The Ornithological Council is pleased to provide this bimonthly report covering activities in March and April 2024.
The Ornithological Council’s mission is to:
- Ensure that the best ornithological science is incorporated into legislative, regulatory, and management decisions that affect birds;
- Enhance the ability of ornithologists to pursue professional activities; and
- Promote the influence of ornithology in public affairs.
Our work focuses on animal welfare issues, permits, research funding, and other policies that affect ornithologists and ornithological societies – and we greatly appreciate your support! Please contact Laura Bies with questions or concerns about this report or about any other matter of concern to your society or your society’s members.
Over the last two months, Ornithological Council staff:
1. Released a revised strategic plan, which builds off of the 2006 strategic plan, updating and streamlining it. The revised plan was developed with input from the entire OC board of directors, which includes representatives of all the OC member societies. The work was led by a subcommittee of the board of directors. Read the OC’s revised strategic plan here.
2. Published updated information about how to import live birds for scientific research or display on our website, www.birdnet.org. Check it out here.
3. Attached virtual budget briefings by both the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Geological Survey. The President’s Budget Request was released in March. Federal funding for agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Geological Survey, and others, directly impacts the work that ornithologists do everyday.
4. Attended several online workshops and webinars, including (1) a CITES workshop on international trade in live animals, (2) a webinar by the Board on Animal Health Sciences, Conservation, and Research (BAHSCR, formally the Institute of Laboratory Animal Research or ILAR about their recent activities, and (3) a two-day workshop by BAHSCR regarding The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals and possible future updates of or revisions to that publication (including discussions of how that Guide should interact with the Guidelines to the Use of Wild Birds in Research and other taxon-specific guidance).
5. Continued work on the 4th edition of the Guidelines to the Use of Wild Birds in Research in Spanish. Last year, we published the 4th edition of the Guidelines in English, which consisted of text from the 3rd edition along with new reference lists for each chapter. In addition, old links throughout the document were updated. We are now making those updates to the Spanish version of the 3rd edition and will release the new version in the coming months.
6. Organized an Annual Board Meeting for the OC. Representatives of eight (out of nine) member societies met and discussed topics including OC management of the Ornithology Exchange, ornithology field studies and the new Animal Welfare Act rules, and the approval of the revised OC Strategic Plan (see #1 above). Leading up to that meeting, elections were held and during the meeting it was announced that Bill Bowerman (Raptor Research Foundation) and Paty Feria (CIPAMEX) have been elected for another term for Chair and Vice Chair, respectively.
7. Provided direct individual assistance to ornithologists who belong to OC societies regarding animal welfare issues and how to obtain the permits necessary to complete their research. During March and April, we assisted one individual with permit issues and four individuals with animal welfare issues, all related to the new regulation of birds under the Animal Welfare Act and its impact on their research.
8. Posted articles and updates on the Ornithology Exchange regarding:
- Southwestern Willow Flycatcher listing upheld
- FY 2024 Funding Package Released
- President’s Budget for FY2025 Released
- Wildlife funding bill considered by Congress
- Wetlands report show significant losses
- Migratory Birds of the Americas Conservation Enhancements Act advances in Congress
- Petition urges listing of Wilson’s Phalarope
- Administration releases new ESA rules
- U.S. Congress passes the Migratory Birds of the Americas Conservation Enhancements Act
- OC releases updated strategic plan
All these updates, and more, are always available on the ‘News From the OC’ forum on Ornithological Exchange. Each time OC posts in the News from the OC forum, the link is sent to the OC society representatives to share with their networks. If your society would like these emails sent directly to someone else in your society, please let me know at laurabiesoc@gmail.com.
Laura Bies
Executive Director
Ornithological Council
202.905.9141
laurabiesoc@gmail.com
Providing Scientific Information about Birds
