ABA: Advocating for Birds and Birders Alike

Birders: who’s got your back? The ABA does! The American Birding Association (ABA) is a non-profit organization that supports, inspires, and empowers recreational birdwatchers by providing leadership and helping to increase birders’ knowledge and skills. As described in their Mission Statement, the ABA helps to further the enjoyment of birding through publications, tours, conferences, and partnerships. In addition, with the welfare of birds at heart, the ABA developed a Code of Ethics for birding with guidelines to follow, ensuring the safety and preservation of birds and their habitats.

Birders’ Exchange is an ABA conservation initiative that Eagle Optics is proud to be part of. The program helps to put new and used optics equipment in the hands of scientists, conservationists, and educators throughout South America, Central America, and the Caribbean islands. By doing this, ABA assists our neighbors to the south in monitoring and conserving Neotropical migratory bird populations and their habitats, and creates an important people-to-people connection with those doing similar studies in North America.

Every year, ABA gives awards honoring those who have contributed significantly to the cause of birds, birders , and birding. ABA’s Young Birder of the Year Contest is open to youth between the ages of 10 and 18. This year’s winner, Rachel Butek, hails from Wisconsin! The staff at Eagle Optics congratulates Rachel for the hard work and dedication it took to earn this honor.

In short, the work ABA does, and the support it offers, is vital and deserves your support. Consider becoming a member. Join ABA today!

Originally published on April 20, 2011