced representation of viewpoints, to effectively address invasive species issues under consideration. No member may serve on the ISAC for more than two (2) consecutive terms. All terms will be limited to three (3) years in length. The ISAC meets up to four (4) times per year. Members of the ISAC and its subcommittees serve without pay. However, while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services of the ISAC, members shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence. Nominations should be typed and should include the following: 1. A brief summary of no more than two (2) pages explaining the nominee's suitability to serve on the ISAC. 2. A resume or curriculum vitae. 3. At least two (2) letters of reference. Nominations must be postmarked by 17 Apr 2006 and be sent to LORI WILLIAMS, Executive Director, National Invasive Species Council (OS/SIO/NISC), 1849 C Street, NW., Washington, DC 20240. For Further Information Contact: KELSEY BRANTLEY, Program Analyst (PH: 202-513‑7243, FX: 202-371‑1751, EM: Kelsey_Brantley@ios.doi.gov).

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PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE

BIRDS OF NORTH AMERICA, LIFE HISTORIES FOR THE 21ST CENTURY. Over ten years in preparation, the series was completed with the publication of BNA No. 716 ‑ Dark‑eyed Junco in 2002. Buteo Books acquired the remaining inventory of published profiles and is pleased to offer the individual species accounts for sale, at $7.50 each, plus postage. These illustrated reviews provide comprehensive summaries of the current knowledge of the species, with range maps and an extensive list of references. The complete list of available accounts in taxonomic order may be found on our website (URL: http://www.buteobooks.com). You may place an order by contacting Buteo Books (PH: 800‑722‑2460, or 434‑263‑8671 FX: 434‑263‑4842, EM: customerservice@buteobooks.com), or writing to Buteo Books, 3130 Laurel Road, Shipman, VA 22971.

ERNST MAYR AT 100: ORNITHOLOGIST AND NATURALIST. Walter J. Bock and M. Ross Lein, Editors. American Ornithologists' Union, Ornithological Monographs #58, 2005. 109 pp. Includes a complete bibliography of Mayr's works, and a DVD with excerpts of an interview with Ernst Mayr. Paper. $20.00 plus $5 postage. AOU members received this monograph with The Auk, but others are encouraged to purchase this publication, or any of the other Ornithological Monographs by contacting Buteo Books, 3130 Laurel Road, Shipman, VA 22971: (PH: 800‑722‑2460, or 434‑263‑8671; FX: 434‑263‑4842; EM: customerservice@buteobooks.com).

A GUIDE TO THE BIRDS OF THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES: Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississipppi, John H. Rappole, 2006. University Press of Florida. 366 pp, 6" x 9", 420 color photos, 379 maps. ISBN: 0-8130-2861-2, paper, $24.95. No other region in America offers such a stunning abundance of birdlife (including an overwhelming number of exotic species) as the southeastern United States. A Guide to the Birds of the Southeastern States is the only single‑source reference to this area's fascinating variety of birds, and if you want to find these feathered friends, veteran birdlife researcher John Rappole reveals the best places to look‑‑from the tropical hammocks and cypress bays of the Everglades to the rugged peaks of the north Georgia Appalachians and the Gulf Coast beaches of Alabama and Mississippi. More than 190 sites are covered, including national parks, wildlife refuges, nature centers, and public access sites. Rappole rounds out the coverage by explaining issues surrounding climate, physiology, and habitat, and provides photographs of all major habitats, including more than 30 of the most intriguing natural areas in the Southeast. Available via booksellers nationwide or direct (PH: 800-226-3822, URL: http://www.upf.com).

