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What
is TOS?
The Tennessee Ornithological Society is an independent,
non-profit, educational and scientific organization devoted to the study and conservation
of birds. Our members encourage the study of bird life, to record such findings
and to spread our interest among others. The TOS
Constitution was last amended in May, 1998.
History
Our society was founded October 7, 1915
when six professional men, all amateur
ornithologists, met at Faucon's French
Restaurant in Nashville. A historical
marker commemorates the founding.
Click
image to enlarge.
The
first chapter was established at Nashville
with Knoxville following in 1923. In June 1930,
TOS launched The Migrant as its quarterly
publication, thus establishing a source
of communication between birders
in Tennessee and with persons of similiar interests in areas outside the state
and in others countries. Chapters
Our organization is a federation of
more than a dozen chapters which hold
regular
meeting and field trips. Meetings
Statewide meetings of the society are held in early May and October or November.
The meetings are scheduled in various parts of the state, so that members may
become aquainted with the habitat and rich bird life of Tennessee as well as to
have an occasional meeting near home.
Activities
TOS members have been active as a society with regular events since the beginning.
Our annual efforts include the Summer Foray which is held in June, the annual
autumn hawk counts, spring and fall bird counts, winter raptor surveys, and the
annual Christmas counts.
Publications
Our quarterly journal of ornithology, The Migrant, was first published in
June 1930 to "record and encourage the study of birds in Tennessee."
It is on file in many libraries, museums, and educational institutions throughout
the world. It includes not only full-length articles about study projects and
findings, but also regular features. Some of the features include notes detailing
unusual bird sightings, seasonal reports, count results, and book reviews. The
Tennessee Warbler is a semi-annual newsletter with information about spring and
fall meetings, chapter news, and announcements of special projects. Local chapters
also publish newsletters with details of local meetings, field trips, and bird
sightings. Projects
Each year our members take part in numerous projects. TOS members recently
carried out the Tennessee Breeding Bird Atlas Project, in which they systematically
surveyed breeding birds across Tennessee. That effort established a record of
the distribution and relative abundance of the breeding bird species in Tennessee
and is now available as The Atlas of the Breeding Birds of Tennessee. We
cooperate with other organizations in various projects, including The Audubon
Christmas Bird Count, the National Wildlife Federation Mid-Winter Eagle Survey,
hawk migration monitoring in conjunction with the Hawk Migration Association of
North America, and shorebird monitoring in association with Manomet Bird Observatory.
Individual members also conduct annual roadside counts as part of the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service Breeding Bird Survey; band birds under the North American
bird banding program of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; conduct point counts
for the Partners in Flight avian monitoring project and establish and monitor
Bluebird Trails and Purple Martin Colonies.
Membership
Our membership includes hundreds of people engaged in all aspects of bird
study at all levels - from back yard birders to professional biologists. TOS has
an "esprit de corps" which encompasses all ages. We have never endeavored
to become a large organization, but we do seek members who by reason of their
love of birds and nature, or through their scientific inclinations, can be expected
to sustain these interests through TOS.
To become a member of the Tennessee Ornithological Society and receive the quarterly
journal, The Migrant, and the three-times a year newsletter The Tennessee
Warbler, please contact a chapter in your area for affiliation or join as
an At Large member. State membership rates are as follows:
Individual $ 18
Family $ 22
Sustaining Member $ 30
U.S.
Library or Institution $ 25
Non-U.S. Library or Institution $ 35
Life
Member $ 450
If you wish to join as an At Large member, send a check for the
desired membership level to:
Tennessee Ornithological Society
Attn.:
N. P. McWhirter
P.O. Box 22682
Memphis, TN 38122
Inquiries about membership may be directed to:
Treasurer Mac McWhirter at
treasurer@tnbirds.org
Questions about manuscripts for The Migrant may be directed to:
Editor Chris
Welsh at migrant@tnbirds.org
Send subscriptions & address changes for The Migrant to:
Tennessee Ornithological
Society
Attn: N. P. McWhirter
P.O. Box 22682
Memphis, TN
38122 Request Back Issues of
The Migrant from:
Treasurer Mac McWhirter at treasurer@tnbirds.org
Address any other questions
to President Richard Connors. Please mention that you saw this on the Tennessee
Ornithological Society's Website. Officers
for 2007-2009
President:
Richard H. Connors, 603 Barrywood Dr. Nashville TN 37220, (615) 832-0521 , E-mail:
Rconnorsphoto@aol.com Vice
Presidents:
East Tenn. - Rack Cross, E-mail rackcross@embarqmail.com
Middle Tenn. - Melinda Welton, E-mail weltonmj@earthlink.net
West Tenn. - Dick Preston, E-mail dickpreston@bigriver.net
Directors-at-Large:
East Tenn. - Dee Eiklor, 577 Liberty Church Rd. Gray,
TN 37615, (423)677-7915, E-mail: EIKLORD@k12tn.net
Middle Tenn. - Dr. Stephen Routledge
West
Tenn. - Donna Ward, 220 Georgia Ave., McKenzie, TN 38201, (901)352-2391 Curator:
Charles (Chuck) P. Nicholson, P.O. Box 402, Norris, TN 37828-0402, (865)494-8688,
E-mail: cpnichol@bellsouth.net
Assistant Curator: Ron Hoff, 282 Hackworth Ln., Clinton, TN 37716, (865)588-0285,
E-mail: dollyron@icx.net
Secretary: Laura McCall, 399 Main Street, Lynchburg 37352. E-mail: laurajmccall@earthlink.net
Treasurer: N. P. McWhirter, P.O. Box 22682, Memphis, TN 38122 (901)682-2355, E-mail:
treasurer@tnbirds.org
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