The Ornithological Newsletter On-Line

ORGANIZATION NEWS

ORNITHOLOGICAL NEWSLETTER CHANGES FOR 2008–Beginning with the February 2008 issue of Ornithological Newsletter, print copies of the Ornithological Newsletter will be available only by a $5.00 annual subscription. Your membership in all or any of the OSNA societies includes access to the electronic version of the Ornithological Newsletter six times per year, which can be downloaded in PDF format from the OSNA Web site: http://www.osnabirds.org/on. Members of OSNA societies are notified by email when new issues of the Ornithological Newsletter are published. In addition to the electronic Ornithological Newsletter, the OSNA Web site provides access to job postings and the online version of the membership directory, The Flock. The printed copy of The Flock is available for $20. Orders for printed copies of Ornithological Newsletter and The Flock can be placed when you renew your memberships or by contacting the OSNA business office (EM: business@osnabirds.org). The OSNA Committee (which includes representatives from all OSNA societies) voted to charge for the printed Newsletter to enhance the services available to the ornithological community and to avoid increasing the cost for OSNA services, which are paid by the societies and, ultimately, the members. By reducing the cost of printing and mailing the Newsletter, OSNA will be able to devote resources to increasing the functions available on the OSNA Web site. In the coming year, look for enhanced capabilities, such as on-line submission of job postings and increased information in The Flock.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR AOU AWARDS for 2008 - William Brewster Memorial Award, Elliot Coues Award, Ned K. Johnson Young Investigator Award, AOU Conservation Award - are due by 15 Jan 2008. Consult the AOU website (URL: http://www.aou.org/awards/nominations.php3) or Ornithological Newsletter 180 (Oct 2007) or contact JOANNA BURGER (EM: burger@biology.rutgers.edu), the Chair of the AOU Committee on Scientific Awards, for more information.

NOMINATIONS FOR AOU OFFICERS AND ELECTIVE COUNCILORS must be received by the Secretary four months before the Stated Meeting, i.e. by 4 Apr 2008 (4 months prior to the Stated Meeting). Consult the AOU website (URL: http://www.aou.org/members/nominations/index.php3) or Ornithological Newsletter 180 (Oct 2007) or contact Secretary SARA R. MORRIS (EM: aousecretary@aou.org) for more information.

IMPORTANT NOTICE - CHANGE IN DATES FOR AOU, COS, SCO JOINT MEETING ("PDX08") IN 2008 - The dates for the joint meeting of the AOU, COS, and SCO have been changed. The meeting will now start one day earlier than originally planned. Society council meetings will be held on Monday 4 Aug 2008. The Fellows' Dinner and opening reception will take place on Monday 4 Aug 2008. Plenary talks and paper sessions will be held from Tuesday 5 Aug 2008 through Friday 8 Augt2008. The poster sessions are planned for the evenings of Tuesday 5 Aug 2008 and Wednesday 6 Aug 2008. The barbecue will take place on Thursday 7 Aug 2008. The banquet and silent auction will take place on the evening of Friday 8 Aug 2008. Please visit the website at http://www.pdxbirds08.org/ for further information. Abstract submission will open in January.

CALL FOR SYMPOSIA AND WORKSHOPS_-NOTE DEADLINE IS EARLIER THAN IN PREVIOUS ANNOUNCEMENTS--We invite proposals for symposia and workshops for the 126th American Ornithologists' Union Meeting, the 78th Cooper Ornithological Society Meeting, and the 28th Society for Canadian Ornithologists Meeting in Portland, Oregon, 4-8 Aug 2008. Symposia will normally consist of five or six 30-min. talks. Please send a title, names of organizer(s) and potential participants, tentative titles of their presentations, and a brief statement on why such a symposium or workshop would be of interest for this meeting. Send by 1 Dec 2007 to the Chair of the Scientific Program Committee, W. DOUGLAS ROBINSON (EM: douglas.robinson@oregonstate.edu), for consideration.

