Category: Blog
all posts except for those exclusive to other sections (e.g., Book Reviews) should be tagged with the blog category
AFO Member feedback on the decision from AOS to replace all eponymous bird names
Last month AFO leadership sent out an anonymous poll to our members to survey their opinions on the recent decision by the American Ornithological Society (AOS) English Bird Names Committee (EBNC) that all eponymous English bird names in the Western Hemisphere be replaced. Our brief poll was created to provide a formal opportunity for AFO members to provide input on this controversial topic, a step... Read More
Life history of the Red-crowned Woodpecker (Melanerpes rubricapillus; family Picidae) in Colombia
The Red-crowned Woodpecker, Melanerpes rubricapillus (Family Picidae) is one of the 24 species of Melanerpes, a genus found across the Americas and the Caribbean. This woodpecker species is commonly found in both semi-natural and urban environments, where it nests in dry branches, standing dead trees, soft wood, and large cacti. Both male and female woodpeckers are involved in excavating nests [...] Read More
A brand new benefit for our members
Big news! This past April, AFO partnered with Zeiss to offer its members a new benefit. Are you curious about what it is…? Since AFO depends on its members to continue advancing its efforts and contributions to ornithology, we are always striving to find ways to provide our members with quality benefits. We are, after […] Read More
OC bimonthly news brief Mar-Apr 2024
The Ornithological Council is pleased to provide this bimonthly report covering activities in March and April 2024. 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. Read More
Annual members meeting (virtual) on May 14, 2024
Please join us for the annual AFO Members Meeting next month on Tuesday, May 14th from 2-3:30pm Eastern Time. We have an informative agenda that will update members on recent AFO accomplishments. Following the meeting we will be treated to a fun presentation by AFO Communications and Marketing Specialist, Agustina Torretta. She will present: “Saffron-cowled Blackbird Project: A translator’s gateway to the conservation world.” Read More
Tree Swallows begin laying eggs earlier with increasing spring temperatures
Many bird species have advanced their first egg dates in response to recent milder winters and increases in spring temperatures. My colleagues and I studied the timing of egg laying by Tree Swallows nesting in boxes in west Michigan from 1993 to 2018. Within species, birds that begin laying earlier in the breeding season tend to produce more offspring that subsequently become breeders than do those that begin laying later. In a 2020 paper [...], my colleagues and I showed that Tree Swallows at our study site that began laying early... Read More
Sora research and morphometrics on the Patuxent River, Maryland
Nestled near the middle of the Patuxent River stands Jug Bay — the largest freshwater tidal wild rice (Zizania aquatica) marsh in Maryland. It boasts a unique and rich history intertwined with the region’s abundance of migrating Sora (Porzana carolina). These elusive birds have drawn hunters to the Patuxent for over 200 years. Historical logs from local gun clubs paint a vivid picture of Jug Bay's allure, including one staggering account of just three hunters, from one of the clubs, bagging a remarkable 1,800 Soras in six hours. Read More
New information from old tags: getting the most out of geolocator data
Just about every bird nerd I know loves a good tracking study. As tracking tags have gotten lighter, we’ve been able to deploy them on more and more species. The movements they have uncovered have confirmed suspected migratory routes in some cases and completely flipped those expectations on their head in others. But regardless, the information we gather from tracking tags are both exciting to read about and invaluable to protecting migratory birds. Read More
