ORGANIZATION NEWS

AUCTION ITEMS NEEDED FOR COS-AOU-SCO 2010 MEETING IN FEBRUARY!! The student committees are in great need of donations for the silent auction! The funds from the auction will be used in funding student activities and participation in future joint ornithological society meetings. Examples of things to donate include, but are not limited to: books (new, used, vintage, out of print, hard to find, and autographed), field guides, educational materials, binoculars, optics, tripods, services (e.g., bird identification or help with statistics), transmitters/receivers, blankets, jewelry, art, photos, DVDs, prints, decorations...your imagination is the limit!  This is the perfect opportunity to support students and recycle those unused, but valuable, items sitting in your labs and offices! If you have suitable items to donate, or any questions, please contact STEPHANIE WRIGHT (EM: stephanie.wright@villanova.edu).

AOU RESEARCH AWARDS FOR 2010–Instructions for submitting an application for a 2010 AOU Research Award are now available and can be accessed on the AOU homepage (URL: http://www.aou.org) by following the Awards link to the Research Awards page.  Questions can be directed to the Chair of the AOU Research Awards Committee either by e-mail (EM: rbowman@archbold-station.org) or by regular mail: REED BOWMAN, Avian Ecology Lab, Archbold Biological Station, 123 Main Dr., Venus, FL 33960. Applicants must submit ten (10) copies of the completed application form, their proposal and budget, to the Chair by 1 Feb 2010. Applications that do not adhere strictly to the submis­sion guidelines will not be evaluated.

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 (only members may apply). (5) 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 (electronic documents preferred);
3. Provide a brief letter of sponsorship from an academic advisor on letterhead from the institution in which the student is currently enrolled (electronic documents preferred).

Awards are not renewable, but recipients can continue to be AOU members at the reduced student rate, as long as they retain student or post-doctoral status.To apply, please read the full application details through the "Member­ship" link on the AOU website (URL: http://www.aou.org/) and forward your materials electronically to the Student Membership Awards organizer, DANIEL MENNILL (EM: dmennillATuwindsorDOTca).

REPORT OF THE SEVENTY-NINTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE COOPER ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY--The Cooper Ornithological Society held its 79th annual meeting at Tucson Doubletree Inn, Tucson, Arizona, 16-18 April 2009.

