The Wilson Ornithological Society is excited to be providing a $4,000 sponsorship to Field Inclusive, a nonprofit founded last August by WOS members Murry Burgess and Lauren Pharr with the goal of supporting marginalized and historically excluded individuals who work outdoors in any natural resources field. Funds from the WOS will be used to provide monetary support for an intern at the Cape Fear Bird Observatory to gain experience with the observatory’s Painted Bunting banding program, as well as for travel and research grants for bird-focused projects.

“Scientists, professionals, or individuals belonging to marginalized or other historically excluded communities need support when it comes to social field safety issues,” said Field Inclusive’s founders in a statement. “This is why Field Inclusive was founded; we feel that social field safety should be put on the same level and given the same attention as physical field safety because you’re talking about someone’s health, someone’s well-being.” Burgess and Pharr are both current ornithology PhD students at North Carolina State University.

If you’re interested in learning more about Field Inclusive, you can follow them on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter and donate to support their programs here.