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35-424: In December 1968, in the first issue (volume 0, number 0) of The Birdwatcher's Digest , Jim Tucker proposed the formation of a group to be known as the "American Birdwatchers' Association" for the exchange of information and the comparison of birding lists. On the suggestion of Stuart Keith , the next issue of Tucker's newsletter bore the name Birding (volume 1, number 1). This January/February 1969 issue included

70-522: A career in ornithology. There are three higher classes of membership, Elective Member , Honorary Fellow and Fellow. Elective Members are selected "for significant contributions to ornithology and/or service to the Union." When elected, they must reside in the Western Hemisphere. A proposed Elective Member must be nominated by three Fellows or Elective Members and more than half of

105-654: A checklist of the more than 1000 bird species found in the ABA area (the entirety of the United States and Canada, plus St. Pierre et Miquelon). Updates to the most recent print edition are available online. The Checklist provides the common names established and recommended by the American Ornithological Society , and it is one of the authorities consulted by the compilers of many popular bird identification guides in order to establish ranges and

140-621: A new life bird earlier in the day. American Ornithological Society The American Ornithological Society ( AOS ) is an ornithological organization based in the United States. The society was formed in October 2016 by the merger of the American Ornithologists' Union (AOU) and the Cooper Ornithological Society . Its members are primarily professional ornithologists, although membership

175-580: A program supplying research equipment to young scientists in Central and South America. Conservation-oriented content began to appear more frequently in Birding with the 2001 volume. The ABA publishes three periodical publications, offering them in print and online formats. The ABA also hosts two blogs and a podcast. The ABA partners with and advises Scott & Nix, Inc., publisher of a series of recent and forthcoming ABA State Guides . The ABA also publishes

210-430: A regularly updated checklist and occasional eBooks and monographs. The ABA publishes Birding , its bimonthly magazine; North American Birds , the quarterly "journal of record" for North American birdlife; and Birder's Guide , a quarterly publication with a rotating schedule of themes. All three journals are offered in print and online formats. The ABA has published bird-finding guides to various states and regions of

245-606: A statement of intentions and objectives and three pages of lists, including the birders with the top ten lists for the world and for the area then covered by the checklist of the American Ornithologists' Union . The organization was renamed the American Birding Association. Expressly excluding conservation advocacy and ornithological research, the ABA's initial focus was on the hobby and sport of birding. Through its publications and events,

280-615: Is for his accomplishments as a birder that Keith is most widely known. In 1956, he set a one-year record of 594 species seen in the United States and Canada. He was the first to see 4,000 species worldwide, a total which he achieved in the 1970s. At the time of his death, he had seen more than 6,500 species; however, he was surpassed by Phoebe Snetsinger , who is credited with almost 8,400 species. Keith's feats were recorded in The Wall Street Journal , People , The New Yorker , and Bird Watcher's Digest . In 1993 he

315-465: Is open to anyone with an interest in birds. The society publishes the two scholarly journals, Ornithology (formerly The Auk ) and Ornithological Applications (formerly The Condor ) as well as the AOS Checklist of North American Birds . The American Ornithological Society claims the authority to establish standardized English bird names throughout North and South Americas. In 2013,

350-495: The American Ornithologists' Union in 1959; became an elective member in 1970; and was made a fellow in 1991. From 1965 to 1973, he served as secretary, then president, of the U.S. Section of the International Council for Bird Preservation , now BirdLife International. In 1969, he helped found the ABA, and he served as its first president, from 1973 to 1976. In 1978, Keith joined the project that would compile

385-824: The Claudia Wilds Award for Distinguished Service, and the Roger Tory Peterson Award for Promoting the Cause of Birding. The Robert Ridgway Award for Publications in Field Ornithology was added in 2002. The Griscom Award now specifically recognizes outstanding contributions to regional ornithology. In 2014, the ABA introduced the Betty Petersen Award for Conservation and Community, to honor "those who have made great strides in expanding, diversifying, and strengthening

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420-485: The Fellows and Elective Members must vote for the proposed member to be declared elected. Honorary Fellows are limited to 100 and are "chosen for exceptional ornithological eminence and must at the time of their election be residents of a country other than the United States of America or Canada." Nominations for Honorary Fellow are by a special committee appointed by the president or any three Fellows. A vote of

