Win up to $5,000 for Bird Conservation Research in Latin America and the Caribbean: AOS 2026 Grant Guide

If you study birds in Latin America or the Caribbean and you are an early-career researcher with a graduate degree, this is the small-but-mighty grant you want on your radar. The American Ornithological Society (AOS) is putting up awards of up to $5,000 to support conservation-oriented projects that have immediate relevance for species and habitats in Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. Think of it as funding sized for boots-on-the-ground projects: targeted, practical, and aimed at people who live and work in the region.

This program is deliberately focused: it supports early-career scientists within five years of their graduate degree, prioritizes projects that address species of concern, and favors proposals that show clear ties to local communities and institutions. The funding is not huge, but when used well it can pay for field seasons, community-based monitoring, permits, essential equipment, or targeted experiments that produce actionable conservation recommendations. If your research is poised to help a threatened population or critical habitat and you can write a tight, persuasive narrative, this grant can move the needle.

Below you’ll find everything you need to know to decide whether to apply, how to prepare a competitive application, and the practical steps to submit by the February 27, 2026 deadline.

At a Glance

What This Opportunity Offers

This AOS grant is purpose-built for applied conservation work at small-to-medium scale. Up to $5,000 can fund a focused field season, purchase specialized consumables (e.g., nest cameras, mist-net supplies, telemetry tags), cover travel and local transport, or support community-run monitoring programs. Crucially, the committee is looking for projects that are not only scientifically sound but also likely to produce recommendations or actions that managers, local NGOs, or communities can use quickly.

Beyond cash, successful applicants gain visibility within the AOS network and a line on their CV showing peer-reviewed funding for conservation work. For many early-career researchers, that combination of funding and credibility helps secure letters of support, access to local collaborators, and follow-on funding from larger foundations or international grants. The program also encourages ethical practices—projects requiring invasive methods must justify them carefully, demonstrating the need, the team’s proficiency, and the expected benefit to the species or habitat.

Use this grant to: test an intervention (e.g., nest box design), quantify threats (predation, habitat loss), generate demographic data for a species of concern, run short-term tracking or isotope studies that reveal migratory connectivity, or build capacity in a local community monitoring program. The key is that the outcomes should be actionable—clear steps that decision makers can take after your results are in.

Who Should Apply

This grant is tailored for researchers who fit three overlapping profiles:

1. Early-career conservation scientists based in Latin America or the Caribbean. If you completed an MS or PhD within the last five years and you live and work in the region, you’re the primary audience. The review committee gives priority to applicants who demonstrate strong integration with local institutions and communities.

2. Researchers running practical conservation projects. If your work targets a species that is declining, threatened, or endangered, and you can show how your research will inform management or policy decisions, your proposal will stand out. Projects that are purely theoretical or that use model systems to test broad hypotheses without a clear conservation output are less favored.

3. Community-minded teams. You should be able to explain how local partners, stakeholders, or institutions are involved. That could be co-production of monitoring protocols with community members, training local field technicians, agreements with protected-area managers to implement recommendations, or letters of institutional support showing access to logistical resources.

Practical examples of strong fits:

• A young postdoc working with a Caribbean NGO to quantify nesting success and predator impacts on an endangered island passerine, with a clear plan to trial predator-exclusion methods the following year.
• An early-career researcher measuring stopover habitat quality for a declining migratory shorebird in Central America, generating data that park managers can use to prioritize habitat protection.
• A team investigating the effect of agricultural practices on resident forest bird diversity in a South American basin, coupled with community workshops to test sustainable practices.

If you’re currently enrolled in a degree program, this particular grant is not open to you—but the AOS offers student research grants that may fit your needs.

Eligibility Details Explained

Eligibility is simple but strict: applicants must hold a graduate degree (MS or PhD) earned within five years of the application date, and the applicant should be from a country in Latin America or the Caribbean. The program gives priority to those who live and work in the region—so if you’re an expatriate returning briefly, document your local ties and partnerships. Current students are excluded, so plan accordingly.

Project scope must be conservation-related and focused on avian species in the specified regions. Emphasize species of concern and habitat-focused work. If your project uses invasive methods (e.g., blood sampling, tagging), provide ethical justification, demonstrate team experience with those methods, and describe minimization of harm and permits.

Finally, awardees must be AOS members. If membership fees are a barrier, you can request a temporary complimentary membership—do that proactively in your application or contact the program.

Required Materials

Prepare these documents carefully; they form the spine of your application:

• Project narrative (clear, concise, and with a dedicated “Conservation implications” subsection explaining how results will inform management or species recovery).
• Detailed budget and justification (itemize expenses and explain necessity).
• CV or biosketch highlighting relevant experience and technical skills.
• Letters of support or institutional endorsement (showing access to sites, permissions, or local collaborations).
• Ethics/permits statement (list permits held or in progress; explain how you will obtain them).
• If applicable, a description of methods and justification for invasive techniques.

Tips on preparing materials:

• For the budget, include realistic quotes or cost estimates (fuel, field supplies, local wages). Show how $5,000 will be enough for the proposed work or how it will be a catalyst for larger funding.
• Letters of support should be specific: have letter writers state what they will provide (access to field stations, lab space, community contacts), not generic praise.
• In the narrative, create a short timeline with milestones and deliverables, and name the individuals responsible for each task.

Insider Tips for a Winning Application

1. Put the conservation implications front and center. A single clear paragraph titled “Conservation implications” can make or break your application. Explain who will use your results and how—park managers, local NGOs, community cooperatives, or policy units. Be concrete: “Data will allow Park X to prioritize 3 of 12 patches for reforestation within 12 months” is far better than vague claims about informing policy.

