Association of Field Ornithologists

Welcome!

Between July 29 and August 1, 2024, AFO held its annual meeting jointly with its sister societies, the Wilson Ornithological Society and the Society of Canadian Ornithologists in Peoria, Illinois. Nothing like three full days of fabulous research, learning, and camaraderie to unite and strengthen our ornithological community!

Welcome to AFO-SCO-WOS 2024!

Attendant Nick Russo interacting with plenary speaker Jenn Owen

Patrick Keenan, from Avinet Research Supplies, was in charge of handing down the much sough-after conference t-shirts

Ron Mumme introducing his plenary talk, minutes before receiving WOS’s Margaret Morse Nice Medal

Plenaries and talks

Each date began with an exciting plenary talk (given by Drs. Jenn Owen, Matt Fuirst, and Ron Mumme). Throughout the rest of the day, we had simultaneous 15-minute talks. Here is the online program if you want to take a peek.

Among all the students and professionals who presented their research, we highlight the participation of two high school students and one middle school student: Neha Mariya Shafi Ibrahim, Diya Balagopal, and Coralie Rossbach. On Tuesday evening we held the poster session, with over 40 posters presented.

Dr. Jenn Owen, AFO plenary speaker, during her talk “Migratory birds and global health: Facing risks, posing risks, and offering solutions”.

Participant asking Matt Fuirst a question during his plenary on Canada Jay dispersal.

Jenn Owen’s “Migratory birds and global health: Facing risks, posing risks, and offering solutions” talk.

Dr. Matthew Fuirst, SCO’s plenary speaker, on his talk “Dispersal and lifetime fitness in a food-caching resident of the boreal forest”.

Dr. Ron Mumme, WOS’s plenary speaker, on his talk “A tale of the tail in Hooded Warblers: Foraging performance, uniparental desertion, and stabilizing selection”.

Workshops and special events

The conference had its fair share of professional development workshops (including Battling Burnout in Ornithology, proposed by AFO Council member Allyson Jackson, and a workshop on Safety in the Field, by Field Inclusive) and other special events: a talk, book presentation and signing session by Kenn Kaufman, a dinner social with a storytelling event at the Peoria Riverfront Museum, a six-talk symposium on the Illinois River restoration in Peoria, and, of course, birding excursions every morning. We also held a special get-together and toast at a local pub in honor and remembrance of the late Reed Bowman, a dear friend who left us too soon.

Presentation of “The Birds that Audobon Missed”.

Renowned author Kenn Kaufman at his book-signing session.

Katja Kochvar, one of the four participants of the Storytelling Event at the Peoria Riverfront Museum.

Attendees of the Storytelling Event at the Peoria Riverside Museum.

We were over 30 people who attended the Remembering Reed toast on Tuesday evening! A wonderful wait to remember a dear friend.

AFO Council and the Journal of Field Ornithology

AFO held a Council Meeting on Monday afternoon, and we had an open Members’ Meeting during lunch on the first day, where we shared who we are and what we do with all attendees. This conference was also a great opportunity for all of us (Council members), who normally meet via Zoom, to catch up, meet in person, and work with a lot more fluidity than when we’re at home.

At the Members’ Meeting we also announced our 2025 annual event, to be held between July 29th and August 1, in Ogden, Utah! We are very excited about this event’s location. Stay tuned for updates on our social media.

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The Journal of Field Ornithology also had a special event within the conference. JFO’s co-EIC, Rafael Rueda Hernández, together with Ernesto Ruelas Insunza and Brian Ellis, from the WJO and Illinois Audobon Magazine respectively, held a session titled “Meet the Editors“. They shared valuable information regarding the process of publishing papers in peer-reviewed journals. The event had around 30 attendees, which made for a very interactive session!

AFO President Matthwe Shummar welcoming everyone to AFO’s Members’ Meeting.

Present AFO Councilors after the Council Meeting held on Monday afternoon. From left to right: Allyson Jackson, Judit Ungvari, Evan Jackson, Matthew Shumar, Rafael Rueda Hernandez, Carla Suertegaray Fontana, Igor Berkunsky, Rebecka Brasso, Patrick Keenan, Sarah Sargent, Natasza Fontaine, Agustina Torretta an Maureen McClung.

(left to right) Ernesto Ruelas Insunza, Rafael Rueda Hernandez and Brian Ellis at the Meet the Editors session.

Meet the Editors session.

(left to right) Rafael Rueda Hernandez and Ernesto Ruelas Insunza.

Grants and awards

There were no shortages of awards at this meeting! All three associations presented their own. AFO gave its traditional Student Presentation Awards: the awardees this year were Emily MacDonald for Best Student Presentation and Rebecca Davis for Best Student Poster. 

As well as the usual Travel Awards, this year all three societies implemented the Caregiver Awards, aimed to facilitate the participation of interested parties by defraying part of the cost of caregiving responsibilities that might otherwise be prohibitive.

Thank you!

We thank our sister societies for organizing this joint meeting, Auriel Fournier for being the local host, all our sponsors who supported us, the Peoria Audobon Society who made sure the field trips went well, each of the plenary speakers, and each of the attendees, presenters and council members for being there. 

Until next year!