BIOMES OF BRAZIL. AN ILLUSTRATED NATURAL HISTORY/BIOMAS DO BRASIL. UMA HISTORIA NATURAL ILUSTRADA, Por, F.D., Imperatriz‑Fonseca, V.L., Lencioni, F.N., 2005. Pensoft Publishers, Sofia‑Moscow, 210x290, ISBN 9546422371, Hardcover, 208 pp. Price EURO 39.50. Illustrated by original color drawings, graphs and maps, bibliography. Bilingual, in English and Portuguese. Biomes of Brazil is a didactical presentation of the eight more important biomes of this subcontinent, for the use of the academic and student reader. The bilingual text of the book, makes it accessible also to the environmentalist and ecotourism public world‑wide. The eight chapters follow the same sequence of treatment, from a short geologic and environmental introduction, to the presentation of the respective flora and fauna and ending with human aspects and environmental issues. The most recent level of knowledge is being reviewed, leaving space also for new and original considerations. The book is exclusively hand‑illustrated, with didactic drawings and schemes and especially with large‑scale dioramas of the different biomes. Most of the illustrations are from the hand of the third author, a consummate naturalist and ornithologist and a resourceful teacher. Cover, table of contents and sample pages at: http://www.pensoft.net/newreleases. Order from Pensoft (EM: orders@pensoft.net or pensoft@mbox.infotel.bg, FX: +359‑2‑9674071, PH: +359‑2‑9674070, http://www.pensoft.net).

BIRD COLORATION, VOL. 1: Mechanisms and Measurements, Geoffrey E. Hill, and Kevin J. McGraw, eds. 2006. Harvard University Press. 589 pp., 75 color illustrations, 16 halftones, 92 line illustrations, 12 tables. ISBN: 0-674-01893-1, $95. How birds produce the brilliant and striking coloration of their feathers and other body parts is the focus of the first volume of Bird Coloration. The world’s leading experts in perception, measurement, and control of bird coloration have contributed to this volume, which synthesizes more than 1,500 technical papers in the field. The focus is on the three primary mechanisms of color production–melanin pigmentation, carotenoid pigmentation, and structural coloration–but less common as well as newly described mechanisms of color production are also reviewed in detail. The visual perception of birds and the best ways to collect and analyze color data are, for the first time, presented as part of the review of mechanisms of coloration.

BIRD COLORATION, VOL. II: Function and Evolution, Geoffrey E. Hill, and Kevin J. McGraw, eds. 2006. Harvard University Press. 477 pp., 98 color illustrations, 84 line illustrations, 12 tables. ISBN: 0-674-02176-2, $95. In this volume the authors turn to the problem of what is the function of the colorful displays of birds and what are the factors that shape the evolution of color signals. The volume and series conclude with chapters that consider coloration from an explicitly evolutionary perspective, examining selective pressures that have led to the evolution of colors and patterns on body and plumage.These books will be essential reading for biologists studying animal coloration, but it will also be treasured by anyone curious about why birds are colorful and how they got that way. Harvard University Press, 79 Garden St. Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 (PH: 617-496-1340, FX: 617-349-5244, URL: http://www.hup.harvard.edu).

THE REAL ROADRUNNER by Martha Anne Maxon, 2005. University of Oklahoma Press. Volume 9 in the Animal Natural History Series. 160 pp., 7" x 10", 24 color illus., 18 b&w illus. ISBN: 0‑8061‑3676‑6, Cloth, $39.95. The roadrunner, an icon of the Southwest and one of the most beloved birds of the United States, is also one of the least understood. In The Real Roadrunner, Martha Anne Maxon reveals how the adaptable nature of the bird has allowed it to survive throughout the centuries and even to thrive today, when many other bird species are in decline. Maxon covers the basic features and behavioral patterns of this bird—lineage, anatomy, habitat, and range, as well as strategies for obtaining food, withstanding the elements, and avoiding predators, with special attention given to the courtship and nesting behaviors that occupy the species for three‑quarters of the year. The author has assembled and analyzed information both from scientific and popular literature and from other researchers. This, and her years of field observation and experience with raising young roadrunners in captivity, have yielded new and intriguing facts on the species’ courtship and nesting behavior and on the development of the young. Order from University of Oklahoma Press, 2800 Venture Dr., Norman, OK 73069 (PH: 800-627-7377, 405-325-2000; FX: 800-735-0476, 405-364-5798; URL: http://oupress.com).

AVIAN CONSERVATION AND ECOLOGY–ÉCOLOGIE ET CONSERVATION DES OISEAUX–Editors‑in‑Chief, Tom Nudds and Marc‑André Villard, are pleased to announce the publication of the inaugural issue of 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. To view the full text articles, select the HTML or PDF links from the online Table of Contents (URL: http://www.ace‑eco.org).

