Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union

The Royal Australasian Ornithologists Union, also known as Birds Australia, was founded in 1901 to promote the study and conservation of the native bird species of Australia and adjacent regions. This makes it Australia's oldest national birding association. It is also Australia's largest non-government, non-profit, bird conservation organisation. In 1996 it adopted the trading name of Birds Australia for most public purposes, while retaining its original name for legal purposes and as the publisher of its journal the Emu.

The RAOU was the instigator of the Atlas of Australian Birds project. It is also the publisher (in association with Oxford University Press) of the encyclopaedic Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Its quarterly colour membership magazine is Wingspan. The RAOU is the Australian Partner of BirdLife International. The motto of the RAOU is 'Conservation through Knowledge'.