Pamela and Alexander F. Skutch Research Award

The Skutch Award for Studies in Avian Natural History is offered annually by the Association of Field Ornithologists. The Fund is intended to support the study of life histories, especially social relations and reproduction, of little known birds of the Continental Neotropics including Trinidad and Tobago, with a minimum of disturbance.

The funds requested from the Award should be adequate for the intended study to avoid seeking additional funds. The grantee may be an amateur or professional ornithologist of any nationality. It is highly desirable that he or she has some previous experience of the region and birds (and if possible, the locality) where he or she will study. One award of up to $10,000 will be considered annually.

Application deadline: January 7, annually. For application guidelines, please download the application form below or write Elissa Landre, Broadmoor Sanctuary, Massachusetts Audubon, 280 Eliot St., Natick, MA 01760. elandre@massaudubon.org. (No phone calls, please.)

Application forms: English Spanish Portuguese

Previous Award Recipients:

2009: Noemi Esther Huanca Llanos, Breeding biology and habitat use of the endangered endemic Cochabamba Mountain-finch (Poospiza garleppi); Biología reproductiva y uso de hábitat de la endémica y en peligro Cochabamba Mountain Finch (Poospiza garleppi)

2008: Juan Ignacio Areta, Argentina, for a study entitled: Aves especialistas en semillas de bambú: historia natural de Claravis godefrida, Sporophila falcirostris, Sporophila frontalis y Tiaris fuliginosus durante una floración de la Takuarusu (Guadua chacoensis)

2007: Mieko Kanegae, Brazil, to study Habitat use and population size of endemic and threatened birds of Cerrado in the Ecological Station of Itirapina, Southeastern Brazil; and Sandra V. Valderrama, Colombia to study the Natural History and Landscape Influence on Vocal Variation of a Critically Endangered Songbird, Niceforo’s Wren (Thryothorus nicefori), Colombia

2006: Ursula Valdez, Peru, to study Ecology of forest-falcons (Micrastur) in Amazonian rainforest of southeast Peru

2005: Harold Greeney, Ecuador, to study the behavior and reproductive biology of little known montane passerines in eastern Ecuador

2004: Carlos Humberto Pereira de Oliveira, Brazil, to study the behavior and reproductive biology of the Restinga Antwren (Formicivora littoralis)

2003: Sandra Victoria Rojas Nossa, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, to study the ecology of a community of Andean Flowerpiercers (Diglossa and Diglossopis)

2002: Juan Diaz Alvan, Peru, to study the behavior of the recently described Antwren (Percnostola arenarum)