American Ornithological Society facts for kids
Symbol of American Ornithologists' Union, the extinct great auk
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| Abbreviation | AOS |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | American Ornithologists' Union Cooper Ornithological Society |
| Formation | September 26, 1883 |
| Type | NGO |
| Legal status | 501(c)(3) |
| Purpose | |
| Headquarters | Chicago, Illinois |
| Location |
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Region served
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Western Hemisphere |
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Membership
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3,000 |
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President
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Colleen Handel United States Geological Survey |
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President-elect
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Sara Morris Canisius College |
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Secretary
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Sushma Reddy University of Minnesota |
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Treasurer
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Matthew Carling University of Wyoming |
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Main organ
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Council |
| Affiliations | Ornithological Council Ornithological Societies of NA |
The American Ornithological Society (AOS) is a group in the United States that studies birds. It was created in October 2016. This happened when two older groups, the American Ornithologists' Union (AOU) and the Cooper Ornithological Society, joined together.
Most members of the AOS are professional bird scientists. But anyone who loves birds can join! The society publishes two important science magazines: Ornithology and Ornithological Applications. They also publish the AOS Checklist of North American Birds. The AOS is in charge of setting the official English names for birds across North and South America.
Contents
History of Bird Science
The American Ornithologists' Union (AOU) was started in 1883. Three bird experts, Elliott Coues, J. A. Allen, and William Brewster, sent letters to 48 other bird scientists. They invited them to a meeting in New York City. The goal was to create a group like the "British Ornithologists' Union." They wanted to bring together bird scientists from all over America.
Twenty-one people attended the first meeting. It was held at the American Museum of Natural History on September 26, 1883. Important founding members included those present at the meeting. Also, Spencer Fullerton Baird and J. A. Allen were made founding members. They could not attend but were very important to bird science.
In 2013, the AOU started working closely with the Cooper Ornithological Society. They began holding meetings together and sharing an office. This helped them work more efficiently. By October 2016, the AOU and the Cooper Ornithological Society officially merged. They became the American Ornithological Society.
New Names for Birds
In October 2023, the AOS announced a big plan. They decided to change the names of many bird species. Some birds were named after people. The AOS wants to give these birds new names. These new names will describe the bird's habitat or how it looks. This process will include ideas from the public. More than 100 bird species in the Americas will get new names. The goal is to make bird names more descriptive and welcoming to everyone.
What the AOS Does
The AOS works to advance the study and protection of birds. They do this through several important activities.
Publishing Journals
The AOS publishes two main scientific journals:
- Ornithology (formerly The Auk)
- Ornithological Applications (formerly The Condor)
These journals share new discoveries about birds. They help scientists learn from each other.
Bird Checklists
The AOS also creates and updates the AOS Checklist of North American Birds. This list is very important. It helps scientists and bird watchers know the official names and classifications of birds. It covers birds found in North and Middle America. There is also a committee that works on the classification and names for birds in South America.
Joining the AOS
Anyone who is interested in birds can become a regular member of the AOS. Students can also join at a special lower price. The AOS even offers free memberships to students. These are for those who want to work with birds as a career.
There are also higher levels of membership:
- Elective Member: These are chosen for their important work in bird science.
- Honorary Fellow: These are top bird scientists from outside the U.S. or Canada.
- Fellow: These are chosen for their outstanding and long-lasting work in bird science.
Awards for Bird Scientists
The AOS gives out awards every year. These awards celebrate achievements and support new research. They also encourage students to get involved in bird science.
Awards for Professionals
The AOS gives awards to experienced bird scientists:
- The William Brewster Memorial Award is for amazing work on birds in the Western Hemisphere.
- The Elliott Coues Award recognizes new and important ideas in bird research.
- The Loye and Alden Miller Research Award celebrates a lifetime of great work in bird science.
- The Ralph W. Schreiber Conservation Award honors efforts to protect birds and their homes.
- The James G. Cooper Young Professional Awards and Ned K. Johnson Young Investigator Award are for promising new researchers.
Awards for Students
The AOS also has special awards for students:
- The Student Membership Award gives free membership to students. This helps them get started in bird science.
- The AOS Student and Postdoctoral Travel Awards help students pay for trips to annual meetings.
- The AOS Student Presentation Awards are for students who give the best talks or posters at meetings. This includes the Robert B. Berry Student Award for bird conservation. It also includes the Mark E. Hauber Award for bird behavior.
How the AOS Works
Many committees help the AOS do its work. There are thirty-three of these groups. Some committees handle general tasks like membership. Others are very important for bird science.
- The Committee on Bird Collections checks on collections of bird specimens. These collections are important for research.
- The South American Classification Committee (SACC) creates standard names for birds in South America.
- The North American Classification Committee (NACC) is in charge of the AOS Checklist of North and Middle American Birds.
See Also
In Spanish: American Ornithological Society para niños
- List of ornithology awards
- List of ornithology journals