BIRD CONSERVATION IMPLEMENTATION AND INTEGRATION IN THE AMERICAS: Proceedings of the Third International Partners in Flight Conference, edited by C. John Ralph and Terrell D. Rich. 2005. volumes 1 and 2, Gen. Tech. Rep. GTR‑PSW‑191, USDA‑FS, Pacific Southwest Research Station. 1294 pages. The publication contains papers presented at the Third International Partners in Flight conference which was held 20‑24 March 2002 at the Asilomar Conference Center in Monterey, California. It covers a broad array of subjects, including management planning, conservation, educational outreach programs, ornithological research, research methodologies, along with the some of the newest technologies for research and dissemination of information. Available free of charge in hard copy and CD from DICK SCHNEIDER, Rocky Mountain Research Station, 240 West Prospect Road, Fort Collins, CO 80526‑2098 (EM: rschneider@fs.fed.us). It is also accessible at http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/publications/gtrs.shtml.

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MEETINGS

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

THIRD ANNUAL NORTHERN PLAINS BIOLOGICAL SYMPOSIUM–The Biological Sciences Graduate Student Association (BSGSA) of North Dakota State University is proud to be one of the many sponsors for the Third Annual Northern Plains Biological Symposium,7 Apr 2006, on the NDSU campus. Registration is free, but all who plan on coming, both presenters and audience members, are encouraged to register early. Online registrations are preferred and can be submitted at http://biology.ndsu.nodak.edu/bsgsa/register.html. For more information please contact HEATH HAGY, North Dakota State University, Stevens Hall, Fargo ND 58105 or visit the website listed above. Email inquiries are welcomed at ndsu.biology.gsa@ndsu.edu.

BIODIVERSITY SYMPOSIUM: CONSERVING BIRDS IN HUMAN-DOMINATED LANDSCAPES, Thursday and Friday, 27-28 Apr 2006. the American Museum of Natural History's Center for Biodiversity and Conservation (CBC) eleventh annual symposium. In conjunction with the Symposium, the CBC will host a special lecture by renowned ecologist Gordon Orians on "Biodiversity and the Evolutionary Roots of Beauty." For detailed information about the symposium, poster session, and lecture, please email (EM: biodiversity@amnh.org) or visit the CBC website (URL: http://cbc.amnh.org).

*CAPTURE 2006: A SCIENTIFIC MEETING ON CAPTURE-RECAPTURE MODELS–1 May 2006, Quebec City, Canada. Biologists and statisticians are cordially invited to participate in a meeting on the analysis of capture-recapture data. The meeting's organizers are Gilles Gauthier (Biology) and Louis-Paul Rivest (Mathematics & Statistics) from Université Laval. Invited speakers include Gilles Gauthier (Laval), Jean-Dominique Lebreton (Montpellier), Roger Pradel (Montpellier), Louis-Paul Rivest (Laval), Carl Schwarz (Simon Fraser) and Alain Vandal (McGill). Contributed presentations are welcomed; you can submit a title and an abstract for your talk to this address (EM: capture2006@mat.ulaval.ca). Attending the conferences is free of charge. Let us know if you plan to attend by email (EM: capture2006@mat.ulaval.ca); a schedule will be sent to you when it becomes available. More information available on the website (URL: http://www.mat.ulaval.ca/la_recherche/capture_2006).

MARINE CONSERVATION IN EUROPE 2006: Marine conservation policies, conservation science, and the management of human activities in European waters and beyond. The Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) takes great pride in announcing its upcoming CONFERENCE. This conference will take place in the German Oceanographic Museum (DMM) in Stralsund from 8 – 12 May 2006. It will deal specifically with marine conservation policies, conservation science, and the management of human activities in European waters and beyond. The conference is sponsored by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. It will be conducted in English. This conference seeks to cover a wide range of current topics in marine conservation involving a full range of interested people such as policy makers, scientists and non-governmental organizations. For further information: http://www.habitatmarenatura2000.de, or Email: Stefan.Braeger@bfn-vilm.de

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. 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).

*GENETICS OF SPECIATION, American Genetics Association Annual Symposium, Co-sponsored by Molecular Ecology, 21-24 Jul 2006, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. Conference organizer is LOREN RIESEBERG (EM: lriesebe@indiana.edu). The last decade has witnessed a transformation in our understanding of speciation genetics. This conference will attempt to synthesize what we already know and to suggest promising avenues for further research. The meeting will include invited and contributed talks, as well as poster and discussion sessions to encourage greater involvement of symposium participants. Funds will be made available for student travel and registration to promote broad participation: application deadline is 15 Apr 2006. . The symposium will be held at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, which is next to the Pacific Ocean and the coastal mountains. Abstracts are due 1 Jun 2006. Please visit the website for more information (URL: http://www.theaga.org/agasymposium/index.html).