• JOSEPH FONTAINE chaired the Local Committee.  VICKI SAAB chaired the Scientific Program Committee.  DAN BARTON chaired the Student Activities Committee.  BONNIE BOWEN chaired the Management and Finances Committee.  There were 192 registrants, including 58 students.  The program included 35 posters and 110 papers.  There were three plenary sessions. Talks were presented by ALEXANDER BADYAEV, "New perspectives in evolutionary ornithology" and FRANCES JAMES, "Are some Maniraptorans birds rather than dinosaurs?"  The third plenary session was shared by the Inaugural Young Professional Award Finalists.
• The program also included five symposia:  YVETTE ORTEGA organized "Biological invasions: consequences for native birds in a changing world"; JOHN W. FITZPATRICK organized "Conservation biology and evolutionary genetics of Aphelocoma jays"; KAREN BAGNE and DEBORAH FINCH organized "Climate change: conse­quences for birds"; ELISABETH AMMON organized "Current conservation issues for birds of semi-arid regions"; and SUSAN WETHINGTON, DIANA L. CRAIG, and CHERYL CARROTHERS organized "Hummingbird Conservation Symposium and Western Hummingbird Project Workshop."  The students designed a workshop for students on grant writing and the discussion was lead by COS member FRANK MOORE. This workshop addressed key issues in writing competitive grant applications.
• The Loye and Alden Miller Award, the Society's award for lifetime achievement in ornithological research, was presented to FRANCES C. JAMES.  Dr. JAMES presented a plenary talk at the meeting.
• The Painton Award is presented in odd years to the author(s) of an outstanding paper published in The Condor during the preceding four years (Volume 107 [2005] - Volume 111 [2008]).  The Painton Award Committee recommended, and the COS Board was pleased to concur, that the paper by L. A FREED, R. L. CANN, M. L. GOFF, W. A. KUNZ, and G. R. BODNER (2005) titled "Increase in avian malaria at upper elevation in Hawai'i" (Condor 107:753-764) be named the recipient of the 2009 Painton Award.There were three finalists for the new Young Professional Award.  The winner was JAMIE CORNELIUS (C. W. Breuner, T. P. Hahn, coauthors), "Interplay between seasonal changes in stress physiol­ogy, environmental cues and migratory behavior in an irruptive nomad, the red crossbill".  The other two finalists were KARIE DECKER, "Seasonal decline in avian clutch size: a test of four alternative hypotheses" and EBEN PAXTON, "Where should we place the northern boundary of the southwestern willow flycatcher?"
• Mewaldt King Student Research Awards were presented to SARAH ROCKWELL, University of Maryland, "Carry-over effects of the non-breeding season on spring arrival, reproductive success, and annual survival in the endangered Kirtland's warbler (Dendroica kirtlandii)," LEAH CULP, University of Maine, "Saltmarsh sharp-tailed sparrow (Ammodramus caudacutus) habitat selection and habitat quality in tidally restricted marshes," and NICK VAN LANEN, Colorado State University, "Out with the old and in with the new? Investigating competition between barred owls (Strix varia) and northern spotted owls (Strix occidentalis caurina) using a playback experiment."  CECILIA LEUMAS, Louisiana State University, received an Honorable mention for "Understanding colony formation of terns and skimmers on Gulf Coast barrier islands: an experimental approach.”
• Grinnell Student Research Awards were presented to JUDITH UNGVARI-MARTIN, University of Florida, "Bird communities along a tropical soil productivity gradient: bottom-up effects examined by integrating ecology, behavior and genetics" and MATTHEW WIL­KINS, University of Colorado, "Multimodal signaling and the evolution of reproductive isolation in two sympatric subspecies of the barn swallow Hirundo rustica."
• Two awards were presented for outstanding student papers.  The Frances F. Roberts Award was presented to KATHI BORGMANN (C. J. Conway, coauthor) for her paper "Comparative analysis uncovers the true effects of nest concealment on avian nesting success."  A Board of Directors Student Paper Award was presented to ROBERT ALDRIDGE for his paper "Revisiting the evolution of cooperative breeding in Aphelocoma jays."
• Through the annual balloting by all members of the Society, BONNIE BOWEN, SIEVERT ROHWER, and SUSAN SKAGEN 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: MERCEDES FOSTER, President;  KIMBERLY A. SULLIVAN,  President-elect; ABBY POWELL, Secretary; BETH HAHN, Assistant Secretary; KATIE DUGGER, Treasurer; MICHAEL PATTEN, Editor of The Condor; and CARL MARTI, Editor of Studies in Avian Biology.  TOM MARTIN became Past-president.
• The next annual meeting of the Cooper Ornithological Society will be held jointly with the American Ornithologists' Union, and the Society of Canadian Ornithologists, 8-11 Feb 2010, at the Town & Country Resort Hotel and Convention Center in San Diego, CA.  BARBARA KUS is chair of the local committee and JOHN ROTEN­BERRY is chair of the scientific program committee.
• The Cooper Ornithological Society remains a vibrant Society with active and committed members.  Nevertheless, along with other North American ornithological societies, it is facing some financial challenges and membership declines in this uncertain global economy.  The Society is actively monitoring its investments and hopes to initiate a fund-raising campaign later this year.  The society is also taking steps to increase publication efficiency and visibility of The Condor and Studies in Avian Biology.  It has implemented a new editorial model for publication of The Condor under the new editor, Michael Patten. The Society has established a Student Participation Committee with the goals of increasing student and young profes­sional involvement and membership retention.  The officers and Directors seek further input as we plan for the future of the Cooper Ornithological Society.  Contact President MERCEDES FOSTER (EM: fosterm@si.edu) if you have ideas, would like to serve on a committee, or would like to be involved in strategic planning for improving and expanding the Society.

THE MILLER AWARD COMMITTEE of the Cooper Ornithological Society solicits nominations for the Loye H. and Alden H. Miller Award. This award is offered annually by the COS to a living individual who has an extensive record of research in any field of ornithology and who has made significant advancements and major breakthroughs in our understanding of the biology of birds that have stood the test of time. The award is given solely on the merits of the research and is not restricted with respect to nationality, research subject, or geographic area in which the research was conducted. Recent recipients of the Miller Award are B. Rosemary and Peter Grant, Alexander Skutch, John A. Wiens, Robert E. Ricklefs, Robert B. Payne, Peter R. Marler, and Francis C. James. Please send nominations with a brief supporting statement (~1 page) and citations of key publications or URL for a Web site by 10 Dec to BONNIE BOWEN, Chair, Miller Award Committee, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA  50014 or by email (EM: bsbowen@iastate.edu).

