1. Agricultural Careers Ornithologist By: Dr. Frank Flanders and Taylor Ginn Georgia Agricultural Education Curriculum Office Georgia Department of Education June 2005 START

2. Job Duties & Responsibilities Examine how birds live in their environments Study bird anatomy and health Study the evolution of bird species Track populations of endangered species Promote conservation of bird habitats Write and publish reports of their findings

3. Qualities and Skills Excellent observation abilities Patient, meticulous, and have a good eye for detail Have a passion and respect for nature and avian science

4. Salary The salary of an ornithologist varies tremendously depending on a person’s education and experience. A person with a bachelor’s degree may begin working with an income around $30,000 a year. Someone with a PhD in ornithology will generally have a salary around $45,000 annually. These numbers can vary depending on what type of work is being done. As a college professor, the salaries can be much higher, ranging from $50,000 to $75,000 per year.

5. Work Environment Teaching and researching at colleges and universities Some work in zoos where they are veterinarians, zoologists, or zookeepers Museums, where they might deal with specimens and teach about natural history Outdoors in the field where the weather will not always be comfortable Time on a computer, analyzing data sets from observations and experiments In laboratories with sensitive equipment

6. Becoming an Ornithologist In high school, take science, math, and writing/English courses Join a local bird-watching club or organization Join the National Audubon Society Volunteer at a zoo, aviary, wildlife refuge, or bird sanctuary

7. Career Resources The American Ornithologists’ Union http://www.aou.org/ American Birding Association http://www.americanbirding.org Cooper Ornithological Society http://www.cooper.org The National Audubon Society http://www.audubon.org/ Association of Field Ornithologists http://www.afonet.org/english/index.html Agricultural Careers http://www.agcareers.com