Florida Ornithological Society records

The Florida Ornithological Society (FOS) began with a meeting of ornithologists and birders in St. Petersburg, Florida from May 12-14, 1972. These founding members established FOS as an organization “to enable serious birders to better enjoy themselves in the field while rendering assistance to professional ornithologists.” The fledgling FOS soon held its first meeting on October 14, 1972 in Lakeland, Florida. Initially sponsored as a part of the Florida Audubon Society, the FOS’s mission to connect amateurs and professionals has produced substantial research and advances in the field of ornithology. FOS has published its journal The Florida Field Naturalist since 1973 as well as several special publications like Status and Distribution of the Florida Scrub Jay. FOS continues to hold biannual meetings at locations throughout Florida and provides the Helen G. and Allan D. Cruickshank Research Award to support research related to Florida birds.

The Florida Breeding Bird Atlas was created through a collaboration of FOS, Audubon of Florida, and the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission. FOS mobilized its members and over 1,800 people, many of whom were volunteers, took part in the project by participating in bird surveys and collecting data. Through this project, the magnitude and location of breeding birds in Florida was better understood.

Many prominent ornithologists, both professional and non-professional, have been a part of FOS, including Allan and Helen G. Cruickshank, Dr. Herbert W. Kale II, Samuel A. Grimes, Lyle S. Hubbard, and Dr. Glen E. Woolfenden. FOS continues its mission today of supporting the research and conservation of Florida’s wild birds and uniting both amateur professional ornithologists to mutually benefit one another.