American Ornithological Society facts for kids
Symbol of American Ornithologists' Union, the extinct great auk
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| Abbreviation | AOS |
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| 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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Sara Morris Canisius College |
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President-elect
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Morgan Tingley University of California, Los Angeles |
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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, called ornithologists. 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. This checklist helps set the official English names for birds across North and South America.
In 2013, the American Ornithologists' Union (AOU) started working closely with the Cooper Ornithological Society. They began holding meetings together and sharing an office for their magazines. By October 2016, the AOU officially merged with the Cooper Ornithological Society. This created the new, combined American Ornithological Society.
Contents
Discovering the History of Bird Study
The American Ornithologists' Union, one of the groups that formed the AOS, started way back in 1883. Three members of another bird club, Elliott Coues, J. A. Allen, and William Brewster, sent letters to 48 leading bird experts. They invited them to a meeting in New York City. The goal was to create an "American Ornithologists' Union." They wanted it to be like the "British Ornithologists' Union."
The people invited were chosen because they were important scientists. They also came from different parts of the country. This helped make the new group welcoming to everyone. Twenty-five people replied to the letter, and 21 attended the first meeting.
The First Meeting of Bird Experts
The first meeting happened on September 26, 1883. It was held in the library of the American Museum of Natural History. Many important people became founding members of the AOU at this meeting. Two other key people, Professor S. Baird and J. A. Allen, were also made founding members. They could not attend the meeting due to other duties or health reasons.
In October 2023, the AOS announced a big change. They decided to rename bird species that were named after people. This was to remove names linked to figures with problematic pasts. The goal is to use more descriptive names. These new names will be based on things like where a bird lives or what it looks like. The renaming process will include ideas from the public. Over 100 bird species across the Americas will get new names. This decision has led to different opinions among bird enthusiasts.
Joining the American Ornithological Society
Anyone who loves birds can become a regular member of the AOS by paying a fee. Students can also join at a lower cost. There are special Student Membership Awards that give free memberships to students. These awards are for those who want to work with birds as a career.
Special Membership Levels
The AOS has three higher levels of membership: Elective Member, Honorary Fellow, and Fellow.
- Elective Members are chosen for their important work in bird science or for helping the society. They must live in North or South America. To become an Elective Member, three Fellows or Elective Members must suggest them. More than half of the Fellows and Elective Members must then vote for them.
- Honorary Fellows are limited to 100 people. They are chosen for being extremely important in bird science. They must live outside the United States or Canada when they are chosen. A special committee or any three Fellows can suggest someone for this honor. Most Fellows at an annual meeting must vote for them to be elected.
- Fellows are chosen for their amazing and ongoing contributions to bird science or for helping the society. They must live in or be citizens of North or South America when they are chosen. Candidates must already be an Honorary Fellow or Elective Member. Two-thirds of the Fellows at an annual meeting must vote for them to be elected.
Awards for Bird Scientists
The AOS gives out awards every year. These awards celebrate achievements, support new research, and encourage students to get involved.
Awards for Scientific Contributions
The AOS recognizes great work in bird science with several awards:
- The William Brewster Memorial Award is given each year. It honors someone who has done amazing work studying birds in North or South America. This award includes a medal and money. It was first given in 1921.
- The Elliott Coues Award has been given every year since 1972. It recognizes outstanding and new ideas in bird research. This award also includes a medal and money.
- The Loye and Alden Miller Research Award started in 1993. It honors a person's lifetime of great work in bird research.
- The Ralph W. Schreiber Conservation Award celebrates amazing scientific efforts to protect or restore birds and their homes. This award has been given since 2005. It includes a certificate and money.
- Two James G. Cooper Young Professional Awards and one Ned K. Johnson Young Investigator Award are given each year. These awards recognize excellent work by new researchers in any area of bird science. Each award includes money, an invitation to speak at the annual meeting, free registration, and travel money up to $1000.
Awards for Students
In 2003, the AOU created a Student Affairs Committee. This was because fewer students were joining bird societies. Starting in 2005, several awards for students were created. Special activities for students also began at the annual meetings.
- The Student Membership Award gives one year of full AOS membership for free. It is for qualified college or graduate students interested in a bird science career. Students must apply each year between September and December. They need to send a resume and a letter of support from their academic advisor. Being an AOS member is required to apply for travel, research, and presentation awards.
- The AOS Student and Postdoctoral Travel Awards help student members pay for travel to the society's annual meetings.
- Students can compete for several AOS Student Presentation Awards when they show a poster or give a talk at an annual meeting. The Robert B. Berry Student Award is for the best talk about bird conservation. The Mark E. Hauber Award is for the best talk about bird behavior. Four other awards are given for the best presentations on any bird topic.
Important Committees
Much of the AOS's work is done by its many committees. Some committees handle general tasks like rules or membership. Other committees are very important for bird science.
- The Committee on Bird Collections keeps track of bird specimens in collections. It works with museums and researchers. This committee's work on permits for owning and moving specimens is very important.
- The South American Classification Committee (SACC) creates a standard way to classify and name bird species 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