STUDENT MEMBERSHIP AWARDS FOR THE AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS’ UNION Are you a student interested in joining the American Ornithologists’ Union (AOU)? The Council of the AOU has voted to provide one-year student membership awards to qualified undergraduate or graduate students interested in pursuing a career in ornithology. There are many benefits to becoming a member of the AOU: (1) You will receive The Auk, the leading journal of ornithology. (2) You will receive Ornithological Monographs a venue for longer ornithological publications. (3) You will have access to the online membership directory, providing contact information for all members of the Ornithological Societies of North America. (4) You will be eligible to apply for travel awards to attend annual meetings and research grants to support high quality research. (5) You will have access to the Birds of North America online. (6) You will become part of a forward-looking organization that promotes participation of professionals and amateurs in the mission of understanding and conserving birds. To qualify, students must: 1. Have no current or prior membership in the AOU; 2. Provide a resume or curriculum vitae describing the current degree program, the expected date of completion and the candidate's academic and/or work experience, and interests in ornithology; 3. Provide a brief letter of sponsorship from an academic advisor on letterhead from the institution in which the student is currently enrolled. Awards are not renewable, but recipients can continue to be AOU members at the reduced student rate for four additional years, as long as they retain student or post-doctoral status. To apply send materials by email to: DR. DANIEL MENNILL. [EM: membershipawards AT aou.org (please use subject heading "AOU Student Membership Award")]. Applications for 2008 membership awards are accepted up until 1 Jan 2008. More information on the AOU website: http://www.aou.org/

NOMINATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP CLASSES OF FELLOW AND ELECTIVE MEMBER of the AOU must be received by 10 March 2008. Fellows and Elective Members are encouraged to submit nominations of deserving colleagues. Consult the AOU website (URL: http://www.aou.org/members/nominations/index.php3) or Ornithological Newsletter 180 (Oct 2007) or contact Secretary SARA R. MORRIS (EM: aousecretary@aou.org) for more information.

THE COOPER ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY is seeking nominations (including self-nominations) for editorial board members for a new editorial structure and process to be instituted in late 2008 for the 2009 volume (see http://www.cooper.org/ for more details). The Cooper Ornithological Society will choose a new Editor-in-Chief of The Condor for the new process as Dr. David Dobkin ends his outstanding tenure with the 2008 volume. Manuscripts will be submitted electronically through Manuscript Central in association with a switch to University of California Press. For each submitted manuscript, the Editor-in-Chief will either return the manuscript without review if the manuscript is deemed inappropriate for The Condor, or will send electronic versions of the manuscript to two members of the Board of Reviewing Editors to provide reviews. In rare cases where additional expertise is needed or a possible conflict of interest may exist, outside reviews may be solicited. The Editor-in-Chief will use the reviews to make a decision on suitability that is transmitted to the author(s). The goal of this structure is to get decisions back to authors within 30-45 days, but definitely <60 days. The Board will include 25-30 Reviewing Editors distributed across scientific disciplines and geographic regions. Reviewing Editors will be asked to review about 15-20 manuscripts per year. Please nominate yourself or colleagues that you believe are timely, efficient and have a broad grasp of science to join this revolutionary new approach to ornithological science. Please send nominations, and a brief CV if possible, to: DR. LINDA WHITTINGHAM (EM: whitting@uwm.edu), Chair, Publications Committee, Cooper Ornithological Society.

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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.