2. Show community integration. Describe existing partnerships and how local people will be involved. If you plan to hire local field assistants or run training workshops, budget for them and explain why this matters for both ethics and project success.

3. Make feasibility airtight. Small grants penalize wishful thinking. Provide a realistic work plan, timeline, and contingency plans. If nest monitoring depends on rainy-season access, explain road conditions and alternative routes. Include permit timelines—if a permit could take three months, say so and show steps you’ve taken to get it.

4. Justify invasive methods carefully. If you propose blood sampling or tagging, explain why non-invasive alternatives won’t produce the necessary data. State the training and past experience of team members who will perform procedures, and mention animal welfare protocols and permit status.

5. Be surgical with your budget. Reviewers want to see that each dollar serves a clear purpose. Avoid vague line items. If you request $500 for equipment, specify item, vendor, and how it will be used. If you ask for per diems, explain local rates.

6. Use plain language and tell a short story. Start your narrative with the conservation problem and the key question you’ll answer. Avoid jargon. Imagine explaining the importance to a park director, not to a lab colleague.

7. Seek external review. Have a colleague outside your immediate subfield read your conservation implications and methods. If they understand it, reviewers probably will too. Give reviewers at least two weeks to provide comments.

Application Timeline (work backward from February 27, 2026)

• February 13–26: Final proofreading, secure signatures, assemble PDFs, and submit at least 48 hours early to avoid last-minute portal issues.
• January–early February: Finalize budget, secure letters of support, and circulate the near-final narrative to reviewers for feedback.
• December–January: Draft all sections, request institutional review for permits, and begin AOS membership steps if needed.
• November–December: Identify collaborators and letter-writers; gather preliminary data or pilot notes to strengthen feasibility claims.
• October: Outline proposal and budget; prepare timeline and preliminary permit checklist.

Start six months ahead if you can—sudden weather delays, busy letter writers, and permit holdups are the usual suspects that ruin otherwise strong submissions.

What Makes an Application Stand Out

Reviewers are looking for three things: conservation relevance, feasibility, and clear outcomes. The strongest applications explain a pressing conservation problem, propose a focused study that will produce usable results within the grant period, and show credible local partnerships.

Quality indicators:

• A succinct conservation narrative that names the problem, target species, and immediate action pathways.
• Realistic sampling effort and explicit power considerations for analyses (even simple sample size justification helps).
• Letters of support that promise tangible support (e.g., access to field stations, assistance obtaining permits, or commitment to use results).
• Ethical and permit readiness: documents or clear timelines for permit acquisition reduce risk in reviewers’ minds.

Evaluation likely weighs how directly your work can influence conservation decisions, the competence of the team, and whether the budget and schedule match the scope.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Vague conservation outcomes: Saying “results will inform conservation” is not enough. Say who will act on the results and how, with timelines.

2. Underestimating logistics and permits: If your field site requires multiple permits, starting late can scuttle your project. Document permit status and include contingency options.

3. Overambitious scope: Don’t propose continent-spanning sampling with a $5,000 budget. Focus on a tractable question that fits the resources.

4. Weak letters of support: Letters should confirm concrete support, not just praise. Ask letter writers to state exactly what they will provide.

5. Poorly justified invasive methods: If you propose invasive sampling, lack of justification will count against you. Explain necessity, expertise, and mitigation.

6. Sloppy budget math: Reviewers notice when budgets add up incorrectly or include non-allowable items. Work with your institution’s finance office if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I apply if I live outside the region but work with partners in Latin America or the Caribbean? A: Priority is given to applicants who live and work in the region. If you live elsewhere, explain your local role, partnerships, and why the regional partner cannot be the PI. Strong local integration is essential.

Q: Are students eligible? A: Currently enrolled students are not eligible for this grant, though AOS offers separate student research grants. If you recently graduated (within five years) you may apply.

Q: What kinds of costs are allowable? A: Typical eligible costs include field supplies, small equipment, travel, stipends for local technicians, and permit fees. Be explicit about each item in your budget justification.

Q: Is institutional overhead allowed? A: Check the AOS guidelines or contact the program for specifics. For small grants like this, overhead may be limited or not allowed—clarify early with your institution and the AOS.

Q: How strict is the membership requirement? A: Awardees must be AOS members or willing to become one. If fee is a barrier, you can request a temporary complimentary membership—mention financial hardship in your communication.

Q: Will I get reviewer feedback if I’m not funded? A: The AOS typically provides summary comments. Use that feedback to improve a resubmission or to pursue other funding.

Next Steps and How to Apply

Ready to put this into motion? Here’s a short checklist to get started this week:

1. Draft a one-page project summary focusing on the conservation problem and direct outcomes.
2. Create a simple budget spreadsheet with line items and quotes where possible.
3. Contact one or two local partners and request letters of support; give them at least three weeks.
4. Start or confirm your AOS membership status and, if needed, plan to request a complimentary membership in your application.
5. Build a realistic timeline for permits and fieldwork, and identify at least one contingency.

How to Apply

Submit your application by February 27, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. EST. Late submissions will not be accepted. Ready to apply? Visit the official opportunity page and application form here:

Apply now: https://my.americanornithology.org/Forms/Latin-America-Caribbean-Conservation-Research-Proposals

If you have questions about eligibility, membership, or the application process, contact the AOS Conservation Committee through the links on the application page. Good proposals take time—start early, be precise, and make sure your proposal reads like a promise you can keep.