Welcome to the Chattanooga Chapter of the Tennessee Ornithological Society. We are the Chattanooga Chapter of the Tennessee Ornithological Society! The Chapter was founded to promote the enjoyment, scientific study, and conservation of wild birds.

Our History

On August 19, 1953, Adele West organized the Chattanooga Bird Study Group. She hoped the group would become affiliated with the state-wide Tennessee Ornithological Society.  The group had 21 charter members.

The Chattanooga Bird Study Group participated in their first Christmas Count on December 20, 1953.  The circle monitored was 7.5 miles in radius and 48 species counted.  The data was turned into the National Audubon Society, becoming part of their 54^th Annual Christmas Bird Count report.

In January of 1954 the Chattanooga Bird Study Group petitioned the Tennessee Ornithological Society to become a chapter. Two months later they were instilled as the Chattanooga Chapter of the Tennessee Ornithological Society.

The Chapter hosts several activities each month. The activities include various field trips, wild bird surveys, as well as hosting a speaker each month at our Chapter meeting.

The Chapter holds regular meetings on the 2nd Thursday of each month, at 7:00 pm, at the Ascension Lutheran Church 720 Germantown Circle, Chattanooga, TN 37412.  Chapter members hail from Southeast Tennessee and Northwest Georgia.

Join Us:

Not an experienced birder? Our chapter is welcoming and happy to help novices and experts alike! If you are interested in birds, please free to attend any event listed below. Just stop by and introduce yourself! (All our members wear name tags at our monthly meetings to make potential new members feel welcome.) Everyone is welcome to join. We hope to see you soon.

Please support Chattanooga TOS by joining or renewing as a member. Your membership dues allow us to offer engaging monthly meetings and exciting field trips. Chapter members receive our monthly newsletter, The Chattanooga Chat, along with membership in the state Tennessee Ornithological Society. By being a state member, members will also receive the The Tennessee Warbler newsletter and The Migrant quarterly journal.

David Stone, Treasurer