An Apology from AOS
For the past several years, AOS has been reckoning with and rectifying problematic aspects of our policies and procedures to become a more inclusive and culturally sensitive Society. We thank …
AOS Council actions on English bird names
Last week’s North American Ornithological Conference (NAOC) provided the American Ornithological Society (AOS) an opportunity to extend to a broader audience the important conversations the Society has undertaken internally over …
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The seventh North American Ornithological Conference (NAOC VII), which came to a close on Saturday, August 15, was a resounding success! The conference, organized by nine societies and originally planned …
AOS Announces New Titles for Top-Ranked Scientific Journals
The American Ornithological Society (AOS) is excited to announce changes to the names of its two journals, both of which are among the top three journals in the field of ornithology.
Congratulations to the AOS 2020 Class of Fellows and Elective Members
At our annual meeting each year, we officially welcome the new classes of Fellows, Honorary Fellows, and Elective Members of AOS. Individuals are elected to these special membership classes in recognition of their contributions to ornithology and to AOS. Congratulations to the newest members of these honored groups, who were voted in at the 2020 North American Ornithological Conference.
A Victory for the Migratory Bird Treaty Act
This week marks the 104th anniversary of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), which has been under threat by the Trump administration’s attempts to roll back its provisions that hold …
Cornell Lab of Ornithology Seeking Executive Director and Tenure-Track Professor
After 25 years serving as the Executive Director of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Dr. John Fitzpatrick has announced he is retiring at the end of the year. If you’ve attended one of our annual meetings, you’ve likely met Dr. Fitzpatrick (Fitz); many have worked closely with him on AOS Council and various committees, and no doubt everyone recognizes the tremendous impact of his leadership at the Lab.
What’s in a name? More than you might think…
AOS leaders, including the NACC and Diversity and Inclusion Committees are working together to develop Society-level policies in our nomenclature, and to be intentional in all our activities to ensure all individuals feel welcome in our Society. We will discuss these issues at our 2020 meetings of Council and make a statement at the end of the NAOC VII meeting.
Action Alert: Help Defend the Migratory Bird Treaty Act
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has taken the next step in its rollback of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) by releasing a draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), which includes an environmental analysis and alternatives for this rule. The public comment period is open until July 20.
Statement on the McCown’s Longspur Naming Issue
North American Classification Committee, American Ornithological Society (AOS) Prompted in part by a 2019 proposal to change the English name of McCown’s Longspur, the North American Classification Committee developed and …