American Birding Association
 |
|
| Abbreviation | ABA |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1968 |
| Type | Non-profit organization |
| Purpose | "Inspiring all people to enjoy and protect wild birds" |
| Headquarters | Delaware City, Delaware |
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Region served
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North America |
|
President
|
Jeffrey A. Gordon |
|
Main organ
|
Board of Directors |
| Website | ABA |
The American Birding Association (ABA) is a non-profit organization, founded in 1969, dedicated to recreational birding in Canada and the United States. It has been called "the standard-bearer for serious birding in North America." Originally concentrated on finding, listing, and identifying rare birds, the ABA now seeks to serve all birders with a wide range of services and publications.
In December 1968, in the first issue (volume 0, number 0) of The Birdwatcher's Digest, Jim Tucker proposed the formation of a group to be known as the "American Birdwatchers' Association" for the exchange of information and the comparison of birding lists.
On the suggestion of Stuart Keith, the next issue of Tucker's newsletter bore the name Birding (volume 1, number 1). This January/February 1969 issue included a statement of intentions and objectives and three pages of lists, including the birders with the top ten lists for the world and for the area then covered by the Check-list of the American Ornithologists' Union (AOU). The organization was renamed the American Birding Association. Expressly excluding conservation advocacy and ornithological research, the ABA's initial focus was on the hobby and sport of birding. Through its publications and events, the early ABA sought to connect avid birders, establish rules for listing, and communicate the latest identification techniques. By 1970, the organization had more than 500 members.
The first officers included Keith as president, Arnold Small as vice-president, and Tucker as secretary and treasurer. Shortly thereafter, Joseph W. Taylor became treasurer, and Bob Smart joined as second vice-president. Benton Basham became membership chairman in 1971, and was responsible for much of the organization's growth.
Beginning with volume 3 (1971), Birding was redesigned as a magazine; the annual page count increased to 258 from 96 in 1970. The last issue of 1971 introduced a new full-color logo, designed by Guy Tudor, with the image of a red-billed tropicbird.
The ABA held its first convention in 1973 in Kenmare, North Dakota and its second in Leamington, Ontario.
Subsequent presidents of the organization have included Arnold Small (1976-1979), Joseph W. (Joe) Taylor (1979-1983), Lawrence G. (Larry) Balch (1983-1989), Allan Keith (1989-1993; 1997-1999), Daniel T. (Dan) Williams (1993-1997), and Jeffrey Gordon (2008-present).
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