Bird Watching Organizations and Societies

One of the best ways for you to begin birding is to find other enthusiasts that can help you along as you start out.

Birders are almost always willing to help you out and share their knowledge and tricks of the trade. If you don't personally know anyone who is into birding there are many resources available to help you find local birders. You can first see if there is a local Audubon society nearby, this can be done by visiting their web site at audubon.org or calling.  It's very likely that there a local chapter in your area.  If you don't find one through the Audubon Society you can also try local bird clubs or nature centers or visit birding.com to see if there are any organizations in your area.

The National Audubon Society
The National Audubon Society is a non-profit organization whose mission is to "conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity." The Audubon Society is over 100 years old with its origins dating to the 1900's being one of the oldest organizations of the kind. The Audubon Society has not only helped preserve many habitats, but has also been a guiding influence in legislation throughout the years.

Many acts have been brought to the attention of legislation as well as passed due to the influence of the Audubon Society.  In 1918 the Migratory Bird Treaty act was passed by President Wilson which put in place the protection of migratory birds. In 1964 President Lyndon Johnson passed the Wilderness Act that set aside 9 million acres of protected wilderness. This was a major factor to protect wildlife habitats from the increasing population that threatened such areas. In 1973 the Endangered Species Act was passed by President Nixon.  The Endangered Species Act allowed for the conservation of species on the brink of extinction. All these acts passed were a telling of the efforts put forth by the Audubon Society.  Without their continuous determination throughout the last 100 years, many of the species we enjoy today would have tragically disappeared from the earth.

Preservation of animal habitats is not an easy task to accomplish, especially with the ever growing population and destruction of many natural habitats around the world. The Audubon Society recognized the need to rally their efforts into the protection of all animal species.  In 1947 the Everglades National Park was established encompassing thousands of miles in the central Florida area. Protecting the Everglades has been a continuous battle for the Audubon.  In 1974 the Lillian Annette Rowe Bird Sanctuary was opened in south central Nebraska becoming a home to many migratory birds such as the beautiful Whooping Crane.  This sanctuary is actually owned and operated by the National Audubon Society. These are just a few of the victories of the Audubon in establishing habitats for our wildlife to continue on and prosper in; they continue in their fight for wildlife daily.

The American Birding Association
The American Biding Association (ABA) was formally known as the American Bird Watchers Association until 1969 when the name was changed to what it is today.  The American Birding Association was a key element in the sport of birding and presenting it to the public. Before the ABA was formed in 1968 there were no formal publications on birding.  Enthusiasts had to rely heavily on references from friends.  It was extremely difficult to gain any information that would help in the process of identifying species as well as locating them.

Publications put out by the Audubon were mainly focused on conservation and little to do with bird identification. This all changed when the ABA was formed with the publication of the "Bird Watchers Digest" which was quickly changed to "Birding". It was through this publication that the guidelines for the ABA were discussed and agreed upon by avid birders. It was agreed upon that the main focus of the ABA would be the hobby and sport of birding.  After about twenty years of this focus, it was finally agreed that the ABA would allow the topic of conservation to be addressed in addition to its primary focus of birding.

In the early years of the ABA, the "Birding" publication was the whole of the organization. Now with the passing of 39 years, the ABA has grown to encompass a wide range of communications in the birding community.  With a ABA membership you are entitled to publications, participation in conferences, conventions, travel related benefits, ABA tours, ability to purchase gear through ABA sales, and a change to get involved in the community; definitely a far cry from the early days of the ABA. The ABA is a great organization aimed at birding interests such as identification, listing, education, and conservation.

Association of Field Ornithologists
The Association of Field Ornithologist (AFO) was founded in 1922.  The AFO is one of the leading societies of both professional and beginner ornithologists.  They are committed to the scientific study as well as the circulation of their studies about birds in their natural habitats. The AFO is a membership organization devoted to bird conservation and study. The AFO is a great source of communication between the beginner and professional ornithologist.

For those not familiar with the term ornithologist, it is basically someone who studies all aspects of birds. They focus on how they live, feed, evolve, the biology of a bird, and how they are affected by the changes in environment.  The AFO is one of the six major societies in North America.  Upon becoming a member you are provided with the quarterly "Journal of Field Ornithology", AFO association newsletter, invite the AFO annual meeting, discounts, and a bimonthly newsletter. A very informative tool when one has an interest in the inner workings of birds.