accommodation and act as bases for research, education and recreation, in areas of particular interest and bird richness. Two of these, Barren Grounds Bird Observatory in NSW, and Rotamah Island Bird Observatory in Victoria, have since been closed for economic reasons. The two remaining observatories, both in Western Australia, are: Broome Bird Observatory (BBO) Eyre Bird Observatory (EBO) Reserves The RAOU has established two reserves, through the purchase of large pastoral leases, in order to protect extensive areas of important bird habitat. They are: Gluepot Reserve Newhaven Reserve Newhaven Reserve was sold to the Australian Wildlife Conservancy in 2007. The RAOU retains access rights for its members and a say in monitoring and research on the reserve through the Newhaven Management Committee. Honours and awards The RAOU has always recognised service to the organisation and to ornithology through the granting of the title of Fellow of the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union (FRAOU) to a small and limited number of individuals. It also recognises excellence in contributions to ornithological knowledge through annual awards: the D.L. Serventy Medal for outstanding published work on birds in the Australasian region, and the John Hobbs Medal for major contributions to amateur ornithology. Notable members Gordon Binns Frank Littler (F. M. Littler) Henry Luke White (H. L. White) Harry Wolstenholme See also The Finch Society of Australia References Notes Sources Campbell, Archibald James. (1900). Nests and Eggs of Australian Birds. Including the geographical distribution of the species and popular observations thereon. (2 vols). Author: Melbourne. Dickison, D.J. (1951). The first fifty years of the Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union - 1901–1951. Emu 51: 185–284. Garnett, Stephen. (1996). Parrots: a new special interest group of the RAOU. Wingspan 6(3): 26–27. Marchant, Stephen. (2002). A brief history of the 1966 proposal for reform of the RAOU. Canberra Bird Notes 27(1): 14–24. North, Alfred John. (1901–1914). Nests and Eggs of Birds found breeding in Australia and Tasmania. (4 vols). Australian Museum Special Catalogue No.1. Sydney. Robin, Libby. (2001). The Flight of the Emu: a hundred years of Australian ornithology 1901-2001. Carlton, Vic. Melbourne University Press. Robin, Libby. (2002). An Emu for a nation: a centenary reflection on the journal and its discipline. Emu 102: 1–7. Serventy, D.L. (1972). A historical background of ornithology with special reference to Australia. Emu 72: 41–50. External links Birdlife Australia Regional groups Birds Australia homepage Birds Australia Capricornia Birds Australia Northern NSW Birds Australia Tasmania