November/December NewsBRIEF

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The Ornithological Council is pleased to provide this bimonthly report covering activities in November and December 2025. Over the last two months, Ornithological Council staff:

1. Attended a bi-monthly meeting of a new scientific society coalition. The Scientific Societies Working Group is a coalition of non-partisan associations with a common interest in promoting scientific integrity (including the people and process of doing science, and the application of scientific results to benefit the public) and building capacity within the scientific community in the U.S. and beyond. The purpose of the coalition is internal sharing and coordination to support advocacy, policy, and outreach efforts.

2. Continued our work on the 5th edition of the Guidelines to the Use of Wild Birds in Research. Drafts of chapters are being submitted soon for peer review. If you’re interested in peer reviewing one or more chapters in 2026, please contact laurabiesoc@gmail.com.

3. Continued work on a template field study policy for IACUCs to adopt. In response to many inquiries about compliance with the Animal Welfare Act, especially regarding field work, in light of the new regulations regarding birds, the OC is developing a sample policy for field studies under the AWA that institutions can use to develop and codify their own policies.

4. Posted the articles and updates on the Ornithology Exchange:

All these updates, and more, are always available on the ‘News From the OC’ forum on Ornithological Exchange.

OC welcomes new USGS Director

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The new Director of the USGS, Ned Mamula, was recently confirmed by Congress. The Ornithological Council sent Director mamula a letter welcoming him to his new role and highlighting USGS programs of interest to the OC.

Mamula began his career at the agency in the 1970s and then held positions at the Department of Energy and the Central Intelligence Agency. During the previous Trump administration, Mamula worked at the Department of Energy as the critical minerals program director. His was one of more than one hundred nominations approved by the Senate on October 7. Mamula was nominated in February.

As USGS Director, Mamula will oversee the Ecosystem Mission Area, which the President had identified for elimination. However, both the House and Senate have provided funding for in their draft budgets for the current fiscal year (although that funding has not been finalized, as the USGS is currently operating under a continuing resolution). The Ecosystem Mission Area is home to both the Breeding Bird Survey and the Bird Band Laboratory. In our welcome letter, the OC highlighted the value of both of these programs to the ornithological community.

September/October NewsBRIEF

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The Ornithological Council is pleased to provide this bimonthly report covering activities in September and October 2025. Over the last two months, Ornithological Council staff:

  1. Tracked the effects of the government shutdown and pending layoffs on ornithologists. Both the continuing shutdown of the U.S. federal government due to a lapse in appropriations and the administration’s recent attempts to layoff employees have effects on science and ornithologists. OC Executive Director Bies has been tracking these effects and writing about the issues on the Ornithology Exchange (links below). Anyone with specific problems or questions about the shutdown or layoffs can contact Bies at laurabiesoc@gmail.com.
  1. Attended a listening session for taxon groups related to the new edition of the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals currently being developed by the Board on Animal Health Sciences, Conservation, and Research (BAHSCR). The new edition will link directly to the OC’s Guidelines to the Use of Wild Birds in Research, as well as other taxon guidelines.
  1. Attended a bi-monthly meeting of a new scientific society coalition. The Scientific Societies Working Group is a coalition of non-partisan associations with a common interest in promoting scientific integrity (including the people and process of doing science, and the application of scientific results to benefit the public) and building capacity within the scientific community in the U.S. and beyond. The purpose of the coalition is internal sharing and coordination to support advocacy, policy, and outreach efforts.
  1. Continued our work on the 5th edition of the Guidelines to the Use of Wild Birds in Research. Volunteer teams of authors are conducting literature reviews and revising the existing text. If you’re interested in peer reviewing one or more chapters in 2026, please contact laurabiesoc@gmail.com.
  1. Continued work on a template field study policy for IACUCs to adopt. In response to many inquiries about compliance with the Animal Welfare Act, especially regarding field work, in light of the new regulations regarding birds, the OC is developing a sample policy for field studies under the AWA that institutions can use to develop and codify their own policies.
  1. Provided direct individual assistance to ornithologists who belong to OC societies regarding the permits necessary to complete their research. During September and October, we assisted three individuals with permit issues.
  1. Posted the articles and updates on the Ornithology Exchange:

All these updates, and more, are always available on the ‘News From the OC’ forum on Ornithological Exchange.

July/August NewsBRIEF

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The Ornithological Council is pleased to provide this bimonthly report covering activities in July and August 2025. Over the last two months, Ornithological Council staff:

  1. Attended a meeting of a new scientific society coalition. The Scientific Societies Working Group is a coalition of non-partisan associations with a common interest in promoting scientific integrity (including the people and process of doing science, and the application of scientific results to benefit the public) and building capacity within the scientific community in the U.S. and beyond. The purpose of the coalition is internal sharing and coordination to support advocacy, policy, and outreach efforts.
  1. Continued our work on the 5th edition of the Guidelines to the Use of Wild Birds in Research. Work is currently underway by volunteer teams of authors to conduct literature reviews and revise the existing text. If you’re interested in peer reviewing one or more chapters during 2026, please contact laurabiesoc@gmail.com.
  1. Continued work on a template field study policy for IACUCs to adopt. In response to many inquiries about compliance with the Animal Welfare Act, especially regarding field work, in light of the new regulations regarding birds, the OC is developing a sample policy regarding field studies under the AWA that institutions can use to develop and enact their own policies.
  1. Welcomed a new Supporting Member, the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Pennsylvania. Learn more about supporting members and see the list of current supporting members here.
  1. Provided direct individual assistance to ornithologists who belong to OC societies regarding the permits necessary to complete their research. During July and August, we assisted two individuals with permit issues.
  2. Posted the following articles and updates on the Ornithology Exchange:

All these updates, and more, are always available on the ‘News From the OC’ forum on Ornithological Exchange.