American Birding Association

The American Birding Association (ABA) is a non-profit organization of people interested in birding. It's open to all, but many of its publications and programs are aimed at birders who like making difficult field identifications and finding rare species. It supports competitive birding by, among other things, encouraging members to submit the numbers of species they've observed--in their lifetime, in the current year, or in one day, for various regions--and publishing the numbers annually.

The ABA also promulgates a code of ethics to protect birds, the environment, and property owners from over-eager birders. It offers educational programs for both young people and adults. Its for-profit subsidiary sells such things as bird guides and binoculars. In recent years, it has widened its mission to include conservation.

External Link: The American Birding Association