Researchers planning to go in the field and collect specimens or samples must navigate a complex permitting landscape. This includes local, state, federal, and international permits, as well as institutional animal use protocols.
The Ornithological Council’s A Guide to the Permits and Procedures for Importing Bird Products into the United State for Scientific Research and Display, updated in May 2022, provides a free, step-by-step guide for ornithologists who are importing birds or bird products into the U.S. for research and display, including template documents and checklists to follow.
BIRDNET.org has provided information regarding Endangered Species Act and CITES permits, updating 50 pages detailing the requirements for all U.S. States.
The following resources provide helpful information to guide this process.
- BIRDNET (includes Guidelines to the Use of Wild Birds in Research)
- Ecological Society of America: Nagoya Protocol
- IACUC Central
- Ornithology Exchange
- Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections
- U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- U. S. Geological Survey
A webinar on Navigating Permits, sponsored by the AOS Student Affairs Committee, was held on 21 October 2022. Panelists included John Bates (Field Museum of Natural History), Laura Bies (Ornithological Council), Carla Cicero (Museum of Vertebrate Zoology), Chris Milensky (National Museum of Natural History), and Breda Zimkus (Museum of Comparative Zoology). View recording on YouTube.
News from the Ornithological Council
Updates on regulations related to wild bird research from the Ornithological Council.