ORNITHOLOGIST CLAIT BRAUN APPOINTED TO FEDERAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON WINDPOWER - In April 2007, the Department of the Interior decided to appoint a Federal Advisory Committee to provide recommendations and advice to the Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on developing effective measures to protect wildlife resources from certain attributes of wind energy developments. The Ornithological Council, concerned that there be at least one scientist on the panel who was unaffiliated with any of the stakeholders (industry, advocacy groups), nominated Clait Braun, who has had a long and distinguished career in both academia and wildlife management. He spent many years with the Colorado Division of Wildlife, managing the Avian Research Program and leading both the game and non-game wildlife research programs. He has also consulted to state, federal, and Canadian provincial governments and to private entities with regard to wildlife management. He served two terms as chair of the USDA Wildlife Services Advisory Committee, and has been an active participant in the Grassland and Shrub Steppe Species Collaborative of the National Wind Coordinating Committee, a DOE-sponsored dialogue among industry, conservation NGOs, and scientists, so he has extensive experience with multi-stakeholder dialogue processes. His professional honor and accomplishments include the editorship of The Journal of Wildlife Management, the presidency of the Wilson Ornithological Society, election to the Colorado-Wyoming Academy of Science, and elective membership in the American Ornithologists' Union, Cooper Ornithological Society, and American Society of Mammalogists. He has also won professional achievement awards from Colorado State University, The Wildlife Society, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE ORNITHOLOGICAL COUNCIL! Many ornithologists already know that the Ornithological Council is the "go-to" source for assistance and information regarding permits, animal welfare, and other policies and procedures that they must follow in conducting their research. We've also helped many ornithologists to obtain policy information about the birds they study, and to communicate their research findings to policy makers and conservation planners and resource managers. Others know us only through the Ornithological Newsletter or listservs, and have not yet needed assistance. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve the ornithologists and the ornithological community as a whole. More details about our work can be found in our annual report, which is posted here (URL: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET/OC/OCnews.html). MOST OF THE SUPPORT FOR THE ORNITHOLOGICAL COUNCIL is provided by our eleven member societies, which support the OC as an important benefit for their members. However, support from individual ornithologists is also an important source of funding for OC's efforts to "keep the world safe for ornithology." Thank you to all who have contributed in the past. We appreciate your support! Membership renewal notices will be sent in the next few weeks, and we hope you will consider contributing to the Ornithological Council. You will find a line on the printed renewal notice, at the top of the column where you will list your dues and contributions to the OSNA societies. You can also contribute via the OSNA website (URL: http://www.osnabirds.org) if you renew online. The line for contributions to the OC will appear on the same webpage as the society membership dues and contributions.

ORNITHOLOGICAL COUNCIL ASSUMES MANAGEMENT OF ORNITH-L LISTSERV - The Ornithological Council has accepted Jeanette Bider's gracious offer to give us "ownership" of Ornith-l, which we have always considered to be an invaluable resource for the ornithological community. It is a great honor to be able to continue to provide this resource, founded by Dr. Bider 11 years ago. The Ornithological Council extends a hearty thanks to Jeanette for founding and maintaining Ornith-l for eleven years. We consider the OC to be an owner in name only. We consider the community to be the owners, and we are merely stewards. Ornith-l will continue as Dr. Bider created it. If the membership wants to see a change in Ornith-l's direction (such as the topics that are appropriate for posting) or style, please send a private e-mail to OC Executive Director Ellen Paul (EM: ellen.paul@verizon.net) and we can open the question for discussion by the community. We will continue to ask that matters pertaining to bird conservation be discussed on the policy listserv that OC maintains, as Ornith-l is intended for the discussion of ornithology as a science. We would be delighted to have you join OCNET if you want to discuss bird conservation and other policy matters related to ornithology. You can join OCNET by visiting https://listserv.umd.edu/archives/ocnet-l.html. Meanwhile, please be sure to let your friends know about Ornith-l! You can join Ornith-l by visiting http://tinyurl.com/2b2bmy. If you don't want to post messages, you need not join, but can read the archived messages on that same website.

AVMA UPDATES GUIDELINES ON EUTHANASIA - The American Veterinary Medical Association has issued an update to the 2000 Report of the Panel on Euthanasia with a new title, AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia. The Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals requires IACUCs to follow the recommendations of the AVMA Panel; virtually all federal funding agencies including the National Science Foundation, adhere to the Public Health Service policy and require that grantees and the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committees follow the AVMA policy. Therefore, ornithologists need to be aware of these guidelines because your IACUC no doubt relies upon them when reviewing your protocols. The AVMA Guidelines on Euthanasia are posted at: http://www.avma.org/resources/euthanasia.pdf. If you use CO₂, please pay particular attention to the text, as there is significant new information and recommendations here. It appears that the AVMA did not change the guidance on thoracic compression, which is based on text and information provided by the Ornithological Council at the time of the prior revision.

