Georgia Ornithological Society
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Abbreviation | GOS |
|---|---|
| Formation | December 1936 |
| 23-7044027 | |
| Headquarters | Brookhaven, Georgia |
Executive Committee President | Ed Maioriello |
| Website | www |
The Georgia Ornithological Society is the principal birding and bird conservation organization in the American state of Georgia.
The Georgia Ornithological Society (GOS) was founded by a group of 22 people from the Atlanta Birding Club in December 1936. Unlike many ornithological societies, the GOS's main focus is researching birds in a more scientific manner. Over time, however, membership among non-professional scientists has increased. One of the prominent people in attendance of the Atlanta Birding Club's meeting the night before the GOS was established was Roger Tory Peterson, an important 20th century environmentalist.[1]
Herbert Stoddard was chosen as the first president of the Georgia Ornithological Society.[1] Stoddard was an early proponent of the controlled burn, which was a very controversial practice at the time. Stoddard argued that these fires could be used for healthy ecological management. Specifically, these intentional fires acted as disturbances in longleaf-grassland environments in the South.[2] He wrote about these fires in his book The Bobwhite Quail: Its Habits, Preservation, and Increase in 1931. This book is still very influential in the field of wildlife management.[3]
Mission
The mission of the Georgia Ornithological Society is to encourage the scientific study of birds by gathering and disseminating information on Georgia birdlife. It actively promotes bird conservation by encouraging the preservation of habitats vital to the survival of resident and migratory birds. It also awards scholarships, produces scientific publications, and provides fellowship among people interested in nature.
