Partners in Flight (PIF) Awards recognize exceptional contributions to the field of landbird conservation in the Americas in the categories of Leadership, Investigations, Public Awareness, Stewardship, and Lifetime Achievement.
2017 AWARDEES
INVESTIGATIONS AWARD
Honors an individual or group that conducts outstanding research and/or contributes scientific data and interpretations
that improve our understanding of avian ecology, habitat management, or other scientific factors important to the PIF initiative.
![]() Elisabeth Ammons accepting the 2017 PIF Investigations |
GREAT BASIN BIRD OBSERVATORY
For landbird monitoring, research and conservation in the Great Basin. GBBO has collected data and provided the foundation
for science-based decisions over a huge geographic area that is otherwise largely ignored due to the low human population
density, yet is greatly affected by a wide range of extractive land uses. Without GBBO, many decisions on public lands
throughout the expansive Great Basin would have been largely uninformed by multi-species scientific data on landbirds.
LEADERSHIP AWARDS
Honors an individual or group that demonstrates outstanding guidance and direction
that contributes, or has contributed to, advancing PIF conservation efforts.
Rosa María Vidal Rodríguez receiving |
Jaime Stephens receiving her 2017 PIF |
![]() Robert Elner accepted his 2017 PIF Leadership Award at the 27th International Ornithological Congress in Vancouver, British Columbia. Also pictured is Wendy Easton. |
ROSA MARÍA VIDAL RODRÍGUEZ
For her more than 30 years of leadership promoting initiatives in Mexico for the conservation of birds (migratory and resident),
their habitats, and their associated biodiversity. In 1989 Rosa María founded Pronatura Chiapas, later renamed Pronatura Sur,
which under her leadership has positioned itself as one of the strongest regional and national conservation and sustainable
development organizations in the tropics of Mexico, as well as a key active member of several international conservation networks.
JAIME STEPHENS
For her leadership as Klamath Bird Observatory’s Science Director, and her production and application of science implemented through
partner focused science delivery that results in measurable benefits for birds, and the people she works with. Jaime exemplifies excellence
in leadership supervising and mentoring a team of incredibly effective, passionate, and productive biologists while also actively engaging and taking
on leadership roles in PIF, including the Western Working Group, and within other conservation focused initiatives. She embodies all things PIF.
ROBERT ELNER
For his outstanding guidance and leadership to build the scientific foundation and advance the conservation of migratory birds in Canada and along the flyways of the Western Hemisphere. In his role as the Research Manager at the Canadian Wildlife Service, Bob launched the inaugural meeting of PIF in Canada in 1998 and started Canada’s first PIF program in British Columbia. Soon after, he supported Canada’s first full-time regional PIF coordinator, a position that still exists today as Canada’s only permanent PIF position. This program developed Canada’s first Bird Conservation Region (BCR) plan in 2003, a forerunner and template for the nation’s wall to wall BCR plans developed for all birds a decade later.
PUBLIC AWARENESS AWARD
Honors an individual or group that contributes significantly to increasing the public’s
awareness and appreciation for birds, their habitats, or the need for conservation.
![]() Susan Kelsey (left), GM Global Biodiversity Program Manager, accepted the 2017 PIF Public Awareness Award for GM at the North American Wildlife & Natural Resources Conference in Virginia. Also pictured is Emily Jo Williams. |
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![]() Nicola Koper (right) accepted her 2017 PIF Public Awareness Award at the 27th International Ornithological Congress in Vancouver, British Columbia. Also pictured is Wendy Easton. |
GENERAL MOTORS, LLC
For conserving landbirds at GM sites in Michigan and implementing management and monitoring strategies that contribute to threat mitigation
and promote avian species through conservation education and citizen science projects. GM team members, partners and community volunteers
regularly engage in landbird conservation and outreach activities, including through the installation and monitoring of artificial nesting structures.
Species identification and inventory events are scheduled in conjunction with national bird counts or as educational opportunities for local schools.
NICOLA KOPER
For her work in bringing birds and people together, linking avian science, monitoring and conservation with Grenadian communities. Nicola, a full professor in the Natural Resources Institute at the University of Manitoba in Canada, initiated the first systematic landbird banding program in the Caribbean nation of Grenada over four years ago. Since then the project has grown steadily in scope, innovation and impact and is now of significant value to Grenada, integrating local communities into the bird surveys, along with outreach and educational opportunities.
STEWARDSHIP AWARD
Honors an individual or group that contributes significantly to the management,
conservation, or restoration of landbird habitat or species of concern.
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ERICK BERLIN
For his restoration of vital stopover habitat for two of PIF’s highest priority bird species, the Cerulean Warbler and Golden-winged Warbler. Erick, a US-born citizen who has resided in Costa Rica for four decades, created and owns/manages the private Las Brisas Nature Reserve in Costa Rica. His careful stewardship efforts have resulted in an accelerated regeneration of native forest, making the area the most significant stopover site discovered for the Cerulean Warbler to date.
Do you know someone who has made major contributions to landbird conservation?