Social Media & Commenting Policy

The American Ornithological Society & Society of Canadian Ornithologists/Société des ornithologistes du Canada (SCO–SOC) conference (AOS & SCO–SOC 2023) is a pro-social media event and meeting organizers actively encourage the sharing of conference content. Sharing ornithological science with the public via social media is one way to educate the public, which can only help the support of the science and its application. Promotional content for the meeting will be aggregated online using the conference hashtag: #AOS_SCO23. 

AOS & SCO–SOC 2023 presenters are encouraged to include personal and/or project social media handles and hashtags on slides and posters. We recommend adding relevant handles and hashtags to at least the opening slide, but preferably to all slides. For those without personal/project handles or hashtags, consider including the conference hashtag or a social media icon on slides to let people know you are supportive of them posting about your work on social media. 

AOS & SCO–SOC 2023 presenters must opt out if they do not want their presentation or research to be featured in social media posts: this is best achieved by placing a “no social media” message and symbol on slides or materials. (Graphics are available for download at this link.) If presenters do not opt out in this manner, conference organizers and/or attendees can share published research presented at the conference without consent. 

AOS & SCO–SOC 2023 organizers are not responsible for attendees commenting or live tweeting, but ask that attendees respect presenters’ wishes. Please give credit to presenters/researchers whose presentation and/or research are featured in your post.

The goal of this policy is to facilitate a lively and respectful conversation about science, professional development, and ornithology. Anyone may participate in conversations on the AOS & SCO–SOC 2023’s host societies’ social media channels, but:

• The meeting’s host societies have the right to delete posts or comments containing spam, irrelevant remarks, or items that do not align with the mission/integrity of the AOS & SCO–SOC 2023 or violate the AOS & SCO–SOC 2023 Social Media & Commenting Policy or Meeting Code of Conduct, or a hosting society’s code of professional conduct or social media policy.
• Personal attacks, promotion of violence or illegal activities, harassment, bullying, offensive material, or profanity will be deleted.
• AOS & SCO–SOC 2023 reserves the right to ban users who violate this policy.
• Events may not be publicly live-streamed without prior arrangement and approval by the AOS & SCO–SOC Meeting Coordination Committee.

Conference attendees are expected to abide by the AOS & SCO–SOC 2023 Meeting Code of Conduct and all those engaging on social media are asked to maintain respect, courtesy, inclusivity, and support in their conduct to ensure a safe, hospitable, and productive environment for all. Discrimination, harassment, and/or retaliation will not be tolerated. 

We recommend that presenters and those sharing on social media be mindful of how photos of birds (and other animals), especially birds in the hand, may appear to the public. Some of the questions to consider before sharing a photograph include: Are safe and taxonomically-appropriate grips being used? Does the bird appear in any way to be stressed, disheveled, or in an unnatural position? Is it a “trophy shot” (prolonging handling time), or was it taken during banding and provides educational material such as molt? For further suggestions on sharing photos of birds in the hand, see the 2022 AOS Policy on the Use of Photography on Digital Platforms and the North American Banding Council’s photographic guidelines.

AOS & SCO–SOC 2023 participants can report violations of this policy by contacting the meeting’s Professional Ethics & Safe Conduct Committee at safe-meeting@americanornithology.org.