The ANIMAL BEHAVIOR SOCIETY’s 43rd annual meeting will be held 12-16 Aug 2006 in Snowbird, Utah, USA. We have an exciting schedule planned, including a Keynote Address by Tim Clutton-Brock (Cambridge University), a Distinguished Animal Behaviorist Address by Robert Trivers (Rutgers University), and a Fellow's Address by Carl Gerhardt (University of Missouri). Symposia include “Behavioral Syndromes” (organized by Andy Sih and Alison Bell) and “Sensory Ecology” (Tim Wright, Jenny Boughmann and Paige Warren), and there will be a workshop on Data Collection Software (organized by Sue Margulis). For further information see http://www.animalbehavior.org/ABS/Meetings/Snowbird06/, or contact the designated host JEFF GALEF (EM: galef@mcmaster.ca). Contact JILL MATEO, Acting Chair of the ABS Public Affairs Committee, for a press pass (EM: jmateo@uchicago.edu).

24TH INTERNATIONAL ORNITHOLOGICAL CONGRESS 2006, 13-19 Aug 2006, Hamburg, Germany. Call for contributions is closed. Website (URL: http://www.i-o-c.org).

*4TH NORTH AMERICAN DUCK SYMPOSIUM, 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 conference theme is "Integrating Science and Duck Management." For more information and to register visit http://www.4nads.com, or contact MIKE JOHNSON (PH: 701-328-6319; EM: mjohnson@state.nd.us).

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.

THE 4TH NORTH AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGICAL CONFERENCE 2006, Wings Without Borders, will be held in Veracruz, Mexico, 3-7 Oct 2006, and is being jointly organized by the American Ornithologists Union, Association of Field Ornithologists, CIPAMEX, Cooper Ornithological Society, Raptor Research Foundation, Society of Canadian Ornithologists/Societe des Ornithologistes due Canada, Waterbird Society, and Wilson Ornithological Society. The conference is also endorsed by the Neotropical Ornithological Society, Pacific Seabird Group, and Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds. 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 full conference program is expected to be assembled in Dec 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. Visit the conference web site for more information: (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. MacMullan Conference Center near Grayling, MI. For more information visit the symposium website (URL: http://www.michigandnr.com/woodcock-symposium/)

*CARNIVORES 2006: CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT & CALL FOR PAPERS–Defenders of Wildlife is pleased to announce Carnivores 2006: Habitats, Challenges, and Possibilities. The conference will be held at the Hilton Hotel in St. Petersburg, Florida, 12-15 Nov 2006, and will feature three full days of sessions on terrestrial and marine carnivore issues, plus a poster session, field trip, silent auction, banquet and ambassador wolf sessions. Defenders is accepting oral and poster presentation submissions. Abstract submissions must be received by 1 Jun 2006. We will consider any papers covering topics such as biology, behavior, taxonomy, general ecology, recovery, management, and economic impacts of terrestrial, avian and marine carnivore species (canids, bears, cats, mesocarnivores, raptors, whales, dolphins, sharks, etc), and also papers addressing carnivore habitat issues, particularly in the southeastern U.S. (including but not limited to habitat conservation, planning and linkages, invasive species, land use and development challenges, etc). Please visit our official conference website (URL: http://www.carnivoreconference.org) or leave a message (PH: 202-789-2844 x315) for complete Carnivores 2006 details.

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.

*AUSTRALASIAN ORNITHOLOGICAL CONFERENCE (AOC) is modeled after the annual AOU meetings, and has become the major ornithological conference for the Australasian region. Co-hosted by Birds Australia and the Ornithological Society of New Zealand, the next AOC will be held in Perth, Western Australia, in Dec 2007, following the annual conference of the Ecological Society of Australia. For early information about AOC 2007, contact SUE MATHER (EM: mather@cygnus.uwa.edu.au) and watch the website (URL: http://www.birdsaustralia.com.au).

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