ORNITHOLOGICAL COUNCIL BACKS EFFORT of Society of Canadian Ornithologists in protesting cuts in funding for Canadian Wildlife Service - One way the Ornithological Council satisfies its mission to promote the influence of ornithology in public affairs is by supporting the independent policy efforts of its member societies - by lending the voice of ornithology in the Western Hemisphere. The Society of Canadian Ornithologists, a member of the Ornithological Council, recently voiced its concern to the Canadian Prime Minister about drastic cuts to the budget of the Canadian Wildlife Service. The members of the Society of Canadian Ornithologists told the Prime Minister that they are very concerned that the continuing budget uncertainties for the CWS will jeopardize bird monitoring programs, national wildlife areas, research and obligations under federal legislation. The Canadian Wildlife Service provides these essential services through scientific research, monitoring and conservation action. The budget cuts will severely impact monitoring and research programs. Some academic scientists have had their research contracts with CWS cancelled or delayed, severely compromising their ability to complete this targeted research and undermining longer-term partnerships between CWS and other scientists. The Ornithological Council was asked by the Society of Canadian Ornithologists to write a supporting letter of concern; a letter was sent after discussion by and approval from the OC Board of Directors.

ORNITHOLOGICAL COUNCIL ORGANIZES POLICY WORKSHOP for member society CIPAMEX - At the request of CIPAMEX President Raul Ortiz Pulido, the Ornithological Council organized a workshop on the role of scientific societies in public policy for the CIPAMEX annual meeting, held in Campeche in October. Invited speakers include ornithologist Ernesto Enkerlin (Director of Mexico's Commission of Natural Protected Areas), Patricia Escalante (a past president of CIPAMEX), and Juan Carlos Cantu (director of government affairs for Defenders of Wildlife in Mexico). Dr. Ortiz Pulido led a discussion following the panelists' presentations. Approximately 62 members of CIPAMEX attended this workshop.

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REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE

PLEASE REPORT OBSERVATIONS OF COLOR-BANDED TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS! During the 2007 breeding season, 1,766 adult and 6 juvenile Tricolored Blackbirds were color-banded at three breeding colonies in Yolo, Yuba, and Colusa counties. While in the field, please check all tricolored blackbirds for color bands. Your assistance in reporting observations of these color-banded birds is essential to helping us to learn more about the spatial and temporal movements of tricolors. If you see a color-banded Tricolored Blackbird, please send an email to (EM: tricolored.blackbird@gmail.com). All banded birds were fitted with USGS aluminum bands and two color bands; the color combinations were: Yolo County: white on left tarsus, green on right tarsus. Yuba County: white on left tarsus, blue on right tarsus. Colusa County: white on left tarsus, orange on right tarsus. Fledglings had both color bands on the same (right) tarsus. It will be most helpful if your reports include the following information: 1. observer name; 2. observer email, mailing address, and phone number; 3. observation date and time; 4. county and approximate map location (USGS quad); 5. latitude (decimal degrees); 6. longitude (decimal degrees); 7. number of color-banded birds and color combinations observed; 8. dominant land cover types where foraging or roosting flocks were observed; 9. approximate number of birds in flock; 10. land ownership (public/private), if known; 11. were birds roosting or foraging? 12. were birds on or near a dairy or other source of human-provided grains? If not, what is the approximate distance to the nearest known source of human-provided grains? 13. summary of observation (general description of your observation and any additional information that you deem relevant). You can obtain latitude/longitude coordinates from either Google Earth (free download from http://www.google.com; requires high-speed internet connection) or by free utility on http://www.topozone.com. Many thanks for your assistance. BOB MEESE (EM: rjmeese@ucdavis.edu; PH: 530 752-1331), Dept. of Environmental Science & Policy, Univ. of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616.

REQUEST FOR TURACO FEATHERS-As part of a study of bacterial degradation of differently colored feathers at Ohio Wesleyan University, Meredith S. Palmer and Edward H. Burtt, Jr. are looking for contour feathers of turacos, especially feathers of the wings and tail. Our evaluation of resistance to bacterial degradation will destroy the feathers. If you have, or will have, turaco contour feathers that you are willing to donate to our study, please contact us at: MEREDITH S. PALMER (EM: mspalmer@owu.edu) or EDWARD H. BURTT, JR. (EM: ehburtt@owu.edu), or mail the feathers in a protected envelop to: Ms. Meredith S. Palmer, c/o Edward H. Burtt, Jr., Department of Zoology, Ohio Wesleyan University, Delaware, OH 43015-2930. We will be glad to reimburse donors for the cost of mailing.

