The Ornithological Council is pleased to provide this bimonthly report covering activities in January and February 2022.
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. 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.
In this time period, the Ornithological Council:
Continued to work with a new National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine committee. Dr. William Bowerman, current Vice Chair of the Ornithological Council, was appointed as one of 13 members of the Institute for Laboratory Animal Research’s new Standing Committee for the Care and Use of Animals in Research.
Continued participation in planning an animal welfare workshop. OC Executive Director Laura Bies is currently participating in the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine Institute for Laboratory Animal Research’s workshop planning committee for a workshop to be held February 9-10 on “Discussing and Understanding Animal Welfare Challenges in Research and Education on Wildlife, Non-Model Animal Species, and Biodiversity.”
Met with the staff of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service to discuss their new online permit system and provide feedback on a test version of the website.
Participated in a quarterly meeting with Bird Banding Lab staff, to discuss issues of mutual interest.
Continued work on our update of the Guidelines to the Use of Wild Birds in Research. We are currently in the process of reviewing the literature for new papers published since the 2010 publication of the current edition. New reference lists for each chapter are being made available on BIRDNET.org once completed, and once all chapter updates have been completed, a new PDF of the Guidelines with the new references will be compiled and posted online.
Provided direct individual assistance to ornithologists who belong to OC societies regarding how to obtain the permits necessary to complete their research. During September and October, assistance was provided to 3 individuals.
Posted articles and updates on the Ornithology Exchange regarding:
- – Dick Banks, OC founder, dies at 90
- – Williams nominated as USFWS director
- – USFWS to hold webinars about MBTA incidental take
- – USFWS proposes delisting several bird species due to extinction
- – OC working with National Academies on animal welfare workshop
- – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service considers streamlining permits for incidental take of eagles
All these updates, and more, are always available on the ‘News From the OC’ forum on Ornithological Exchange.
Sincerely,
Laura Bies
Executive Director
Ornithological Council
202.905.9141
laurabiesoc@gmail.com
Providing Scientific Information about Birds
