Committees

The AOS has many standing committees that conduct much of the business of the organization. These committees are composed of dedicated volunteers who contribute their time and expertise to the benefit of the Society, its individual members, and ornithology as a whole. In addition to the standing committees listed below, there are also ad hoc committees, which may become standing committees as needed through a vote of the AOS Council. If you are interested in serving on an AOS committee, please contact us using the interest form on our Contact page.

AOS Membership Welcome Packet

The AOS offers varied resources and supports for AOS members. As a member of the AOS, you play a critical role in helping the Society promote connections and collaborations among ornithologists across the Americas and the world, fostering a more diverse population of ornithologists. Read through our AOS Membership Welcome Packet to learn more about the AOS, our governing structure, and the various opportunities to engage in our collective efforts to support the professional goals of our members and encourage, promote, and support the study of birds by building a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable ornithological community.

Questions? Interested in joining an AOS committee?

Current AOS committees:

AOS-Sponsored Student Memberships

Co-Chairs: João Marcos Guimarães Capurucho

Provides one-year AOS-sponsored Student Memberships in AOS to undergraduate and graduate students interested in pursuing a career in ornithology.

Audit

Chair: Doug Phillips

Members: Jennifer Owen, Matt Carling, John Fitzpatrick, Judith Scarl (ex officio)

Directs, reviews, and presents the annual audit and tax returns to the Council. Works with the Executive Director to review the financial statements of the Society after the annual audit to approve the audit report, ensure that financial peculiarities of the Society have been appropriately treated, and alert Council to any issues raised by the auditors. NOTE: this committee is comprised of Council members and special advisors and is not open to the general Society membership.

Bird Collections

Co-Chairs: John Bates and Carla Cicero

Members: Erick Alejandro Alejandro Garcia-Trejo, Paul Robert Sweet, Angelo Caparella, Jocelyn Hudon, Nicholas A. Mason, ildiko Szabo, Jeremy J. Kirchman, Michael J. Andersen, Therese A Catanach, Peter Andrew Hosner, Allison J. Shultz, Serina Brady, Benjamin M. Winger, Oscar Johnson, Jonathan Schmitt, Sushma Reddy, Diego Ocampo, Elizabeth A. Wommack

Monitors the status and promotes improvements of avian scientific collections and specimen-based data. Facilitates collections-based research, including providing access to collections data and information on permits, protocols, preparation techniques, and supplies. Sponsors workshops on these topics.

Resources from the Bird Collections Committee

Birds of the World Advisory

Chair: Currently open

Members: Michael Gochfeld, Bob Montgomerie, Shannon Skalos, Karen Wiebe, Kristen Rosamund

Reviews the Birds of the World website and provides oversight on functioning of the BOW-AOS partnership. Recommends improvements that maintain scientific value and add value and usability to the website.

Bylaws

Chair: Jim Herkert

Members: Abby Powell, Luis Sandoval, Andy Jones, Kevin Omland

Ex Officio: Judith Scarl, Sushma Reddy

Oversees the process of changing the AOS Bylaws, which govern the operations of the society.

Classification and Nomenclature (NACC)

Co-Chairs: R. Terry Chesser and Carla Cicero

Members: Shawn M. Billerman, Kevin J. Burns, Jon L. Dunn, Blanca E. Hernández-Baños, Rosa Jiménez, Oscar Johnson, Nicholas A. Mason, Diego Ocampo, Pamela C. Rasmussen

Early Career Systematics Group: Jacob Cooper, Marty Freeland, Max Kirsch, David Vander Pluym, Hannah Pryor

Technical Advisors: Normand David, Daniel Gibson, Michel Gosselin, Dan Haig, Marshall J. Iliff, Michael Patten, Thomas S. Schulenberg

Evaluates and codifies the latest scientific developments in the systematics, nomenclature, and distribution of North and Middle American birds. Publishes the Check-list of North American Birds and its annual supplements.

Classification and Nomenclature (SACC)

Acting Chair: Currently open

Members: Juan Ignacio Areta (Argentina), Elisa Bonaccorso (Ecuador), Santiago Claramunt (Uruguay and Canada), Alvaro Jaramillo (USA and Chile), Daniel F. Lane (USA), Jose Fernando Pacheco (Brazil), Mark B. Robbins (USA), F. Gary Stiles (Colombia), Kevin J. Zimmer (USA)

Technical Advisors: C. Daniel Cadena, David Donsker, Jorge Pérez-Emán, Gary R. Graves, Steven L. Hilty, Mark Pearman, Vitor de Q. Piacentini, Thomas. S. Schulenberg, Bret M. Whitney, Juan Freile, Jhonathan Miranda

Keeps abreast of and contributes to the systematics, nomenclature and distribution of South American birds. Produces products that provide ready access to such information, including the Checklist of South American Birds.