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GRANTS AND AWARDS

FOR INFORMATION ON CONTINUING GRANTS PROGRAMS relevant to ornithological research, visit: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET/Grants/index.html.

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS FOR THE D.H. SPEIRS AWARD–The Doris Huestis Speirs Award is the most prestigious award given by the Society of Canadian Ornithologists and is presented annually to an individual who has made outstanding lifetime contributions to Canadian ornithology. Past awardees include professionals who work at museums, government agencies, private companies and universities, as well as amateur ornithologists. Nominations for the 2008 award may be sent to: DR. MARTY LEONARD, Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4J1 (PH: 902-494-2158; FX: 902-494-3736, EM: mleonard@dal.ca). Nominations will be accepted until 1 Jun 2008. For more information go to: http://www.sco-soc.ca/speirs_award.htm

CALL FOR PROPOSALS – NESCent Postdoctoral Fellows, Sabbatical Scholars, Working Groups and Catalysis Groups. The National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent) is now accepting proposals for postdoctoral fellows, sabbatical scholars, working groups and catalysis meetings. Proposals for postdoctoral fellowships are accepted at the 1 Dec deadline only. Proposals for sabbatical scholars, working groups and catalysis meetings are accepted twice a year, with 15 Jun and 1 Dec deadlines. Proposals for short-term visitors are considered four times a year, with deadlines on 1 Jan, 1 Apr, 1 Jul and 1 Sep. For more information, please see our website at https://www.nescent.org/science/proposals.php.

NORTH STAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSMITTER GRANT PROGRAM – North Star Science and Technology, LLC and American Bird Conservancy announce the 6th annual North Star Science and Technology Transmitter Grant Program. In the spirit of giving back to the research community that they serve, North Star will award a total of eight (8) satellite transmitters (Argos Platform Transmitter Terminals (PTTs)), to one or two recipients (8 PTTs to one project or 4 PTTs to each of two projects). PTTs are powerful, cutting-edge tools for the study of bird migration that greatly extend the range over which individual birds can be tracked. The program is open to projects throughout the world. Research that contributes to our knowledge of avian biology and that provides data useful for bird conservation, particularly of threatened species, will receive preference in the selection process. American Bird Conservancy (URL: http://www.abcbirds.org) will handle the proposal submission process, review proposals, and select the winning projects. Please see http://www.northstarst.com for more information and proposal guidelines. Deadline for proposals is 4 Feb 2008. Any further questions about the program can be directed to GEORGE E. WALLACE, American Bird Conservancy (EM: gwallace@abcbirds.org; PH: 540-253-5780; FX: 540-253-5782).

GRANT OPPORTUNITY: Rea Internships in Ecology at Powdermill Biological Station. The Powdermill Nature Reserve is the field station of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. The station provides an annual grant in honor of William and Ingrid Rea to graduate students wishing to conduct field research in any area of ecology at the reserve (see http://www.powdermill.org) . The reserve has roughly 1000 ha of mature mixed oak-maple forest, fallow fields and several streams. (For a description of vegetation see Utech 1999, Special Publication of the CMNH #29). The grant amount should not exceed $6000 and include housing at Powdermill at a discounted rate of $10 per night. Travel, equipment, and living expenses are allowable expenses. Applicants should send a proposal (maximum 5 pages) including a timeline and budget, with a copy of their cv to Powdermill¹s Senior Scientist, ANDREW MACK preferably by email (EM: macka@carnegiemnh.org) or hard copy to: Andrew Mack, Powdermill Nature Reserve, 1847 Route 381, Rector, PA 15677. Deadline for proposals is 15 Jan 2008. Questions prior to submitting are welcome at the above email address. The proposal should emphasize the questions or concepts under investigation and describe methods in sufficient detail to assess their viability at Powdermill. Applicants should be enrolled graduate students and the project approved by their major advisor as part of their thesis or dissertation research. Projects incorporating Powdermill into multi-site comparisons or multi-year projects are welcome.

