American Birding Association

The American Birding Association (ABA) is a nonprofit organization, founded in 1969, dedicated to recreational birding in Canada and the United States. It has been called "the standard-bearer for serious birding in North America."<ref name=weidensaul-262>Template:Cite book</ref> Originally concentrated on finding, listing, and identifying rare birds, the ABA now seeks to serve all birders with a wide range of services and publications.

History

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.<ref name=wilds>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref name=floyd-history-1>Template:Cite journal</ref>

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 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.<ref name=wilds /> The organization was renamed the American Birding Association.<ref name=floyd-history-1 /> Expressly excluding conservation advocacy and ornithological research, the ABA's initial focus was on the hobby and sport of birding.<ref name=wilds /> Through its publications and events, the early ABA sought to connect avid birders, establish rules for listing, and communicate the latest identification techniques.<ref name=floyd-history-1 /> By 1970, the organization had more than 500 members.<ref name=wilds />

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 was responsible for much of the organization's growth.<ref name=wilds />

Beginning with volume 3 (1971), Birding was redesigned as a magazine; the annual page count increased to 258 from 96 in 1970.<ref name=floyd-history-1 /> The last issue of 1971 introduced a new full-color logo, designed by Guy Tudor, with the image of a red-billed tropicbird.<ref name=wilds /><ref name=aba-logo-change>Template:Cite journal</ref>

The ABA held its first convention in 1973 in Kenmare, North Dakota<ref name=floyd-history-1 /> and its second in Leamington, Ontario.<ref name=gill-hobby>Template:Cite news</ref>

Subsequent presidents of the organization have included Arnold Small (1976-1979),<ref name=floyd-history-2>Template:Cite journal</ref> Joseph W. (Joe) Taylor (1979-1983),<ref name=inquirer-taylor>Template:Cite news</ref> Lawrence G. (Larry) Balch (1983-1989),<ref name=floyd-history-3>Template:Cite journal</ref> and Allan Keith (1989-1993; 1997–1999).<ref name=floyd-history-4>Template:Cite journal</ref> As of 2022, Julie Davis is the current board chair and interim president of the ABA.<ref name=birding-53-5-chair>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Membership rose to 6,500 by October 1986<ref name=floyd-history-3 /> and first exceeded 10,000 in October 1992.<ref name=floyd-history-4 /> The ABA attained a high of 22,000 members in 2001.<ref name=times-lobbyists>Template:Cite news</ref>

A monthly newsletter, Winging It, was published from 1989 to 2012.<ref name=floyd-history-4 /> In 1998, the ABA assumed responsibility for the publication of the National Audubon Society's journal Field Notes, subsequently renamed North American Birds.<ref name=floyd-history-5>Template:Cite journal</ref> 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.<ref name=petersen-ifo>Template:Cite journal</ref>

The ABA's mission has expanded to support conservation and research efforts, beginning with its partnership with Birders' Exchange, a program supplying research equipment to young scientists in Central and South America.<ref name="floyd-history-5"/><ref name=birders-exchange>Template:Cite web</ref> Conservation-oriented content began to appear more frequently in Birding with the 2001 volume.<ref name=floyd-history-6>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Publications

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 a regularly updated checklist and occasional eBooks and monographs.

Print publications

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 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).<ref name="buteo-aba-titles">Template:Cite web</ref>

Online publications

The ABA maintains a multiauthored blog<ref name=aba-blog-home>Template:Cite web</ref> and a multi-voiced podcast;<ref name="aba-podcast">Template:Cite web</ref> ABA's youth program hosts the blog The Eyrie.<ref name=aba-eyrie>Template:Cite web</ref> The ABA's journals Birding, North American Birds, and Birder's Guide are offered online, as well as in print.

ABA Checklist

The ABA publishes 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).<ref name=aba-checklist-book>Template:Cite book</ref> Updates to the most recent print edition are available online.<ref name=aba-checklist-web>Template:Cite web</ref> 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 the status of populations.<ref name=nat-geo-6>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=floyd-smithsonian>Template:Cite book</ref><ref name=stokes-stokes>Template:Cite book</ref>

Programs

The ABA offers birding camps, sponsors youth teams in birding competitions, provides scholarships, and conducts an annual ABA Young Birder of the Year Contest.<ref name=aba-eyrie /><ref name=business-wire-butek>Template:Cite press release</ref>

Members interested in bird listing share their totals at Listing Central.<ref name=aba-listing-central>Template:Cite web</ref>

The organization promulgates a Code of Birding Ethics, guiding birders to protect birds, the environment, and the rights of others.<ref name=aba-ethics>Template:Cite web</ref>

In addition to offering ABA apparel,<ref name="aba-shop">Template:Cite web</ref> the organization has partnered with for-profit companies to sell identification and bird-finding guides, binoculars, and items related to conservation.<ref name=aba-sales>Template:Cite web</ref>

The ABA offers birding rallies, tours, and workshops (through the ABA Institute for Field Ornithology) throughout the world.<ref name=aba-events>Template:Cite web</ref> The IFO workshops, established to foster cooperation between professional and amateur ornithologists, blend classroom instruction and field study.<ref name=petersen-ifo />

Awards

The ABA presents several awards for promoting 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;"<ref name=davis>Template:Cite book</ref> it is often called birding's highest honor.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2000, the awards program was expanded to include the Chandler Robbins Award for Education/Conservation, 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.<ref name=aba-recipients>Template:Cite web</ref>

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 the birding community, and those who have worked to build a support network for conservation." The first, posthumous recipient was Betty Petersen.<ref name=gordon-march-2014>Template:Cite journal</ref> In 2015, the award was granted to Jack Siler;<ref name=aba-2015-awards>Template:Cite web</ref> Ann Nightingale received the award in 2016;<ref name="birdwatching-feb-2016">Template:Cite web</ref> Judy Pollock was honored in 2017.<ref name="breen-dnainfo">Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

• Big year
• The Big Year, 2011 film

Further reading

• "AMERICAN BIRDING ASSOCIATION, A CLUB OF A DIFFERENT FEATHER" - Spokesman-ReviewTemplate:Dead link
• "Guide to bird spotting in Alaska published" - HighBeam Research
• "Birders flocking to SE Texas" - The Beaumont Enterprise Template:Webarchive

External links

• Template:Official website