After two years of planning, we are thrilled to announce the launch of Flocks for ornithologists. Born from a collaboration between the Association of Field Ornithologists (AFO), the American Ornithological Society (AOS), and the Wilson Ornithological Society (WOS), Flocks are groups where people affiliated with the ornithological community can connect, share advice, and build community with others who have shared experiences.
The first cohort of Flocks are beginning recruitment now! Members of the ornithological community are invited to join:
- Silk Road Ornithologists (Asian Ornithologist Flock)
- Black Sunbird Alliance (Black Ornithologist Flock)
- Flight Paths (Career and Networking Flock)
- Los Colibríes (Latine Ornithologist Flock)
- Rainbow Flock (LGBTQIA+ Flock)
- Supportive Association for Neurodivergence and Disability (SAND)
You can visit our Flocks website to learn more about the project and each Flock’s mission and vision. We will continue to update the site with new information. To join, complete this contact form.
Our vision is to continue to help members form more Flocks in the coming years so that everyone who feels the need to build community around shared experiences and perspectives can do so. If you are interested in starting another Flock, you can use the same contact form.
If you plan on attending ornithological conferences this year, the Flocks will be represented at the AOS, AFO, and WOS annual meetings this summer. We encourage you to stop by our table at registration, posters in poster sessions, and presentations or workshops to learn more about the Flocks and meet other Flocks members.
If you are interested in supporting the Flocks Project, please consider donating to our GoFundMe campaign. Despite the current political landscape that led to our loss of National Science Foundation funding, professional societies are still uniquely positioned to drive cultural and communal change that supports and uplifts professionals, students, and academics. Your donations will help to sustain the work of building a more inclusive, diverse, and resilient ornithology.
We want to thank the Flocks co-creators, Flocks initial cohort of leaders, our staff, and the Senior Personnel team – who have represented the ornithological community and spent a great deal of time creating Flocks- and our Advisory Board- who have been key thought partners in the building and sustaining of the Flocks. They have been instrumental in making these Flocks a reality!
Dai Shizuka & Ashley Dayer,
on behalf of the Flocks team