At the opening of the 134th stated meeting of the American Ornithologists' Union (AOU) in Washington, D.C., this week, the society welcomed 21 new Fellows, each selected by their peers for their outstanding contributions to the field of ornithology and their service to the AOU. In keeping with the AOU's geographic focus, Fellows are residents or citizens of the Western Hemisphere, and represent the most eminent members of the global ornithology community.
This year's newly elected Fellows are Erin Michael Bayne (University of Alberta), William M. Block (US Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station), Leonard A. Brennan (Texas A&M University), Carlos Daniel Cadena (Universidad de los Andes), Angelo P. Capparella (Illinois State University), Deanna K. Dawson (US Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center), Robert H. Day (ABR, Inc.--Environmental Research & Services), Emily DuVal (Florida State University), Paul L. Flint (US Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center), Thomas L. George (Bird Conservancy of the Rockies), Eduardo J. Iñigo-Elias (Cornell Lab of Ornithology), John T. Klicka (Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, University of Washington), Steven T. Knick (US Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center), Richard B. Lanctot (US Fish and Wildlife Service), Kevin J. McGraw (Arizona State University), Carol L. McIntyre (Denali National Park and Preserve), Robert G. Moyle (University of Kansas), Margaret R. Petersen (US Geological Survey, Alaska Science Center), Peter Pyle (The Institute for Bird Populations, Point Reyes Station), Gregory J. Robertson (Environment and Climate Change Canada), and Rebecca Safran (University of Colorado).
New Fellows are nominated each year by current Fellows or by AOU's nominations committee, and are confirmed through a vote of the current Fellows at the annual meeting. "Scientists are typically so busy doing science that we sometimes fail to celebrate the accomplishments of our colleagues," says Scott Lanyon, president of the AOU. "Therefore, for over one hundred years the American Ornithologists' Union has made a point of formally recognizing Fellows of the AOU, ornithologists who have made significant contributions to the advancement of scientific understanding of birds and to the promotion of a rigorous scientific basis for the conservation of birds."
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For more information on AOU Fellows and Honorary Fellows, visit http://americanornithology.org/content/aou-special-membership-classes.
About the American Ornithologists' Union
The American Ornithologists' Union (AOU) is an international society devoted to advancing the scientific understanding of birds, enriching ornithology as a profession, and promoting a rigorous scientific basis for the conservation of birds. The AOU produces scientific publications of the highest quality, hosts intellectually engaging and professionally vital meetings, serves ornithologists at every career stage, pursues a global perspective, and informs public policy on all issues important to ornithology and ornithological collections.
The AOU was founded in 1883 by William Brewster, Elliott Coues and Joel Allen out of concern for bird conservation and interest in developing the field of ornithology in North America. Early AOU efforts led to formation of the National Audubon Society and the Biological Survey (now known as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). Today, the AOU is the largest ornithological society in the Western Hemisphere and one of the oldest organizations in the world devoted to the scientific study and conservation of birds.
The AOU publishes The Auk: Ornithological Advances, which has one of the highest scientific impact ranking among ornithological journals worldwide. The Auk is an international journal that advances fundamental scientific knowledge in two ways: increase in the basic knowledge of bird species, both living and extinct; and increase in the knowledge of broad biological and conservation concepts through studies of bird species.
The AOU Checklist is the accepted authority for scientific nomenclature and English names of birds in North and Middle America. The AOU has recently completed a complementary checklist for South American birds. The AOU also sponsors The Birds of North America Online, in partnership with the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology.