The Ornithological Council is pleased to provide this bimonthly report covering activities in July and August 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. Met with the Chief of the USGS Bird Banding Lab, in a quarterly meeting to discuss issues of mutual interest.
2. Met with USFWS Migratory Birds Program Headquarters Liaison to Regional Migratory Bird Permit Offices, to discuss current permitting issues.
3. Continued work on a template field study policy for IACUCs to adopt. In response to many inquiries about compliance with the Annual Welfare Act, especially regarding field work, in light of the new regulations regarding birds, the OC is developing a sample policy regarding field studies under the AWA that institutions can use to develop and enact their own policies.
4. 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.
5. Continued to seek sponsors for the Ornithology Exchange. The new OE sponsorship program offers tiered benefits to sponsors in return for annual support of the site. The OC took over management of the Ornithology Exchange last year, and it requires about $1000 a year, as well as an investment of staff time, to manage the site. Learn more about the sponsorship program here.
6.Developed a new Fact Sheet on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, which will be posted on www.birdnet.org soon.
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 July and August, we assisted five individuals with permit issues.
8. Posted articles and updates on the Ornithology Exchange regarding:
- Supreme Court curtails deference to federal agencies
- Mount Rainier White-tailed Ptarmigan listed as threatened
- “Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act of 2024” introduced
- Canada releases 2030 Nature Strategy
- The Pacific Seabird Group releases a statement on highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI)
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service released revised barred owl management strategy
- Sira Curassow and Southern Helmeted Curassow ESA listing finalized
- U.S. federal appropriations update
- OC submits comments on CDC import requirements
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
