American Ornithological Society and BirdsCaribbean will be Meeting in Puerto Rico in 2022—Join Us!

Our conference theme refers to our optimism that we can revitalize our science and community. Our meeting location, Puerto Rico, is a symbol of perseverance and revival. We gather together to support and reconnect after our shared struggles during the global pandemic and to forge a path towards recovery.

We will be flying together! For the first time, the American Ornithological Society (AOS) and BirdsCaribbean will host a joint conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, from 27 June to 2 July, 2022, partnering with local hosts Para la Naturaleza and Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña. Held under the theme, “On the Wings of Recovery: Resilience and Action,” the conference will mark the 140th Annual Meeting of the AOS and the 23rd International Conference of BirdsCaribbean.

The conference will bring together ornithologists, wildlife professionals, educators, community leaders, students, and others to share information and learn about the latest research and innovative initiatives to conserve birds and their habitats. There will be exciting keynote and plenary speakers, symposia, workshops, roundtable discussions, contributed papers, and posters. In addition, we will have a variety of exhibitors from the commercial, non-profit, and government sectors. We will also host a series of daily, fun networking events for you to make new connections and reconnect with colleagues. Finally, numerous field trips will be offered to give you a chance to explore and bird in fabulous Puerto Rico. We are looking forward to meeting in person!*

Latest News and Updates

Registration is now open: You can register for the conference at this link!

The call for abstracts for oral presentations and posters has closed.

Workshops and Training Opportunities: See the list of full list of exciting and invaluable learning opportunities here. Most workshops will be held on Monday, 27 June, the day before the conference paper sessions begin, however, two workshops will be held during the conference, and one on Saturday, July 2nd, after the conference ends on July 1st.

Symposia: Check this link to see the symposia that have been accepted for the conference – there are 4 symposia that are focussed on the Caribbean and many others that will be of interest to all. If you’ve been invited to give a talk in a symposia, be sure to submit your abstract by the March 8th deadline.

Travel Support: Thanks to generous donors and sponsors, some funding will be available to assist students, post-docs, early career professionals, and Caribbean nationals with travel costs to the conference. There is also a category in support of D&I (Diversity and Inclusion) participation and participation by Puerto Ricans. Click here to learn about the Travel Awards and submit an application! Note that although you don’t have to give a paper or poster at the conference to apply for travel support, those persons who are giving a paper or poster or contributing in some way to the conference program will be strongly favored for award selection.

Round-tables: Check out the interesting Round-tables on the conference schedule here.

Silent Auction: This event is a tradition at our BirdsCaribbean conferences. Learn more about it at this link! Please bring at least one awesome item to donate to the auction and bring some money to shop. It’s all for a great cause – supporting travel of Caribbean nationals and students to attend our conference!!!

All of BirdsCaribbean’s Working Groups (Endangered and Threatened Species, Seabirds, Waterbirds, West Indian Duck and Wetlands, Diablotin/ Black-capped Petrel, Monitoring, Bird Education, Checklist, Media, Caribbean Parrots, etc.) will be meeting at the conference – we need everyone there to share your work and plan activities!!! Travel Visa Application Letter of Invitation – If you are a resident of a country outside of the United States and need a letter of invitation to the AOS & BC 2022 conference for a travel visa application, please fill out the form on this page. Please allow up to five business days for your request to be processed. Mark your calendars and plan to join us on the beautiful tropical island of Puerto Rico, one of the four islands of the Greater Antilles, in a region which is one of the top five hotspots of endemism in plant and vertebrate species globally. Puerto Rico is home to 370 bird species, with 17 out of the 171 endemic species of the region. Its intriguing landscapes – from mangrove wetlands to beaches to rainforests – are there to be enjoyed.

Field Trips: Conference partners and local hosts, Para la Naturaleza (PLN) and the Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña, Inc. (SOPI), have organized field trips across the island. Field trips are available before, during and after the conference. Learn more here. Note that registration for field trips is separate from conference registration.