Conservation

Co-Chairs: Jeff Brawn and Angelina Ruiz Sánchez

Members: T.J. Benson, Anna Chalfoun, Camila Gomez, Laura Kearns, Sarah Kendrick, Alejandra Martínez-Salinas, Patty McGill, Liba Pejchar, Lauren Pharr, Dan Roby, Ken Rosenberg, Judith Scarl (ex officio), Erik Schoenborn, Stan Senner, Rose Swift, Jeff Walters

Conservation Practitioner Awards Subcommittee: Angelina Ruiz-Sánchez, Patricia A .McGill, Nicole L. Michel, Kenneth Rosenberg, Stanley E. Senner

Latin America/Caribbean Research Grants Subcommittee: Anna D. Chalfoun, Jeff Brawn, Camila Gomez, Alejandra Martínez-Salinas, Erik Robert Schoenborn

Identifies and implements appropriate means for AOS to promote sound ornithological science for making conservation and management decisions for birds. Among its activities are organizing symposia of conservation interest at annual meetings, and engaging in science arbitration, which involves evaluating the science relevant to an issue and providing the results to decision-makers.

Diversity and Inclusion

Co-Chairs: Nancy Chen, Eric Gulson-Castillo

Members:
Cynthia Alejandra Ursino, Kristen M. Covino, Sahas S. Barve, Kimberly A. Sullivan, Bonnie S. Bowen, Ashwin Sivakumar, Stepfanie M. Aguillon, Avi Berger, Murry Burgess, Tabitha W. Olsen, Lauren D. Pharr, Bette A. Loiselle, Chi Wei, Raven the troodontid, Ruby L Hammond, Sebastian Moreno, Daizaburo Shizuka, Judith Scarl (ex officio)

Works on fostering diversity and inclusion within our society and ornithology. This committee sponsors a range of activities including travel awards focused on increasing broadening participation. (See also: AOS Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Justice (DEIBJ) Values Statement.)

Early Professionals

Co-Chairs: Jennifer Houtz, Marcella Baiz

Members: Evan M. Adams, Michael T. Hallworth, Daniel Hanley, Emily J. Williams, Clark S. Rushing, Irene Liu, Sean Mahoney, Leonardo Chapa-Vargas, Sahas S. Barve, Julio Cesar Gallardo, Brian Trevelline, Benjamin Van Doren, Alan Harrington, Elsie H. Shogren, Ancilleno Orlando Davis, Anna M. Forsman, Cody M. Kent, Erin E. Grabarczyk, Jack P. Hruska, Jared Alan Elmore, Lan-Nhi Phung, Nadya Marie Sotnychuk, Rafael S. Marcondes, Rose Swift, Casey Youngflesh, Heather Levy, Kevin Bennett, Frank Fogarty, Peri Bolton, Phred M. Benham, Teresa Pegan

Discusses the needs of early professional ornithologists (postdoctoral researchers, pre-tenure faculty members, and non-academic scientists who have received degrees within the past five years) and promotes the availability of professional development resources and opportunities for these individuals.

Early Professional Awards

Chair: Christopher Witt

Members: Daniel Baldassarre, Glaucia Del Rio, Sara Lipshutz, Ana Gonzalez, David Toews

Solicits and reviews applications for AOS’s Early Professional Awards, the James G. Cooper Early Professional Award and the Ned K. Johnson Early Investigator Award.

Executive Committee of Council

Members: Executive Director, President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer

The Executive Committee of Council, composed of the four elected officers of the Society and the executive director, provides proactive and responsive business oversight of the activities and operations of the AOS as may arise between meetings of the Council; considers strategic alignment of AOS goals, activities, and outcomes; and, annually evaluates the performance of the Executive Director. Meet the current AOS Council. Contact the Executive Committee of Council at ExecCmte@americanornithology.org.