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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

4th BIENNIAL AUSTRALASIAN ORNITHOLOGICAL CONFERENCE at the University of Western Australia in Perth, Western Australia, 3-5 Dec 2007, hosted by The Western Australian group of Birds Australia (RAOU) For more information visit http://www.birdswa.com.au/aoc2007 or write to the conference coordinator: S. MATHER, Birds Australia Western Australia, 167 Perry Lakes Drive, Floreat, WA 6014 Australia (EM: aoc2007@birdswa.com.au; PH: +61 (0)8 93896416).

68TH MIDWEST FISH AND WILDLIFE CONFERENCE in Madison, Wisconsin, 9-12 Dec 2007, Monona Terrace Convention Center on the shore of Lake Monona. Conference theme: Be The Change: Manage Locally, Conserve Globally. Please visit our website to learn more about the exciting program (URL: http://midwest.ncd-afs.org/).

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON IRIDESCENCE, 6-9 Feb 2008: The School of Life Sciences at Arizona State University is pleased to announce an integrative 4-day conference on iridescent colors in nature, entitled 'Iridescence: More than Meets the Eye'. For more information, including deadlines for abstract submission, registration, and applications for student travel grants, please visit the conference website at: http://sols.asu.edu/rti/frontiers/iridescence. Please contact the conference organizers with any questions at (EM: animalcoloration@gmail.com) or contact LISA TAYLOR at (EM: Lisa.A.Taylor@asu.edu, PH: 480-965-2593).

4TH INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS IN FLIGHT CONFERENCE will be held 13-16 Feb 2008, at the new McAllen Convention Center in McAllen, Texas. The conference theme, shared with International Migratory Bird Day (URL: http://www.birdday.org/) for 2008, is Tundra to Tropics: Connecting Birds, Habitats and People. The focus of the conference will be international connections of all sorts that further bird and habitat conservation throughout the Western Hemisphere Details will be posted on the Partners in Flight web site (URL: http://www.partnersinflight.org). In the mean time, contact TERRY RICH with inquiries (EM: terry_rich@fws.gov).

*35th ANNUAL MEETING OF THE PACIFIC SEABIRD GROUP will held on 27 Feb - 2 Mar 2008 at the Semiahmoo Resort in Blaine, Washington. PSG is a society of professional seabird researchers and managers dedicated to the study and conservation of seabirds. This year's meeting theme is "Seabirds in Marine Ecosystems" and the plenary speaker is John Croxall. Abstracts were due on 14 November 2007. The conference hotel is located on the shores of Puget Sound at a time when many species of seabirds, waterfowl and birds of prey abound. For more information, consult the meeting web site (URL: http://www.pacificseabirdgroup.org).

12TH BIENNIAL ALASKA BIRD CONFERENCE will be held in Fairbanks, Alaska, 4 - 7 Mar 2008. Conference details will be posted on the Alaska Bird Observatory website as they become available (URL: http://www.alaskabird.org). For further details contact local organizing committee chair NANCY DEWITT (EM: :ndewitt@alaskabird.org).

5TH ASIAN RAPTOR SYMPOSIUM of The Asian Raptor Research and Conservation Network (ARRCN) 3 - 6 Apr 2008, in Tam Dao National Park, Vinh Phuc province, Vietnam. The Symposium theme is Raptors and Local People in Asia. The goals of the sessions are to exchange information, update technologies, enhance cooperation between scientists, and raise awareness of local communities. Details are posted on the ARRCN website (URL: http://www5b.biglobe.ne.jp/~raptor/index.htm) or contact LE MANH HUNG with inquiries (EM: Hungniltava@yahoo.com).

