American Ornithological Society
Charles was a long time memberand fellow of the AOU/AOS si nce 2006 and attended many functions and and annual meetings.
He presented a paper just 3 months before his death in 2024 as the annual meeting in Colorado.
What is the American Ornithological Society (AOS)? We’re a diverse, global network of empowered professionals, working together to advance the scientific study and conservation of birds. The world’s largest international ornithological society, the AOS is more relevant today than ever, and we’re dedicated to supporting the scientists doing this critical work—for the sake of birds, humanity, and the planet.
The American Ornithologists’ Union (AOU) was founded in 1883 by William Brewster, Elliott Coues, and Joel Allen out of concern for bird conservation and interest in developing the field of ornithology in North America. Early AOU efforts led to formation of the National Audubon Society and the Biological Survey (now known as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service). Before merging with the Cooper Ornithological Society to form the American Ornithological Society in 2016 (see below), the AOU was the largest ornithological society in the Western Hemisphere and one of the oldest organizations in the world devoted to the scientific study and conservation of birds. The AOU archives are housed at the Smithsonian Institution, and a history of the society’s first century was published in 2016.
The Cooper Ornithological Society (COS) commemorated an early western naturalist, Dr. James G. Cooper, and grew from a small band of naturalists in 1893 to an internationally recognized scientific society. The COS was committed to advancing the conservation and management of bird species by applying high-quality science, grounded in natural history, to our understanding of avian biology. The COS archives are housed at several institutions:
Effective 11 October 2016, these two societies merged to form the American Ornithological Society, now the world’s largest professional organization for ornithologists.
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AOS Vision
A broad and engaged ornithological community that advances the understanding and conservation of birds
AOS Mission
To connect ornithologists, science, and bird conservation by
- Supporting science that advances the understanding and conservation of birds
- Promoting broad access to ornithological science
- Supporting ornithologists throughout their career paths, and
- Fostering a welcoming, diverse, supportive, and dynamic ornithological community.
Our Goals
View our Strategic Plan.
- Supporting impactful ornithological science
- Communicating and providing access to ornithological science
- Broadening and strengthening professional development and career support
- Fostering an inclusive ornithological community
- Excellence in governance and operations
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