NEWS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

The HOATZIN GENOME BROWSER is online (URL: http://biology-web.nmsu.edu/ houde/hoatzin.htm).

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; contributions can be made when you renew your membership in any of the OSNA societies (on paper or online at http://www.osnabirds.org/). Those who are not members of one of the six societies that send a membership renewal notice through OSNA (American Ornithologists' Union, Association of Field Ornithologists, Cooper Ornithological Society, Raptor Research Foundation, Waterbird Society, and Wilson Ornithological Society), can contribute directly through PayPal (URL: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/ webscr?cmd=_sxclick&hosted_button_id=750884) using your free PayPal account or a credit card or by check (payable to the Ornithological Council and mailed to 8722 Preston Place, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA). Thank you for helping the Ornithological Council in its efforts to keep the world safe for ornithology!

ASSESSING THE SCIENCE IN THE OWL REMOVAL EXPERI­MENT–The Ornithological Council is organizing a scientific assessment of the planned removal of Barred Owls to test the impact on endangered Northern Spotted Owls. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will issue an Environmental Impact Statement for public comment. Together with the American Ornithologists' Union's Conservation Committee (which produced a scientific review of the Spotted Owl Recovery Plan) and the Raptor Research Foundation, and The Wildlife Society, the OC will coordinate the discussion, drafting, and review of the assessment of the scientific aspects of the Environmental Impact Statement and the underlying removal experiment.

SUPPORT FOR A PRESIDENTIAL EXECUTIVE ORDER FOR NATURAL SCIENCE COLLECTIONS–At the request of the Natural Science Collections Alliance (NSCA), the Ornithological Council has endorsed NSCA's effort to persuade President Obama to issue an Executive Order supporting increased federal planning, policy coordina­tion, and sustained investments in our nation's scientific collections. The OC letter (URL: http://nscalliance.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/oc-support-letter.doc) also urged the development of improved partnerships between federal land management agencies and the museum community.

ALLOW PLENTY OF TIME TO GET PERMITS - Nearly every state wildlife department has been subject to furloughs and staffing cuts. If you are planning research that requires a state permit (and in most states, you will need a permit! a federal bird banding permit is NOT sufficient in all but three states - see http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET/permit/stateindex.html), leave plenty of extra time to get your state permits. As for federal permits, there have been no cuts in permitting staff that we know of, but it can often take as long as 90 days to obtain some federal permits (much longer for Endangered Species Act permits). The Ornithological Council was recently advised by the U.S. Bird Banding Lab that it may take approximately 90 days to process a banding permit application. Therefore, you should always apply for your permits at least 60 days in advance, and 90 would be even better. If you need help with any kind of permit application, feel free to contact the Ornithological Council.

HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE approves reauthori­zation of Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act–on 28 Oct 2009, the House Natural Resources Committee approved H.R.2213, legisla­tion sponsored by Ron Kind (D-WI) to reauthorize the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (NMBCA). This matching-grant program was originally authorized at $5 million when first enacted in 2001. In 2006, Congress re-authorized the NMBCA with an increase to $6.5 million to phase in over five years. As is usually the case, the actual amount appropriated each year has been lower than the authorized funding. The pending legislation would increase the authorized funding to $8 million in 2010, $11 million in 2011, $13 million in 2012, $16 million in 2013, $18 million in 2014, and $20 million in 2015. The companion Senate bill (S.690) was reported favorably out of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on 18 Jun 2009. If you haven't already done so, please e-mail your senator and representatives to ask that they vote for this legislation. The Ornithologi­cal Council applauds the American Bird Conservancy for its tireless effort and wonderful success. You can help them put this over the top by taking a few seconds to contact your elected officials. Every member of Congress now has a webform for constituent e-mail. Go to www.house.gov or www.senate.gov to find these web­forms. You need say nothing more than, "Please vote for H.R. 2213 (or S.690, if you are writing to your senators) to reauthorize the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act."