*CONSERVATION AND ECOLOGY OF GRASSLAND VERTEBRATES CONFERENCE–Call for Symposia and Contributed Papers. This is the first call for abstracts of contributed papers and posters for a conference titled Conservation and Ecology of Grassland Vertebrates to be held on the campus at the University of Oklahoma in Norman from 15–19 Apr 2008. This conference is co-sponsored by the Sutton Avian Research Center, a unit of the Oklahoma Biological Survey, and the Oklahoma Chapter of The Nature Conservancy. The purpose of this special conference is to bring together researchers across study organisms and disciplines in order to share ideas and findings related to grassland ecosystems. Session topics include, but are not limited to, the effects of climate change, fire, and habitat fragmentation; grasslands as winter habitat; grazing impacts; energy development; woody plant invasion; breeding ecology; stream alteration; toxicology; conservation and management strategies; habitat selection; capacity building and outreach; and partnering among stakeholders. The conference hosts invite proposals to organize and chair symposia on any of the above topics or on other topics related to the ecology and conservation of grasslands. Please submit proposals, including the theme and estimated number of participants, to one of the persons listed below. At this time we can also begin receiving abstracts for oral and poster presentations. Abstract submissions must be received by 15 Feb 2008. For additional information and updates, visit http://www.suttoncenter.org. Please direct queries, proposals, and abstracts to one of the following: DAN L. REINKING, Sutton Avian Research Center, University of Oklahoma, P.O. Box 2007, Bartlesville, Oklahoma 74005 (PH: 918-336-7778, EM: dreinking@ou.edu), or MICHAEL A. PATTEN, Oklahoma Biological Survey, University of Oklahoma, 111 E. Chesapeake Street, Norman, Oklahoma 73019 (PH: 405-325-5061, EM: mpatten@ou.edu).

THE 21ST BIENNIAL CONFERENCE OF THE TRUMPETER SWAN SOCIETY (TTSS) will be held at the High Country Inn in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada, 17 - 20 Apr 2008. The 21st conference will celebrate the 40th Anniversary of TTSS and will focus on the history of TTSS and the history of trumpeter swan conservation. Special attention will also be given to be the status, management and conservation of Trumpeter Swans in western Canada and Alaska. Papers and posters on the biology and management of Tundra Swans and Mute Swans or their interactions with Trumpeter Swans are also invited. The conference will occur during the Yukon Territory annual Celebration of Swans that will occur from 12-20 April 2008. Information on the 2007 celebration will give you an idea of the activities to expect: http://www.environmentyukon.gov.yk.ca/Swan%20Haven.html. If you are interested in making a presentation at the 21st Conference, please contact JOHN CORNELY (EM: johncornely@msn.com, PH:303-933-9861) or MADELEINE LINCK (EM: ttss@threeriversparkdistrict.org, PH:763-694-7851) for additional information, including presentation guidelines and submission dates.

THE 2008 ANNUAL MEETING OF THE WILSON ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY, will be held 18-20 Apr 2008 in Mobile Alabama, an important trans-Gulf migration site. This will be a joint meeting with the Association of Field Ornithologists. The local host, FRANK MOORE, may be reached at the Dept. of Biological Sciences, University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Drive, Box 5018, Hattiesburg, MS 39406 USA; (PH:: 601-266-4748; EM: Frank.Moore@usm.edu).

CONFERENCE AND CALL FOR PAPERS: Ingestion of Spent Lead Ammunition: Implications for Wildlife and Humans. Convened by The Peregrine Fund, 12-15 May 2008, At Boise State University, Boise, Idaho. For details, visit (URL: http://www.peregrinefund.org/Lead_conference/), or contact: The Peregrine Fund, 5668 West Flying Hawk Lane, Boise, Idaho 83709 (PH: 208-362-3716, EM: tpf@peregrinefund.org).

*JOINT MEETING OF THE AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION, COOPER ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY, AND THE SOCIETY OF CANADIAN ORNITHOLOGISTS - will take place 4-9 Aug 2008 in Portland, Oregon. This meeting will commemorate the 125th anniversary of the AOU and special events are being planned to celebrate this notable event. The meeting organizers are planning a green meeting. Among the measures being taken to reduce the carbon cost and other environmental impacts of the meeting are the selection of a Green Seal Lodging Property (the Hilton Portland). To save paper and costs, the Circular of Information will be mailed only to members who do not use e-mail. The hotel and nearly all events associated with the meeting are all accessible via the MAX rail (public transportation; free in the downtown area). Numerous special events for students, including receptions and a special luncheon are planned. Please visit the website at http://www.pdxbirds08.org/ for further information. Abstract submission will open in January. Meeting partners include: Oregon State University, Portland State University, University of Portland, U.S. Geological Survey, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, Oregon Zoo, Portland Audubon Society, and the Audubon Society of Corvallis.

