First Official Finch Research Network (FiRN) Board Meeting Is In The Books.
We’re all excited to have the first meeting in the books! This was a meeting of the “initial board members” (top left: Matt Young, FiRN Founder and President; top right Holger Klinck, Director of Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Center for Conservation Bioacoustics; bottom left: Tim Spahr, professional astronomer and field ornithologist; and bottom right: Patrick Franke, sound recordist and field biologist in Germany), and the above photo is the proof, but we also approved the “full board” of finch researcher Tom Hahn at UC Davis, finch researcher Jamie Cornelius at Oregon State University, freelance ornithologist and sound recordist Ian Cruickshank, engineer and birder Ken McEnamey, and finch forecaster and biologist Tyler Hoar.
While much of the first meeting involved procedural issues and formalities, the Board did also discuss fundraising and launching our first two research projects. We hope to fund engaging student projects that will have a focus on field work and getting people outdoors. One of our first projects will likely involve the loudest and most spectacular finches in North America — Evening Grosbeaks. We’ll also be engaging a few branches of research on Red Crossbills, some of which are already on-going as part of it being our flagship project. Of course all members present are excited about the opportunity to devote time and effort to studying this fascinating family of birds, and some of us are really keen to get back to doing some regular field work and engaging with students of all ages. Since the launch of our website, we have received an outpouring of support from a devoted group of finch enthusiasts, and we are looking forward to engaging with them as research unfolds.
FiRN is a nonprofit, and has been granted 501c3 status. FiRN is committed to researching and protecting these birds and other threatened finch species like the Evening Grosbeak and Rosy-finches, and if you have been enjoying all the blogs and identifying of Red Crossbill call types, redpoll subspecies and green morph Pine Siskins FiRN has helped with, please think about supporting our efforts and making a small donation at the donate link below.