Birding Organizations

Many birders belong to one or more organizations devoted to the conservation and/or enjoyment of birds. I came across a column through a twitter post that has some good pointers for deciding which birding organizations to join. After all, we all only have so much discretionary income. Birding organizations not only support the study and conservation of birds but are a good source of interesting information about birds and connections with other birders, who can help us learn to be a better birder.

I agree with many of the points made in the article and realize no article can list every worthwhile organization. Personally, I have been a member of both the Audubon Society and of the American Birding Association. They have fallen by the wayside as part of budget tightening. However, I do have a lifetime membership in the Texas Ornithological Society (TOS) and have been a member of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology for many years. I like the TOS because of its local focus and the sanctuaries (although over focused in east Texas). I like Cornell primarily because of all of the citizen science projects. For regular readers, you know I am involved with Wild Bird Rescue and the North Texas Bird and Wildlife Club in Wichita Falls.

What birding organizations do you belong to and why?

Good birding!