*ELEVENTH INTERNATIONAL GROUSE SYMPOSIUM will be held in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada on 11-16 Sep 2008, posted by the Centre for Applied Conservation Research, Forestry Faculty, University of British Columbia (Vancouver, Canada). This IGS symposium, held every three years, brings together grouse specialists, biologists and wildlife managers from North America, Europe, and Asia. For information on dates, travel, accommodation, scientific program and field tour, please visit the conference website (URL: http://www.forestry.ubc.ca/alpine/IGS2008) or email or phone (EM: Shelagh.Bucknell@ec.gc.ca, PH: 604-940-4642). The symposium will focus on all aspects of grouse biology, research and management with sessions on Population Ecology and Genetics, Habitat and Landscape Ecology, Conservation and Management, and Impacts of Global Warming. Contact KATHY MARTIN (conference chair) to suggest program symposia or special events (EM:Kathy.Martin@ubc.ca).

*RAPTOR RESEARCH FOUNDATION CONFERENCE on 24-28 Sep 2008. The educational organization Raptors of the Rockies will host the annual meeting in Missoula, Montana. The University of Montana, renowned for its research and education programs in ornithology, wildlife, and wilderness management, is the co-host. The venue will be at the Holiday Inn Downtown at the Park, overlooking the Clark Fork River. Members and non-members are invited to attend. The conference features keynote speakers, paper and poster sessions, a Saturday Raptors in Education Symposium, a Birds and Art Show and a special showing of the Craighead film, Life With an Indian Prince. Missoula is located in west-central Montana, in a line between Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks, and cultural and natural opportunities abound. The 2008 conference pays tribute to Missoulian John J. Craighead and his late brother Frank C. Craighead, pioneers in wildlife biology, conservation, and American falconry. In their honor, the theme for the week is "The Legacy Lives On." For further details please contact local organizing committee chair KATE DAVIS (EM: raptors@montana.com; PH: 406-829-6436) or RRF Conference Committee Chair DAN VARLAND (EM: daniel.varland@rayonier.com; PH: 360-538-4582) with Missoula Conference 2008 as subject header. RRF members will receive a mailing with details on the conference and a registration form in March 2008. You may also learn about the conference and register at a conference website (online in 2008, address to be announced).

THIRD NORTH AMERICAN SEA DUCK CONFERENCE will be held in Québec City, Canada, on 10-14 Nov 2008. Hosted by the Canadian Wildlife Service (Québec Region), in partnership with the non-profit organization Regroupement QuébecOiseaux. New information on the conference is now available on the web site: http://www.seaduckconference2008.org. All relevant information regarding the conference should normally be available at the proper time through the above web site. For additional information, please use the following contacts: MICHEL ROBERT (Chair of the Organizing committee; EM: michel.robert@ec.gc.ca, PH: 418-649-8071); JEAN-PIERRE L. SAVARD (Chair of the Scientific committee; PH: jean-pierre.savard@ec.gc.ca, PH: 418-648-3500).

THE RAPTOR RESEARCH FOUNDATION 2009 ANNUAL CONFERENCE. 29 Sep - 4 Oct 2009, Scotland will be held overseas for the first time, to reflect the global interests of its membership. Hosted by the Scottish Raptor Study Group, this event will be held in an exclusive hotel in the small town of Pitlochry, central Scotland, with a full program of scientific presentations, workshops and seminars. Social events include the hire of a nearby castle for an evening party, and fieldtrips will include the spectacular west coast island of Mull for eagles, otters and lochs. The conference website is currently under construction. Delegate numbers are limited to 300 so early booking advisable. For further details visit (URL: http://www.rrfconferencescotland2009.org) or contact local organizing committee chair RUTH TINGAY (EM: dimlylit100@hotmail.com).

*25TH INTERNATIONAL ORNITHOLOGICAL CONGRESS – FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT – We are glad to invite everyone to attend the 25th International Ornithological Congress, which will be held in Campos do Jordão, Southwestern Brazil, from 22 to 28 Aug 2010. Please enjoy visiting our homepage: http://www.ib.usp.br/25ioc/. For further information, please contact: PROF. DR. CRISTINA YUMI MIYAKI, Secretary-General of the 25th IOC (EM: ioc2010@ib.usp.br).

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