NEW PARK SERVICE DIRECTOR NAMES AGENCY'S FIRST SCIENCE ADVISOR–Jon Jarvis, a 30-year veteran of the National Park Service (NPS), was sworn in as NPS Director by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on 2 Oct. Jarvis, previously regional director of the Pacific West Region, has named Dr. Gary Machlis as science advisor to the Director, the first such position in the NPS at that level. Dr. Machlis has con­ducted studies in over 130 US National Parks as diverse as Everglades, the Statue of Liberty, and Yellowstone. He is active in international conservation, and is a member of the IUCN's Commission on National Parks and Protected Areas. Dr. Machlis helped establish the National Parks Science Scholars Program, with over $8 million in scholarships to students throughout the Americas. In 2007, he received the Special Achievement Award for the George Wright Society, the professional society for scientists and resource managers working in protected areas. In addition, Dr. Machlis has been a leader in collaborative higher education. He was instrumental in the development of the nation's Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Units (CESU) Network, which includes 13 federal agencies and over 200 universities, and served as its National Coordinator from 1998-2006. For this work, Dr. Machlis was a recipient of the Department of the Interior's 2000 Conservation Service Award, one of the highest awards of the Department granted to private citizens.The Park Service relies upon natural and social science research for park policies, planning, and management. In a system-wide e-mail to all NPS staff within 24 hours after being sworn in, Jarvis emphasized, among other things, the need to have access to "the very best science and scholarly research" and announced he was creating the new science advisor position.

REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE

CALL FOR SHORT-EARED OWL FEATHERS–Kristen Keyes, under the supervision of Dr. Marcel Gahbauer (Migration Research Founda­tion) and Dr. David Bird (McGill University), is investigating Short-eared Owl movement patterns in North America.  She is asking for feather samples for stable isotope analysis from anyone who finds road-kills or who may experience incidental encounters through banding or other research.  From living owls, a small sample of vane tissue (i.e. 1-2 cm2) from the lagging, proximal edge of a primary or secondary feather (see website listed below ) would be ideal, so as to limit impacts on flight.  If only a single generation of feathers is apparent, a sample from P1 would be ideal for standardization.  If a molt limit is obvious, samples from all apparent generations of feathers are needed, as is photo documentation, as this will allow for the determination of up to three previous summer locations.  Take one sample from each age of feathers, balancing the samples from the left and right wing.  Samples from juveniles will be used to verify the Short-eared Owl isotopic signature against existing isotope maps, and while P1 is preferable, the age of the owl may dictate that a body contour feather be collected instead.  However, in the case that an owl is found dead, a complete wing would be preferable to help with further investigation of the Short-eared Owl molt pattern.  If you are interested in providing samples for this study, please contact Kristen (EM: kristen@migrationresearch.org) who will arrange for permits and shipping. Additional information can be found at (URL: http://www.migrationresearch.org/research/shortear/project.html).

NEED HELP WITH A DATE–I have a stained glass Great Auk that I have used as a Christmas tree ornament for years.  I don't remember which AOU meeting handed this out as a banquet memento.  So I ask the readers of the newsletter to help me remember this.  Was it the Haverford meeting?  Please contact PAUL HAMEL (EM: phamel@fs.fed.us)

STUDY SKINS WANTED–If you have prepared bird skins that are no longer needed, lower quality skins, or skins lacking collection data, I’d be happy to receive them.  I'm trying to build a teaching collection and have good coverage of Anseriformes, Galliformes, and some Falconi­formes, but almost nothing else.  My primary interest is songbirds of eastern North America.  I can pay for shipping and may be able to pay or trade for some skins.  Please contact: PAUL RODEWALD, School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, 2021 Coffey Road, Columbus, Ohio 43210-1085.  (EM: rodewald.2@osu.edu, PH: 614-292-9795)

AVIAN INFLUENZA STUDY–Bird banders are invited to participate in a research study. The University of Iowa’s College of Public Health is conducting a nation-wide study of US bird banders.  The researchers are trying to determine if bird banders have evidence of avian influenza (flu) infections.  They hope to enroll bird banders throughout the United States in a 12-month study.  Study questionnaires will be completed online while some study procedures will be conducted at healthcare clinics.  Compensation will be provided.  You may be eligible to participate if you: (1) are a Master permit and Subpermit holder who has been engaged in non-passerine bird banding activities in the last 12 months and is expecting to continue the activity, (2) are 18 years of age or older, and (3) have no immunocompromising chronic disease and are  not receiving chemotherapy. (4) are not participating in the "UCLA Avian Influenza Project" at the American Ornithological Union conference in Portland, Oregon in August 2008.  For more information please contact DWIGHT FERGUSON (PH: 319-335-4983, EM: dwight-ferguson@uiowa.edu) or visit the enrollment website (URL: https://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/CEID/birdbanderstudy/).

POSITIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE

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 any time, and are posted free of charge. Please send submissions to Ornithological Newsletter Editor, Cheryl Trine, (EM: ctrine@andrews.edu).

AN E-LIST SERVICE is available. Subscribers to this list will receive the same new announcements that appear on-line. E-list members often receive these announcements before they are posted on-line. To subscribe, send the following message to: <lyris@cornell.edu>, in the body of the message type: join Birdjobs-L “your name”. The subject line should be blank. Please use the “plain text only” e-mail format option, include your own name in the message, and put quotation marks around your name.

GRANTS AND AWARDS

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

THE FRANCIS M. PEACOCK SCHOLARSHIP FOR NATIVE BIRD HABITAT provides financial aid to a college senior or graduate student to study areas in the United States that provide winter or summer habitat for our threatened or endangered native birds. The award is given by the Garden Club of America and is administered by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. For more information about this scholarship and how to apply, visit (URL: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/About/jobs.html). Application deadline: 16 Jan 2010.

NORTH STAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSMITTER GRANT PROGRAM – North Star Science and Technology, LLC and American Bird Conservancy announce the 7th bi-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) battery-powered or solar satellite  transmitters (Argos Platform Transmitter Terminals (PTTs)), to 1-3 recipients (8 PTTs to one project or 4 PTTs to each of two projects, or 4 to one, 2 to one, and 2 to another).  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 (URL: http://www.northstarst.com) for more information and proposal guidelines. Deadline for proposals is 5 Feb 2010. 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).

SUPERB FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY–The Udall Foundation is accepting applications for the 2010 Environmental Public Policy & Conflict Resolution Dissertation Fellowship. The Udall Foundation awards two one-year fellowships of up to $24,000 to doctoral candidates whose research concerns U.S. environmental public policy and/or U.S. environmental conflict resolution, and who are entering their final year of writing the dissertation. Dissertation Fellowships are intended to cover both academic and living expenses from 1 Jul 2010 through 30 Jun 2011. The application deadline is 24 Feb 2010. For additional information about the Dissertation Fellowship, including eligibility, program conditions, and biographies of recent fellows, please visit <http:\\www.udall.gov>. Eligible fields of study include geography; marine sciences; environmental anthropology; political science; economics; environmental science, policy and management; ecology; environmental justice; regional planning; natural resource policy; environmental analysis and design, and many more. While scholarly excellence is of prime importance in selection of fellows, the Foundation is also seeking to identify individuals who have a demonstrated commitment to U.S. environmental public policy and/or U.S. environ­mental conflict resolution, and who have the potential to make a significant impact in the real world. Interdisciplinary projects are particularly welcome. If you have questions about the Udall Fellowship Program, please contact Jane Curlin, Senior Program Manager, at curlin@udall.gov.

PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE

JUST PUBLISHED: THE BIRDS OF BARBADOS: AN ANNOTATED CHECKLIST Buckley, P.A., Edward B. Massiah, Maurice B. Hutt, Francine G. Buckley, and Hazel F. Hutt,  2009. BOU Checklist Series  No. 24. Peterborough, UK: British Ornithologists' Union.  [xxvi + 295 + 32 pages of color plates]. Now available from the BOU online [URL: http://www.bou.org.uk/store1.htm] at: £45.00 (Europe Air/World Surface), £50.00 (World Air), and shortly from Buteo Books.