455-419: The Fellows at an annual meeting is required for election as a Fellow . The quarterly journal, Ornithology (formerly The Auk ) , has been published since January 1884. The quarterly journal, Ornithological Applications (formerly The Condor ) , has been published since 1899. Other significant publications include the AOS Checklist of North American Birds , which is the standard reference work for

490-728: The Korean War he served as a lieutenant in The King's Own Scottish Borderers , an infantry regiment. After his service, Keith completed his formal education, receiving an M.A. degree in classics from Worcester College of the University of Oxford . He returned to North America in 1955. From 1958, he was a research associate in the ornithology department of the American Museum of Natural History in New York. He joined

525-689: The AOU announced that it was ceasing to operate as an independent union and was merging with the Cooper Ornithological Society to create the American Ornithological Society. In October 2023, the AOS announced that it was set to rename all bird species associated with individuals, aiming to eliminate names linked to figures with racist pasts. Aiming for more descriptive names based on habitat or physical features,

560-419: The American Ornithologists' Union (AOU) announced a collaboration with the Cooper Ornithological Society, streamlining operations through joint meetings, a shared publishing office, and a reorientation of their journals. By October 2016, the AOU ceased its independent status, merging with the Cooper Ornithological Society to establish the unified American Ornithological Society. The American Ornithologists' Union

595-509: The United States and the Caribbean (10 titles are in print). The ABA is a partner in the ongoing publication of a series of photographic field guides to the birds of particular states (12 titles). The ABA maintains a multiauthored blog and a multi-voiced podcast; ABA's youth program hosts the blog The Eyrie . The ABA's journals Birding , North American Birds , and Birder's Guide are offered online, as well as in print. The ABA publishes

630-412: The birding community, and those who have worked to build a support network for conservation." The first, posthumous recipient was Betty Petersen . In 2015, the award was granted to Jack Siler; Ann Nightingale received the award in 2016; Judy Pollock was honored in 2017. Stuart Keith George Stuart Keith (4 September 1931 – 13 February 2003) was an English and American ornithologist . He

665-567: The birds of Britain and Europe. Keith made contributions in other media as well. In the 1960s, he produced a film about cranes in Japan ; he produced a feature-length film on African birds. He made recordings of bird songs from Madagascar and continental Africa; with William Gunn, he produced Birds of the African Rain Forests , the first recordings to specialize in the vocalizations of 90 species of African forest birds. It

700-546: The cause of birding, advancing the state of ornithology, and making significant contributions to education and conservation. In 1980, it initiated the Ludlow Griscom Award to recognize "outstanding contributions to excellence in field birding;" it is often called birding's highest honor. In 2000, the awards program was expanded to include the Chandler Robbins Award for Education/Conservation,

735-460: The early ABA sought to connect avid birders, establish rules for listing, and communicate the latest identification techniques. By 1970, the organization had more than 500 members. The first officers included Keith as president, Arnold Small as vice president, and Tucker as secretary and treasurer. Shortly thereafter, Joseph W. Taylor became treasurer, and Bob Smart joined as second vice president. Benton Basham became membership chairman in 1971, and

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770-452: The field, and a monograph series, Ornithological Monographs . The AOS presents annual awards to recognize achievements and service, support research, and encourage student participation. The AOS recognizes members' outstanding contributions to ornithological science through four senior professional awards and three early professional awards: A decline in student membership in the AOU and other ornithological societies prompted creation of

805-466: The gathering as catholic and non-sectional as possible." Twenty-five responded to the letter and 21 were present at the first meeting. The founding convention was held in the library of the American Museum of Natural History on September 26, 1883. Founding members of the AOU include those present at the inaugural convention, listed below. In addition, the members of the new Union unanimously enrolled two others as founding members: Professor S. Baird , who

840-447: The majority of the Fellows present at an annual meeting is required for election. Each Fellow may vote affirmatively for as many as there are vacancies. Fellows are chosen "for exceptional and sustained contributions to ornithology and/or service to the Union" and must be residents or citizens of the Western Hemisphere when elected. Candidates must be an Honorary Fellow or Elective Member in good standing. A vote of two thirds of