**Conference logo celebrates theme: “On the Wings of Recovery: Resilience and Action”**

Now let us take a closer look at the conference logo. Designed by the super-talented young artist and biologist Josmar Esteban Marquez, the logo reflects the theme, depicting six of Puerto Rico’s 17 endemic species or subspecies and one regional endemic. These include the Puerto Rican Parrot (Iguaca) which has made a remarkable recovery since 1975, when only a handful remained in the wild. There are now over 500, thanks to captive breeding and the release of individuals into their forest habitat, with more than half now reproducing in the wild. What an example of resiliency!

Here are the species so beautifully depicted in our logo, from left to right:

The Elfin-woods Warbler (Setophaga angelae) is a dainty, mostly black and white warbler, endemic to a few forested areas on the island such as the El Yunque. It was first discovered by ornithologists in 1969! Its call is not as musical as you might expect, but territorial pairs do sing duets while defending territory – and they apparently mate for life.

The Puerto Rican Nightjar (Antrostomus noctitherus) is an Endangered endemic species. The males sing throughout the year and during the breeding season they incubate young on the ground in the daytime. They are more abundant in the upland forest in and around the Guánica Biosphere Reserve, where they feed on insects under the canopy during the night.

The Yellow-shouldered Blackbird, (Agelaius xanthomus), locally named “Mariquita,” is another Endangered endemic species mainly to be found in the mangrove zone of southwestern Puerto Rico and on Mona Island. It has suffered greatly from brood parasitism by the invasive Shiny Cowbird, which lays its eggs in the Blackbird’s nests. The blackbird has many displays and vocalizations and usually walks on the ground.

The elegant West Indian Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna arborea) is endemic to the Caribbean region and one of the rarest ducks in the Americas – despite being down-listed to Vulnerable status in 2019 by BirdLife International. It can be found in freshwater and saline wetlands, including coastal mangroves, lagoons, and tidal flats, and forages for berries, seeds and grain, mostly at night.

The Critically Endangered Puerto Rican Parrot (Amazona vittata) is a beautiful endemic species threatened by predation, the caged bird trade, and natural disasters such as hurricanes; but is benefiting greatly from the ongoing recovery program. It is almost entirely green, with blue-edged wings and a bright red frontal band.

An endemic species, the Puerto Rican Tody (Todus mexicanus) is called San Pedrito, Medio peso, and Papagayo locally. This bright gem of a bird lives in wooded areas from the coast to mountainous areas and often makes itself heard. It nests in burrows in earth banks.

The Puerto Rican Sharp-shinned Hawk, (Accipiter striatus venator), an endemic subspecies, is a rare sight, best spotted in the Toro Negro and Maricao forests. A solitary, rather secretive hawk with a small head and large eyes, it usually launches surprise attacks on its prey from the air, but will also pursue prey on the ground.

As we have already noted, habitat destruction for urban developments and agriculture has been a contributing factor to the declining numbers of these species, as well as predation by invasive species. In recent years, the increased frequency and severity of tropical storms (such as Hurricanes Irma and María in 2017) and other impacts of climate change have also created problems for humans and wildlife in general. Puerto Rico’s endemics and other bird species face many challenges.

At our joint conference in San Juan, we will discuss actions to be taken to boost the resilience of these and other birds, and to give them “wings of recovery!” We look forward to having you join us, as we strategize for a better tomorrow – not only for the island’s wonderful birds, but for those across the Americas!

*NOTE: We are closely monitoring current pandemic conditions and will follow guidance and ordinances provided by local health authorities regarding travel, masking, and social-distancing requirements during the conference. All attendees of AOS & BC 2022 will be required to be fully vaccinated, as defined by U.S. Centers for Disease and Control Prevention (CDC) guidelines. Conference hashtag: #AOS_BC_22 https://youtu.be/5YsUEviRYiw