BIRD POPULATIONS, VOLUME 9–The Institute for Bird Populations (IBP) is pleased to announce the electronic publication of Volume 9 of Bird Populations, a journal of global avian demography and biogeo­graphy. As with Volumes 7 and 8, Volume 9 is available to all on-line (URL:  http://www.birdpop.org).  Volume 9 continues the re-vitalization of publication of the Breeding Bird Census, as well as reports from the MAPS program and the BTO's integrated avian monitoring programs, as well as other topics.  Although all papers and reports in Bird Populations can be downloaded as pdf files free of charge, financial support for the publication of Bird Populations will be appreciated and can be provided by visiting (URL: http://www.birdpop.org).  For inquiries regarding IBP or membership contact DAVE DESANTE (EM: ddesante@birdpop.org); for inquiries regarding publication in Bird Populations contact the editor, DAVID AINLEY (EM: dainley@penguinscience.com).

THE TEXAS ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY ANNOUNCES a special issue of its 2009 bulletin focusing on the Bald Eagle and Osprey. This special issue of the Bulletin of the Texas Ornithological Society also contains eight additional feature articles and ten short communications. Your copy, with a color stiff cover and perfect binding, can be obtained by sending a check for $6.00 (payable TOS) to Publications, 218 Conway Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78209-1817 or it's free with membership in the Texas Ornithological Society (URL: http://www.texasbirds.org)  For additional information e-mail (EM: editor@texasbirds.org).

BIRDS OF BORNEO: Brunei, Sabah, Sarawak, and Kalimantan, Susan Myers, 2009. Princeton University Press.  272 pp., 1592 color illustra­tions, 630 maps.  ISBN13: 978-0-691-14350-7, paper, $29.95.  This up-to-date guide identifies and details more than 620 bird species by key characteristics and habitat information.  It also includes all recently split species, and provides full coverage of the Bornean endemics and distinctive races when they differ from their counterparts on neighboring islands or in mainland Southeast Asia.

BIRDS OF WESTERN NORTH AMERICA: A Photographic Guide and BIRDS OF EASTERN NORTH AMERICA: A Photographic Guide, both by Paul Sterry & Brian E. Small, 2009. Princeton University Press.  Informative and accessible text, up-to-date maps, and stunning color photographs.  Images have been carefully selected to convey both the sheer beauty and the key identification features of each bird, and many of the photos are larger than those found in most other guides. Wherever possible, a variety of plumages are pictured.  The ranges of nearly all species are shown on maps from the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.  The western volume covers the western half of mainland North America (excluding Mexico) and the arctic and subarctic territorial islands of the U.S. and Canada (excluding Hawaii).  The eastern volume covers the eastern half of mainland North America and the arctic and subarctic territorial islands of the U.S. and Canada.  Physical details: Birds of Western North America, 416 pp., 1341 color photos. 449 maps, 5 1/2 x 8. ISBN13: 978-0-691-13428-4 , Paper, $18.95 / £12.95. ISBN13: 978-0-691-13427-7, Cloth $45.00 / £30.95.  Birds of Eastern North America, 336 pp., 1118 color photos. 405 maps, 5 1/2 x 8".  ISBN13: 978-0-691-13426-0, Paper, $18.95 / £12.95. ISBN13: 978-0-691-13425-3, Cloth, $45.00 / £30.95.

PERSONAL EXCHANGES

FOR SALE–19 volumes of The Auk. All four journals for each of the years 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935,  2 from 1936, and 1 from 1937. Also Fifty Years' Progress of American Ornithology 1883-1933. Make an offer or an inquiry to Dianne (EM: di7anne@yahoo.com, PH: 570-473-1416).

FOR SALE–Ten glue-on radio transmitters, model A2426 by Advanced Telemetry Systems. Specs: 0.6g mass, 5 inch antenna, 40 ppm, 148-152 mHZ frequency range, 21 day battery life. Useful for birds 20g and up. Custom manufactured August 2009 for $140 ea. For sale for $40 ea. Contact C. SEEWAGEN (PH: 917-532-1303).

MEETINGS

A 'permanent' meeting list is maintained on BIRDNET (URL: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET/ornith/birdmeet.html) showing the planned sites and dates of ornithological meetings as far into the future as possible.

LOOKING FOR THE WEB SITE of an ornithological meeting or conference?  Visit  http://www.birdmeetings.org  to find links and to post a link to your meeting.

