Career as a Ornithologist

An ornithologist is a person who studies birds. Ornithologists study every aspect of birds, including bird songs, flight patterns, physical appearance, and migration patterns. There are three well-known types of ornithology study, namely collection-based, field-based research, and laboratory-based research. Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) located at Mumbai (formerly Bombay) and Sálim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON) located near Coimbatore are two of the ornithological societies present in India.

Table of Contents

• What is Ornithology?
• Eligibility to Become Ornithologist
• Salary of an Ornithologist
• Employment Sector for Ornithologist
• Top Recruiting Agencies and Organizations for Ornithologist
• Ornithologist Job Roles
• Tasks of an Ornithologist
• Applications of Ornithology
• Skills Required for Ornithologist
• Books on Ornithology

What is Ornithology?

With over 10,000 species worldwide, birds are part of our everyday experience. Have you ever watched birds at a bird feeder or admired peacocks dancing at the zoo? If so, then you have been an unofficial part of the field of ornithology.

Ornithology is a branch of science devoted to studying birds. Ornithology deals with any bird; whether it is the tiniest bird in the world, the hummingbird, or an extra-large emu, all these fall under the realm of ornithology.

Eligibility to Become Ornithologist

Candidates must have completed their 12th (10+2) from a recognized board or university, with their core subjects being biology, zoology, chemistry, animal science, or zoology-related core subjects.

To become an ornithologist in India, below are the following qualifications.

• The aspirant must hold a bachelor's degree in biology, zoology, animal science, etc., from a recognized board or a university.
• If one wishes to work as a researcher or scientist, they must have a PhD. As most research-based jobs require at least a master's level qualification (MS/M.Sc) and increasing specialism, a doctorate is necessary.
• Aspiring ornithologists can enrol in zoology and wildlife biology programs, including ornithology courses as electives.

Salary of an Ornithologist

Bird conservationists can earn up to INR 2.80 Lakhs per annum initially, and experienced Ornithologists can earn up to INR 4.80 Lakhs per annum. An Ecologist who is just at the entry-level can earn as much as INR 3.20 Lakhs per annum and, depending on the experience, earn up to INR 5.50 Lakhs per annum.

The number can vary from field to field depending on the individual's experience, the more experienced, the better. It also includes the skills they have developed over the years.

Below are the average salaries of various Ornithologist job roles.

Ornithologist Job Roles and Average Salary

Ornithologist Job Roles	Average Salary (Per Annum)
Ecologist	INR 4.20 Lakhs
Bird Biologist	INR 4 Lakhs
Bird Geneticist	INR 3.75 Lakhs
Bird Conservationist	INR 3.60 Lakhs
Nature Educator	INR 4 Lakhs

Employment Sector for Ornithologist

There are various sectors for those interested in ornithology, and there's no compulsion to follow a single route in this field.

Below are the various employment opportunities of an Ornithologist.

• Sanctuaries 
• Wildlife centres
• NGO's
• Ecological tour guides
• Ecologists
• Teachers
• Zoos
• Researcher
• Forest departments

Top Recruiting Agencies and Organizations for Ornithologist

There are various recruiters and organizations that hire Ornithologists in India. The top 5 agencies have been listed for understanding the birds and developing science-based methods of bird conservation.

The following are some of the organizations that hire professionals as an ornithologist.

• Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History
• Indian Council of Agricultural Research
• Wildlife Institute of India
• Plant & Animals Welfare Society (PAWS)
• NGOs related to birds in general
• Bird Conservation Society

Famous Ornithologists in the World

Here are a few of the most famous ornithologists in the world.

• Salim Ali
• John James Audubon
• John Gould
• William Beebe
• Frank Chapman

Ornithologist Job Roles

There are no specific job roles in their field, but ornithologists can always choose a field they want to work in.

A few of the following are given below,

• Becoming a field biologist who studies the behaviour and importance of birds in the environment. They thus understand the mechanism that involves and governs the functioning of biological processes of species within the bird kingdom.
• Ecologists study and assess the diversity, survey the ecosystems, and discover the different organisms' behaviour.
• Bird conservationists help find out bird migration patterns, their number of species and even protect and preserve the birds' species.
• Nature educator is an exciting role as he/she is the one who helps to bring awareness to the public on diversity, raising awareness about environmental issues and whatnot.

Tasks of an Ornithologist

A day is not very simple in the life of an ornithologist. They must be hardworking because capturing these observations of the birds and studying them is not easy.

An ornithologist day to day tasks can include the following,

• Conducting surveys
• Study avian systems
• Monitoring bird species
• Monitor the status and trends of bird populations
• Tracking bird movements
• Make presentations to the public or teach ornithology classes.
• Collecting data
• Use genomic tools and bird migration patterns
• Analyzing the collected data
• Evaluating data
• Plan & conduct bird surveys and studies
• Preparation of reports
• Co-ordinating technical details for various cross-disciplinary environmental projects
• Making management plans
• Giving presentations on the information gathered

Applications of Ornithology

There are various ways in which the study of birds has been useful. The applications of how birds have been beneficial in the world are numerous.

Below are some of the applications of Ornithology.

• Individual birds help in fertilizing flowers.
• Individual birds also control the spread of weeds.
• Bird-friendly landscaping promotes environmental conservation.
• Bird watching has become very common as it is proven to reduce stress.
• Scavenging birds help in reducing disease outbreaks and recycle nutrients.
• Fruit-eating birds help spread fruit seeds.
• Large flocks of pigeons in cities are often considered a nuisance, and in ornithology research, new techniques have been brought up to reduce their populations or their impacts.
• Many insectivorous birds are also noted as beneficial in agriculture.
• Birds are also of medical importance and their role as carriers of human diseases such as Japanese encephalitis, West Nile virus, and influenza H5N1.
• Wild birds impact many human activities.
• Domesticated birds are important sources of eggs, meat, feathers, and other products.

Skills Required for Ornithologist

Skills play a crucial role in any field in today's world. They are what shape the graduate's career and make them successful.

These are some of the skills required for an ornithologist to be successful.

• Observation
• Active learning
• Critical thinking
• Patience
• Knowledge of biology
• Good verbal communication skills
• Team working skills
• Science skills
• Maths knowledge
• Pay attention to detail

Books on Ornithology

Reading helps understand the topics better, improves the analytical thinking process, and improves memory. There are number of Ornithology books from the subject experts.

Here are ten books on ornithology that will be helpful.

Top 10 Ornithology Books

Ornithology Books	Authors
Handbook of Bird Biology	Irby J. Lovette, John W. Fitzpatrick
The Genius of Birds	Jennifer Ackerman
A Two-Hundred Year History of Ornithology, Avian Biology, Bird Watching, and Birding in Kansas	Thomas Shane
Ornithology, Foundation, Analysis, and Application	Michael L. Morrison, Amanda D. Rodewald, Gary Voelker, Melanie R. Colón
Save the Birds	Michael Brooke, Tim Birkhead
Peterson Field Guide to Bird Sounds of Eastern North America	Nathan Pieplow
Ornithology	Frank Gill
Ornithology in Laboratory and Field	Olin Sewall Pettingill Jr.
Cambridge Encyclopedia of Ornithology	Michael Brooke, Tim Birkhead
Henry Dresser and Victorian Ornithology, Birds, books, and business	Henry A. McGhie