Finance

Chair: Matt Carling

Members: John Fitzpatrick, Jim Herkert, Rebecca Kimball, Jennifer Owen, Doug Phillips, Judith Scarl

Works with the Executive Director to establish and implement a strategic financial plan for the Society. From time to time, the Finance Committee may be called upon by the Executive Director to review the financial statements and budget or to address financial management issues or emerging needs and opportunities that affect the Society’s fiscal health and security. NOTE: this committee is comprised of Council members and special advisors and is not open to the general Society membership.

History

Chair: open

Technical advisors: Lauren Williams, Tammy Peters, Leslie K. Overstreet

Members: Sushma Reddy (ex officio), Leesia C. Marshall, Frederick Rowe Davis, Gregory Nobles

Collects materials of historical importance and submits them to the Smithsonian Institution archivist assigned to looking after AOS records. Provides materials to the Memorials Committee on request and decides how to handle requests for access to the AOU archives.

Investing Trustees

Chair: Jennifer Owen

Members: Catherine Lindell, Edwin H. Morgens, Doug Phillips (ex officio), Judith Scarl (ex officio), Allison Shultz, John Fitzpatrick

Reviews market conditions and determines and regularly reviews the Society’s endowment asset allocations. Works with the Treasurer and Executive Director to review policies for investment instruments and evaluates performance of the investments and the professional investment managers. Annually presents to Council an overview of performance and activities over the past five years and the recommended amount of transfer from investments to the operating account for the next fiscal year. NOTE: this committee is comprised of Council members and special advisors and is not open to the general Society membership.

Meeting Coordination

Chair (AOS 2027): Jameson (Jim) Chace (AOS)

Local Host Committee Chair (AOS 2027): Anna M. Pidgeon

Scientific Program Committee Chairs: (AOS 2027) Jen Walsh, Nandadevi Cortes-Rodriguez, Evan M. Adams

Safe Meeting Committee: Jen Walsh (Co-chair), Bette Loiselle (co-chair), Jenn Houtz, Jonathan Clark, Judith Scarl (ex officio), Chris Anne Handel (ex officio)

Members: Anna M. Pidgeon, Jennifer L Houtz, Erin S. Morrison, Evan M. Adams, Jennifer Walsh, Sahas S. Barve, Zachery Holmes, Nicole L. Michel, Jared Alan Elmore, Sarah Prairie Saunders, Nandadevi Cortes, Ramona Fletcher (ex officio), Judith Scarl (ex officio), Chris Anne Handel (ex officio), Christopher R. Mulvaney (ex officio), Kari Pantol (ex officio)

Provides strategic oversight and coordination of annual meetings and development of the scientific program, working in collaboration with the Local Host committee each year.

Membership

Co-Chairs: Erin Morrison

Members: Mike Stewart, Sophia Wolfe

Develops strategies for retaining, increasing, and diversifying membership of the society. Works with AOS committees to evaluate effective ways to best serve and engage our members and provide meaningful opportunities for members to contribute to their profession.

Memorials

Chair: open

Members: Joanna Burger, Andy Jones, Robert Day

Obtains information and keeps records on the deaths of AOS members as well as nonmembers who are prominent in the field of ornithology. Oversees the preparation of memorials for Ornithology and Ornithological Applications.

Nomination of Fellows and Elective Members

Chair: Sarah Knutie

Members: Julie Heath, Nicole Michel, Jorge Perez-Eman, J. Albert C. Uy

Surveys the AOS membership and prepares nominations of qualified members for the special membership class of Elective Member, and nominations of qualified Elective Members for the class of Fellow, according to the criteria established in AOS Bylaws.

Nomination of Honorary Fellows

Chair: Rauri C.K. Bowie

Members: Kate Buchanan, Colleen Downs, Cristina Miyaki

Nominates candidates for Honorary Fellows recognized for their exceptional eminence in ornithological science and, because of geography, primary disciplinary focus, and/or other professional reasons, typically have not been members of the American Ornithological Society.

Nomination of Officers and Elective Councilors

Chair: President-Elect

Members: Second-Year Elective Councilors; Ex Officio: Judith Scarl

Ensures that a sufficient number of persons are nominated to stand for election for the AOS Council positions of President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and Elective Councilor, in accordance with the AOS Bylaws.