* in this section indicates new or revised entry

JOINT MEETING OF THE COOPER ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY, THE AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION, AND THE SOCIETY OF CANADIAN ORNITHOLOGISTS will take place 7-11 Feb 2010 in San Diego, California.  The meeting will be held at the Town and Country Resort and Convention Center, conveniently located near many San Diego attractions and birding sites.  Local Hosts for the meeting are Dr. Barbara E. Kus and Dr. Kevin J. Burns, and chair of the Scientific Program Committee is Dr. John T. Rotenberry.  The conference will feature four days of contributed scientific papers, posters, invited speakers, symposia, and special activities for students.  In addition, field trips will take advantage of the abundant and diverse bird life of San Diego.  Deadline for early registration, abstract submission, and student award applications is 6 Nov 2009.  For additional information about the conference, including registration details, please visit the conference web site (URL: http://www.birdmeetings.org/cosaousco2010/). 

37TH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE PACIFIC SEABIRD GROUP, 17-20 Feb 2010, Long Beach, California. For information contact JENNIFER BOYCE, NOAA Restoration Center, 501 West Ocean Blvd., Suite 4470, Long Beach, CA 90802 (PH: 562-980-4086; EM: Jennifer.Boyce@noaa.gov) or NINA KARNOV­SKY, 175 W. Sixth Street, Claremont, CA 91711 (PH: 909-607-9794; EM: nina.karnovsky@pomona.edu). For information on the scientific program, contact TOM GOOD, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, 2725 Montage Boulevard East, Seattle, WA 98112 (PH: 206-860-3469; EM: Tom.Good@noaa.gov).

*THE 91ST ANNUAL MEETING OF THE WILSON ORNITHOLOGICAL SOCIETY, 20 - 23 May 2010,  Geneva, NY, will be hosted by, and held at Hobart and William Smith Colleges. The deadline for Student Travel Awards applications is Friday, 26 Feb 2010. Early registration and abstracts are due by 27 Mar 2010. Dormitory rooms and an optional meal plan on campus will be available at low cost; additional accommo­dations will be available at the Geneva Lakefront Ramada. The local host, MARK DEUTSCHLANDER, may be reached at the Department of Biology, 300 Pulteney St., Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, NY 14456 (PH: 315-781-3921; EM: deutschlande@hws.edu). Additional information will be available online (URL: http://www.wilsonsociety.org/wos2010/) as it becomes available.

*THE ASSOCIATION OF FIELD ORNITHOLOGISTS ANNUAL MEETING, Ogden, Utah, 12 – 14 Aug  2010.  The meeting will be hosted by Weber State University, which is situated between the spectacular Wasatch Range of the Rocky Mountains to the east and the Great Salt Lake to the west.  The conference will feature two days of contributed scientific papers, posters, and symposia.  Field trips will take place before and after the meetings showcasing western specialties from alpine tundra to desert canyons.  Birding in northern Utah this time of year will be impressive.  In fact, Great Salt Lake was listed by Audubon Magazine as one of six “Best Fall Migration Hotspots”!  Fall shorebird migration will be well underway during the meeting.  The AFO encourages ornithologists to use this meeting as a jumping off point to explore the American West.  Utah boasts five national parks, more than any other state in the lower 48, as well as eight national monuments and 48 state parks.  In addition, Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks are just a (gorgeous) day's drive away.  Participants, their families and guests will find a community teeming with fun activities, beautiful mountain vistas and sites of both biological and historical significance.  Ogden was listed by Sunset Magazine as the city with the “Best Access to the Outdoors.”  The landscape is spectacular and provides plenty of activities for the extreme enthusiast or someone just looking for a nice walk.  This meeting also promises to be one of the most affordable ornithological meetings in years.  Salt Lake City is just 30 miles away, and is a major hub for Delta Airlines resulting in relatively low airfare.  Low-cost dorm rooms will be also available.  For further information, visit the conference website (URL: http://conferences.weber.edu/AFO2010/) or contact the Local Committee Chair, JOHN CAVITT (EM: jcavitt@weber.edu).

25TH  INTERNATIONAL ORNITHOLOGICAL CONGRESS 2010  (22-28 Aug 2010) Campos do Jordão, Brazil. We hope that you will circle these dates on your calendar and plan to attend! For further information, please visit our web page ( (URL: http://www.i-o-c.org or http://www.acquaviva.com.br/sisconev/index.asp?Codigo=26), or contact PROF. DR. CRISTINA YUMI MIYAKI, Secretary-General of the 25th IOC (EM: ioc2010@ib.usp.br).

