Ornithological Society of New Zealand
Encyclopedia
The Ornithological Society of New Zealand (OSNZ) was founded in 1940. It is a non-profit organisation dedicated to the study of birds and their habitats in the New Zealand
region. It caters for a wide variety of people interested in the birds of the region, from professional ornithologists
to casual birdwatchers
. It publishes a quarterly scientific journal, Notornis, as well as a quarterly news magazine, Southern Bird. It also organises membership-based scientific projects, such as the Atlas of Bird Distribution in New Zealand.
. It became an incorporated
body in January 1953.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
region. It caters for a wide variety of people interested in the birds of the region, from professional ornithologists
Ornithology
Ornithology is a branch of zoology that concerns the study of birds. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related disciplines, due partly to the high visibility and the aesthetic appeal of birds...
to casual birdwatchers
Birdwatching
Birdwatching or birding is the observation of birds as a recreational activity. It can be done with the naked eye, through a visual enhancement device like binoculars and telescopes, or by listening for bird sounds. Birding often involves a significant auditory component, as many bird species are...
. It publishes a quarterly scientific journal, Notornis, as well as a quarterly news magazine, Southern Bird. It also organises membership-based scientific projects, such as the Atlas of Bird Distribution in New Zealand.
Aims
The aims of the OSNZ are to:- encourage, organise and promote the study of birds and their habitat use particularly within the New Zealand region
- foster and support the wider knowledge and enjoyment of birds generally
- promote the recording and wide circulation of the results of bird studies and observations
- produce a journal and any other publication containing matters of ornithological interest
- effect co-operation and exchange of information with other organisations having similar aims and objects
- assist the conservation and management of birds by providing information, from which sound management decisions can be derived
- maintain a library of ornithological literature for the use of members and to promote a wider knowledge of birds
- promote the archiving of observations, studies and records of birds particularly in the New Zealand region
- carry out any other activity which is capable of being conveniently carried out in connection with the above objects, or which directly or indirectly advances those objects or any of them
History
Following preliminary discussions in 1938 and 1939, the OSNZ was formally established at an inaugural general meeting, chaired by Robert Falla, on 24 May 1940 at Canterbury Museum in ChristchurchChristchurch
Christchurch is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the country's second-largest urban area after Auckland. It lies one third of the way down the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula which itself, since 2006, lies within the formal limits of...
. It became an incorporated
Incorporation (business)
Incorporation is the forming of a new corporation . The corporation may be a business, a non-profit organisation, sports club, or a government of a new city or town...
body in January 1953.