Happy New Year!
The Ornithological Council is pleased to provide this bi-monthly report covering activities in November and December 2023.
Our work focuses on permits for ornithological research, animal welfare issues, research funding, and other policies that affect ornithologists and ornithological societies. We greatly appreciate your support. Please contact our Executive Director with questions or concerns about this report or about any other matter of concern to your society or your society’s members.
In this time period, Ornithological Council staff:
1. Attended a two-day virtual workshop entitled “Effective Communication with the General Public about Scientific Research that Requires the Care and Use of Animals.” Information and materials from that workshop will be shared in the coming weeks.
2. Worked with USDA staff to better understand the new regulations governing the use and care of birds under the Animal Welfare Act.
3. Provided direct individual assistance to ornithologists who belong to OC societies regarding how to obtain the permits necessary to complete their research. During November and December, we assisted four individuals with permit issues and one individual with animal welfare issues. We also continued to assist several museums and institutions facing delays in getting their CITES COSEs renewed, after learning about these delays in August.
4. Posted articles and updates on the Ornithology Exchange regarding:
COMMENT OPPORTUNITY: BLM seeking input on Gunnison Sage-grouse
COMMENT OPPORTUNITY: Draft Barred Owl management plan released
ABC petitions for Golden Eagle protection
Straw-headed Bulbul moved to Appendix I of CITES
ILAR becomes the Board on Animal Health Sciences, Conservation, and Research
USFWS withdraws MBTA Incidental Take rule
ABC and partners file additional claims over SpaceX launch
U.S. Congress recesses for the holidays without a final federal budget
APHIS completes transition to eFile system
All these updates, and more, are always available on the ‘News From the OC’ forum on Ornithological Exchange.