Guide to the Federation Of New York State Bird Clubs Records,
1946-2001

From its first organizational meeting in Rochester in 1946, the Federation served as a mechanism for birders in the state to share their ideas and experiences and to promote research, education, and conservation. The Federation numbered more than forty bird clubs in 1992, with a combined membership of over twenty thousand birders. It is governed by a council of delegates representing those clubs. Individual memberships are also accepted. Many 20th century ornithologists and prominent birders in New York State have been associated with the Federation, serving as club officers and contributing to "The Kingbird" such as Peter Paul Kellogg, Arthur A. Allen, Winston Brockner, Eugene Eisenmann, and Sally Hoyt Spofford. The name of the Federation of New York State Bird Clubs was changed to the New York State Ornithological Association (NYSOA) at a vote of its Council of Delegates meeting on November 1, 2003.

Materials relating to the organization's history and ongoing business, including minutes of meetings, membership rosters, announcements, and programs of annual meetings, photographs, news clippings, "New York Birders" from 1971, "The Kingbird" from 1950, correspondence and special projects such as the New York State Avian Records Committee, and the New York State Bird Book Committee. The bulk of the material was collected by Federation co-founder Dr. Gordon Meade, until his death in 1990, with correspondence of Dr. Foster Gambrell contributed by Charles A. Rouse of the Eaton Birding Society. Material collected by Mary Ann Sunderlin, who held numerous executive positions in the Federation: Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary, and Vice President, was donated to the Federation after her death in 1992. The complete set of "New York Birders," 1871-1993 was collected by Stanley Lincoln, President of the Federation from 1991-1993.

Publications include A Summary of the Hamlin Beach lakewatch fall and winter waterbird migration data, 1993-1999 by Brett Ewald and Dominic F. Sherony, 2001; Bull's Birds of New York State, Emanuel Levine, edition, 1998; the Atlas of Breeding Birds in New York State, edited by Robert F. Andrle and Janet R. Carroll, 1988; and Checklists of the Birds of New York State, 1989, 1991, 1996, 1999 (2 copies).