Professional Ethics

Chair: Bette Loiselle

Members: Meredith Anderson, Kristen Covino, Jeanne Fair, Jennifer Houtz, Sean Mahoney, Joseph Niederhauser, Jennifer Walsh-Emond, Timothy Wright

Ex Officio: Judith Scarl

Works to promote a high level of ethical conduct by ornithologists through the development of educational activities for AOS members and other ornithologists.

Publication Awards

Chair: Beth MacDougall-Shackleton

Members: Kevin C. Fraser, Daniel T. Baldassarre, Robert D. Montgomerie, Sarah Prairie Saunders, Devin R. de Zwaan, Teresa Pegan, Nathan R. Senner, Stephanie Jayne Szarmach

Selects candidates for the Publication Awards, recognizing outstanding ornithological publications.

Rainbow Lorikeets

Chair: Kristen Covino

Members: S.K. Winnicki, Maggie Macpherson, Scott Anthony Taylor, Alix Matthews

An affiliate caucus of Out to Innovate^TM (formerly NoGLSTP) and AOS committee that strives to represent and serve the Queer ornithological community. Goals are to increase visibility of LGBTIQA+ ornithologists, identify and address issues that face Queer scientists and researchers, and be allies to other underrepresented groups.

Research Grants

Co-Chairs: Scott Rush, Sahas Barve

Reviewers: E. Keith Bowers, Andrew N. Iwaniuk, David L. Swanson, Nathan E. Thomas, Eric L. Walters, Bethany L. Woodworth, Stepfanie M. Aguillon, Shane DuBay, Benjamin Freeman, Camila Gomez, Oscar Johnson, Kelsey McCune, Scott K. Robinson, Alex Sutton, Daniel Hanley, Allison E. Johnson, Allison J. Shultz, Andrea Kudrez Townsend, Anna D. Chalfoun, Bette A. Loiselle, Casey Youngflesh, Charles B. van Rees, Clinton D. Francis, Emily H. DuVal, Hernan Vazquez-Miranda, Jay Mager, Leonardo Campagna, Luis Sandoval, Murry Burgess, Nicholas A. Mason, Rindy C. Anderson, Robert Driver, Sara E. Lipshutz, Scott Anthony Taylor

Solicits and reviews applications for Student and Postdoctoral Research Grants made from AOS research grant funds. These awards support student and postdoctoral research in various areas of avian biology.

Kessel Fellowships Selection Subcommittee
Chair: Carrie Branch, Frank Fogarty
Members: Michelle Roper, Carolina Isabel Miño, Amberleigh Henschen, Facundo Xavier Palacio, Shailee S. Shah, Leilton Willians Luna, Felicity L. Newell, Andre Moncrieff, Jenna Merle McCullough, Teresa Pegan

Solicits and reviews applications for Kessel Fellowships made from AOS research grant funds. These awards support early-career scientists in various areas of avian biology.

Senior Professional Awards

Chair: Tim Wright

Members: Marty Leonard, Mike Webster, Cristina Miyaki, Juan Reboreda, Judith Scarl (ex officio)

Selects candidates for the Senior Professional Awards, recognizing the outstanding contributions to ornithology of senior scientists.

Service Awards

Chair: Sara Morris

Members: Sahas Barve, Camila Gomez, Cristine Miyaki, Brian Peer, Melinda Pruett-Jones, Colleen Handel, Mike Webster, Judith Scarl (ex officio)

Selects candidates for AOS’s two annual Service Awards. These awards recognize members at different career stages for their outstanding service to the Society.

Student Affairs

Co-Chairs: Akshiti Bhat, Olivia Noonan, Grant Witynski, and Ava Ciaccia

Student Representatives on Council: Zachery Holmes and Martha Barta

Members: Zachery Holmes, Sophia Wing Yun Wolfe, Faiza Hafeez, Kristen Rosamond, Ericka Griggs, Raven the troodontid, Sara Rose Padula

Evaluates and recommends efforts that address the needs of student members and increase student participation in AOS committees, annual meetings, and Society communications. Fosters Society-sponsored activities to promote interaction between students and professional ornithologists.

Travel Grants and Presentation Awards

Co-chairs: Casey Youngflesh, Sarah Saunders

Expanding Opportunities Travel Grants Subcommittee Chair: Sahas Barve

Latin America/Caribbean Travel Grants Subcommittee Chair: Eric R. Gulson-Castillo

Selects candidates for Travel Grants to help defray costs of travel to annual meetings and for Presentation Awards that recognize the best scientific papers and posters given by student members at the meeting.