© Hali J. Sowle
Leading Discovery and Conservation Since 1915
In 1915, Arthur “Doc” Allen founded the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology as a center of academic research for birds. In the decades that followed, Allen trained hundreds of students, pioneered innovative recording techniques, and built the Library of Natural Sounds, now the Macaulay Library—the world’s largest collection of natural sounds and associated video.
The modern Cornell Lab, under director John Fitzpatrick, continues the tradition and restless curiosity that “Doc” Allen established while growing it to include more than 250 staff and scientists.
The Cornell Lab is a nonprofit that receives less than 1% of its annual budget from Cornell University. We depend on more than 100,000 supporters and the leadership and vision of our Chairman's Council.
The Chairman's Council is a generous and dedicated group of Cornell Lab of Ornithology leaders who enable the Lab to pursue excellence and leadership in international scientific discovery, education, citizen science, and conservation.
The true benefits of Chairman's Council membership come from the broad impact of work at the Cornell Lab, made possible with your help. However, Chairman's Council members also receive a full complement of exclusive benefits and special opportunities for engagement.
Each year, Council members are invited to participate in a first-class birding experience with other Council members, Administrative Board members, and Cornell Lab leaders, including director John Fitzpatrick. Past trips have taken Council members to far-flung places in the Western Hemisphere, from Montana to Panama.
In addition, every year Chairman's Council members receive an exclusive museum-quality framed print of an original work of art from the Lab's private collection. These include works by masters such as Louis Agassiz Fuertes, George M. Sutton, Alan Singer, and more.
Other membership benefits include:
- An invitation to a Weekend at Sapsucker Woods, a three-day exclusive getaway filled with birder training, field trips, and special activities.
- An invitation to an annual birding eco-tour at Little St. Simon’s Island, Georgia, led by Lab experts.
- Invitations to Lab events in your area.
- Access to Lab speakers for your own events.
- Direct access to Lab faculty, staff, and student scientists.
- Insider access to innovative research findings from the Lab’s top-notch faculty, staff, and student scientists.
- An exclusive monthly Chairman’s Council newsletter, including The Clue, the monthly newsletter for Lab staff.
- Access to the exclusive Chairman’s Council website, featuring news items from around the Lab, access to publications and multimedia, Lab leader biographies, and more.
- Free subscriptions to all webinars and Bird Academy courses.
- A complimentary subscription to the Birds of North America.
- A private behind-the-scenes tour for you and guests at the Lab’s headquarters in beautiful Sapsucker Woods.
To inquire about Chairman’s Council, please contact Scott Sutcliffe at 607-254-2424, sutcliffe@cornell.edu or Bramble Klipple at 607-254-1105, klipple@cornell.edu.