Four New Awards Named to Honor Madison Audubon Conservationists

SEPTEMBER, 2007. Madison Audubon Society recently established a new awards program to recognize individuals or groups who have worked to achieve the Society’s objectives.

The Excellence Awards are named in honor of four outstanding conservationists associated with Madison Audubon Society who dedicated their time, skills, and efforts to preserve and restore wildlife habitat, conserve birds, engage in citizen science, and educate others about natural systems.

Nominations are due January 15, 2008. Nominees must be from Wisconsin or have made a difference in Wisconsin in the award’s subject area.

Awards will be presented at the Madison Audubon Society spring banquet scheduled for Tuesday, March 18, 2008. The new awards replace Madison Audubon’s Environmentalist of the Year Awards (1981-2007).

For more information and a nomination form, click on the link associated with each award. Or contact the Madison Audubon Society Office, (608) 255-2473, masoffice@mailbag.com

Cliff Germain Photo by Jim Addis, 2007.

Cliff Germain Award for Excellence in Community-Based Restoration In 1966, Cliff became the first full-time program coordinator for Wisconsin's scientific areas program, a forerunner of the State Natural Areas. The award recognizes achievements in ecological restoration for habitat conservation and species preservation. Learn more...

	Joseph Hickey Award for Excellence in Bird Conservation Joseph Hickey (1907-1993) made many important contributions to bird conservation. His research on the effects of DDT helped to get the insecticide banned in Wisconsin and the U.S. With John Curtis, Hickey drafted legislation that created Wisconsin’s scientific areas program. Learn more...
Joe Hickey, Owen Gromme, Roger Peterson & George Archibald at the Crane Foundation. Photo courtesy of Susan Hickey Nehls.

Sam Robbins Award for Excellence in Citizen Science A minister by profession, Sam Robbins (1922-2000) was also a dedicated birder and authority on birds. His 1991 book Wisconsin Birdlife, Population and Distribution, Past and Present, was the culmination of 20 years of study. And for 23 years Sam wrote a column in the weekly newspaper The Country Today entitled “From the Robbins Nest”. Learn more...

Sam Robbins with his 1991 book on Wisconsin birds. Photo copyright The Country Today. Used with permission.

James Zimmerman Award for Excellence in Environmental Education and Communication James Hall Zimmerman (1924-1992) was a brilliant naturalist and environmental educator whose communication skills enabled him to reach broad audiences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, through a weekly newspaper column in the Wisconsin State Journal and as a field trip leader for Madison Audubon Society and other local groups. Learn more...

Jim Zimmerman in 1987 Photo by David Sandell, copyright Wisconsin State Journal. Reprinted with permission.