The American Ornithologists' Union's Support of Latin American Ornithology

Abstract

I read with interest both Strahl's (1992) and Foster's (1993) commentaries on furthering avian conservation in Latin American countries. They are correct that Latin American workers urgently need more support in conservation and research efforts in their countries and that North Americans should become involved in appropriate ways. Most of the emphasis in the two commentaries was on the role of individuals. Strahl, however, also mentioned several activities that might be undertaken by the American Ornithologists' Union as an institution. Several of these suggested activities are already underway, and the fact that Strahl was unaware of them suggests that the AOU's efforts should be much better publicized. It is important to remember that the AOU is not a conservation organization per se. Its charter (under which it is incorporated and obtains its tax-exempt status) states that the AOU's purposes are (1) the advancement of ornithology through publications, support of scientific research and the organization of conferences and meetings, and (2) the conservation of birds by providing a scientific basis for management activities and education. Within these limits the AOU has become involved in the support of Latin American ornithologists and more can be done. Strahl cited the directory to ornithology in the Neotropics that was published by the AOU's Conservation Committee (Copperband 1985). This directory provided information about Latin American individuals, organizations, and institutions that are involved in ornithological research and conservation. It was published in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. The directory (English version) has now been updated by the AOU's more recently formed Committee on PanAmerican Affairs (see Rosenberg and Wiedenfeld, 1993). The AOU's Grants, Awards and Prizes in Ornithology (Banks 1989) was distributed gratis to all Latin American members of the AOU and to more than 100 Latin American libraries (listed by Davis 1989). The third edition of the grants booklet (Grubb 1993) includes a table showing eligibility requirements and restrictions on the locality and nature of the research being supported. A few of the grants are restricted to Latin American workers and/or conservation in the Neotropics. Many have no restrictions. Of the AOU's research awards, none is exclusively for Latin American workers, but the Alexander Wetmore Research Awards are aimed primarily at systematic, paleontological, or Neotropical research projects. To date most of the Wetmore Awards relating to the Neotropics have been made to North American students, but they are equally available to Latin American applicants. Both the AOU's Wetmore and Van Tyne Funds are legally restricted (by the donors) to the support of research and cannot be used for activities that are solely conservationist in nature. In 1992 the AOU, through its Committee on PanAmerican Affairs, provided funds for four students (from Mexico, Brazil, and Argentina) to attend the meeting in Ames, Iowa. Funding for this activity was not provided for the Alaska meeting in 1993, but grants totalling $5,000 will help Latin American students attend the 1994 meeting in Missoula, Montana. That joint meeting of the AOU, Cooper Ornithological Society, and the Wilson Ornithological Society should be very well attended and should provide an excellent opportunity for interaction of Latin American and North American workers. In 1991 the AOU reduced dues for all Latin American members (and those from certain other countries) to the equivalent of the student rate. A system exists that permits AOU members to sponsor Latin American (and other) members or libraries. This opportunity was publicized in the Ornithological Newsletter (No. 78, 1990) and a Recent Ornithological Literature supplement (108:4, 1991), but the response has been limited. (However, one member generously provided five-year subscriptions to a library in each of four countries where he had done fieldwork.) Sponsorship of an individual or library is a significant, relatively inexpensive, and easy way for individuals to help Latin Americans. The AOU assisted the IVth Neotropical Ornithological Congress (Quito, Ecuador, 1991) through direct support ($2,500) and travel grants ($2,700). Additionally, the AOU applied for and received an NSF grant for $10,000 for a symposium on collection management at the congress, organized jointly by individuals from Mexico and Colombia. That grant provided travel assistance for symposium participants and made it possible to publish (in Spanish) and distribute the symposium contributions throughout Latin America (see Escalante-Pliego 1993). In 1987 the AOU obtained a grant from the Pew Charitable Trusts to survey Latin American naturalhistory libraries and to publish the results (Davis 1989). The publication includes information about the size of each library and its emphasis, the number of sci-