The U.S. North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI) Committee and the Association of Joint Venture Management Board (AJVMB) want to recognize individuals or groups who have shown exceptional accomplishments and/or leadership in bird conservation in furtherance of the principles of the North American Bird Conservation Initiative and other national or international bird conservation initiatives.
View the NABCI Award Guidelines.
Gary T. Myers Bird Conservation Award
Gary T. Myers, long-time director of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, was a recognized champion of bird conservation that inspired a generation of conservationists. Myers led the collaborative effort to develop the Migratory Bird Joint Ventures, and he was a strong and tireless champion for the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA). In recognition of his role in leading this effort, he was selected by the Secretary of the Interior to be the first representative for the Mississippi Flyway on the National Flyway Council. Myers was also a staunch supporter and advocate of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ partnership to generate non-federal funding for NAWCA match that is used for Canadian wetland habitat conservation. Myers recognized that many species, not just waterfowl, benefit from wetland and upland habitat conservation, and he worked to incorporate an all-bird focus into the conservation work of the Joint Ventures. Myers’ support and advocacy was instrumental in forming NABCI in 1999 and he served on the NABCI Committee for several years.
The US NABCI Committee and the AJVMB began presenting annual Conservation Awards in 2007, but in 2010, upon Myers’ retirement, this honor was renamed the Gary T. Myers Award to recognize other leaders in bird conservation who share Gary’s passion, dedication, and commitment to bird conservation, and who have worked to help fulfill his vision of integrated bird conservation delivered through Joint Ventures.
Previous Recipients
David Pashley Memorial Award
The David Pashley Award is to be given by the U.S. NABCI Committee to individuals that have made sustained and exceptional contributions to the North American Bird Conservation Initiative and the greater bird conservation community. Award winners currently serve, or have served in the recent past, as Committee members, Committee designees, Subcommittee members, or NABCI staff. They have shown exceptional contributions to NABCI, over a period of time, that have advanced the strategic goals of NABCI and avian conservation in general. The award memorializes and honors one of the founding members of NABCI, Dr. David Pashley, who served as the first U.S. NABCI Coordinator, and who was instrumental in the creation of collaborative partnerships that advance biological, social, and scientific priorities for North American bird conservation.
Previous Recipients
Todd Fearer