875-541: The organization has partnered with for-profit companies to sell identification and bird-finding guides, binoculars , and items related to conservation . The ABA offers birding rallies, tours, and workshops (through the ABA Institute for Field Ornithology) throughout the world. The IFO workshops, established to foster cooperation between professional and amateur ornithologists, blend classroom instruction and field study. The ABA presents several awards for promoting

910-434: The organization have included Arnold Small (1976-1979), Joseph W. (Joe) Taylor (1979-1983), Lawrence G. (Larry) Balch (1983-1989), and Allan Keith (1989-1993; 1997–1999). As of 2022, Julie Davis is the current board chair and interim president of the ABA. Membership rose to 6,500 by October 1986 and first exceeded 10,000 in October 1992. The ABA attained a high of 22,000 members in 2001. A monthly newsletter, Winging It ,

945-524: The renaming process would involve public input. Over 100 avian species across the Americas would undergo this change, with the move eliciting mixed reactions within the birding community. Regular membership in the AOS is open to any dues paying person with an interest in birds. Student rates are available for full-time students. Student Membership Awards of a no-cost membership are available to qualified undergraduate and graduate students who wish to pursue

980-472: The seven-volume series The Birds of Africa as a member of its Board of Advisors. In 1980, he became a senior editor, sharing duties with Hilary Fry and Emil K. Urban. He contributed the sections describing bulbuls and cisticolas , and had completed his work on the final volume (published in 2004) at the time of his death. With John Gooders, in 1980 he published the Collins Bird Guide to

1015-502: The status of populations. The ABA offers birding camps, sponsors youth teams in birding competitions, provides scholarships, and conducts an annual ABA Young Birder of the Year Contest. Members interested in bird listing share their totals at Listing Central. The organization promulgates a Code of Birding Ethics , guiding birders to protect birds, the environment , and the rights of others. In addition to offering ABA apparel,

1050-602: Was a champion birder, editor of a series of books about African birds, and co-founder of the American Birding Association (ABA). Keith was born on 4 September 1931 in Clothall , near Baldock in Hertfordshire , England. During World War II, he moved with his mother and three siblings to Toronto , Ontario . In 1943, he returned to England to study classics at Marlborough College . During

1085-564: Was awarded the Linnaean Society of New York 's Eisenmann Medal . In 1999, he received the Ludlow Griscom Award from the ABA "in appreciation of his vision and leadership in shaping ABA and tireless passion and dedication to the birds of North America." Keith became a naturalized American citizen in 1994. He died, of circulatory-related causes, on 13 February 2003 while on a birding trip to Chuuk in Micronesia , having seen

American Birding Association - Misplaced Pages Continue

1120-737: Was founded in 1883. Three members of the Nuttall Ornithological Club , Elliott Coues , J. A. Allen , and William Brewster , sent letters to 48 prominent ornithologists inviting them "to attend a Convention of American Ornithologists , to be held in New York City, beginning on September 26, 1883, for the purpose of founding an American Ornithologists' Union, upon a basis similar to that of the "British Ornithologists' Union." The addressees were selected mainly because of their "scientific standing, but somewhat with regard to geographical representation, it being desirable to make

1155-657: Was published from 1989 to 2012. In 1998, the ABA assumed responsibility for the publication of the National Audubon Society's journal Field Notes , subsequently renamed North American Birds . The quarterly "Birder's Guide" first appeared in 2013. In 2000, the ABA assumed management of the Institute for Field Ornithology workshops conducted by the University of Maine at Machias . The ABA's mission has expanded to support conservation and research efforts, beginning with its partnership with Birders' Exchange,

1190-565: Was responsible for much of the organization's growth. Beginning with volume 3 (1971), Birding was redesigned as a magazine; the annual page count increased to 258 from 96 in 1970. The last issue of 1971 introduced a new full-color logo, designed by Guy Tudor, with the image of a red-billed tropicbird . The ABA held its first convention in 1973 in Kenmare , North Dakota and its second in Leamington , Ontario . Subsequent presidents of

1225-464: Was unable to attend due to his duties at the Smithsonian , and J. A. Allen , who could not attend due to physical disability. In 2013, the American Ornithologists' Union announced a close partnership with the Cooper Ornithological Society, including joint meetings, a centralized publishing office, and a refocusing of their respective journals to increase efficiency of research. In October 2016,

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