2010 RAPTOR RESEARCH FOUNDATION CONFERENCE, Fort Collins, Colorado, 22-26 Sep 2010. The Rocky Mountain Raptor Program, a nonprofit organization that provides raptor rehabilitation and environmental education, will co-host the conference with EDM International, Inc., leaders in avian-related issues.  The conference will be highlighted by symposia on Raptor-Human Conflicts, Raptors and Energy Development, Raptor Diseases, Raptor Banding and Research, and Raptors in Education.  The conference will be held at the Fort Collins Marriott Hotel with room rates at $102/night.  Set against the backdrop of 14,000-foot peaks, Fort Collins is the gateway to the Rocky Mountains.  A variety of ecosystems from short-grass prairie to high mountain ranges are within an hour's drive, offering several exciting field trip opportunities for attendees. Fort Collins is known for its diverse scientific community and has a national reputation for offering a high quality of life. It offers many amenities for outdoor enthusiasts, including miles of bike/running trails, a bike library for those who wish to explore the area by bicycle, several fitness and climbing centers that offer day passes, fishing on the scenic Poudre River, to name a few. Fort Collins also has a reputation for the number of world-renowned microbreweries, including New Belgium Brewing Company.  For more information, contact JUDY SCHERPELZ, (PH: 970-484-7756 or EM:  judy@rmrp.org).  Watch for additional information on the conference at the Rocky Mountain Raptor Program website: (URL: http://www.rmrp.org).

NEWS OF MEMBERS

BETTY A. ANDERSON of Fairbanks, Alaska, , member of the AOU, COS, and WOS since 1980, member of the AFO since 1988, and WS since 2000died in Fairbanks on 7 Oct 2009.

WILLIAM BELTON, member of the AOU since 1946 (elective member since 1986), member of COS since 1963, WOS since 1970 and AFO since 1983, died on 25 Oct 2009 at the age of 95, at his home in West Virginia.  Bill was an active member of the ornithological community for many years following his retirement from the United States Foreign Service in 1970.  He was involved in both research and conservation, including contributions to the Smithsonian bird collection from his work in Brazil, a two-volume work on the Birds of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and the translation of Helmut Sick's Birds of Brazil from Portuguese to English.   He was also involved in the Pan-American section of ICBP (now the American Bird Conservancy) and Rare (formerly Rare Center for Tropical Bird Conservation).  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the William Belton Conservation Grants Program at American Bird Conservancy.  Anyone with memories of Bill to share with the family can contact his granddaughter, LORIEN BELTON, (EM: avocet@stanfordalumni.org).

RICHARD (RICK) PRUM, has been made a MacArthur Fellow in recognition of his work on feather development and evolution, produc­tion of structural colors, and the evolution of behavior. MacArthur ('genius grands') Fellowships are awarded by the MacArthur Foundation on the basis of both past performance and potential. Prum is Coe Professor of Ornithology and Curator at Yale's Peabody Museum, and Professor in the Department Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.

THE FLOCK - SPECIAL SECTION

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).

THE MOST RECENT NUMBERS of the Society journals and the month of mailing are Auk, 2009, Vol. 126, # (Oct); Condor, 2009, Vol. 111, #4 (Nov);  J. Field Ornith., 2009, Vol. 80, #3 (Sep); Raptor Res., 2009, Vol. 43, # (Sep); Waterbirds, 2009, Vol. 32, # (Sep); Wilson J. Ornith., 2009, Vol. 121, #3 (Sep). Numbers follow at about 3-month intervals.  If you are missing an issue, please contact OSNA.  New members receive the first issue of the volume year.  Please check your address label to confirm mem­bership information and address.

THE NEXT NEWSLETTER will be issued in February.  Items you wish to have included must reach the Editor, CHERYL L. TRINE, 3889 E. Valley View, Berrien Springs, MI 49103 (PH: 269-471-7886; EM: ctrine AT andrews.edu), by 1 January 2010. Submission by e-mail (in the body of the e-mail message, not an attached file) or on diskette (PC format: Word­Perfect or ASCII) with hard copy; e-mail preferred.  Items sent to the OSNA office may not reach the Editor in time.  Items with deadline dates should be submitted at least four months in advance of that date to allow time for response.

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 © 2009 The Ornithological Societies of North America. All Rights Reserved.