The Waterbird Society aims to promote basic and applied research on waterbirds and their habitats, foster science-based waterbird conservation, and enhance communication and education among professionals, policymakers, and citizens.
The Waterbird Society Research Award strives to advance the understanding of waterbird biology, ecology, status assessment, and conservation biology. It encourages proposals focusing on basic research of understudied species, monitoring projects to fill knowledge gaps on waterbird populations, and initiatives that significantly contribute to waterbird conservation. Proposals are evaluated based on their scientific merit, including study design, methods, and potential to contribute to conservation efforts. Awards up to a total of $5,000 are granted based on the competition's scientific merit, without regard to the financial or educational status of applicants.