Recipients
(click names to learn more about award recipients, click photos to enlarge)

Nebraska Land Stewardship Award: The Christen Family of Pawnee County

The Christen Family is recognized for the outstanding habitat management and conservation activities they have implemented on their land. The Christen Family includes Richard and Sharon, their daughter Kay and son Rod, and Rod’s wife Amy and their children Dana and Leah. The Christen Family’s land stewardship practices have improved the sustainability of the natural resources on their property, improved the feasibility of annual prairie management, and created a diversity of tallgrass prairie habitats resulting in increased avian diversity in their area. They have served as leaders in their community by eagerly sharing and demonstrating their management practices, and by serving on the boards of several land stewardship organizations. From left: Amy, Leah, Dana and Rod Christen

Outstanding Bird Conservation Award: The Saline Wetlands Conservation Partnership

The Saline Wetlands Conservation Partnership has demonstrated outstanding leadership, success, and partnership-building in the field of avian conservation in Nebraska. This award recognizes the willingness of every partner involved to go above and beyond in the conservation of Nebraska’s most rare and threatened natural community: the Eastern Saline Wetlands. Full-share partners include The Nature Conservancy, The City of Lincoln, Lancaster County, Lower Platte South NRD, and Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

NPABC Steering Committee Chair Jim Douglas (right) presents the OBC Award to the SWCP. From left to right: John Heaston (The Nature Conservancy), Dan Schulz (Lower Platte South NRD), Ted LaGrange (Nebraska Game and Parks Commission), Terry Genrich (City of Lincoln and Lancaster County) and Tom Malmstrom (SWCP Coordinator). The award is a Piping Plover (one of Nebraska's endangered birds) carved by Don Gabelhouse. Photo by Ed Pembleton,© 2008.

What are the NPABC Awards All About?

The Chairman's Award:
This award is to be given to an entity or individual whose recent activities best exemplify the Mission of NPABC. It can be for outstanding work of any type in the field of avian conservation, including outstanding leadership or fundraising efforts.

Outstanding Bird Conservation Award:
This award is given to an individual or entity for completion of a specific, outstanding project or activity for bird conservation. The winner will best exhibit the qualities stated in the NPABC Mission.

Nebraska Land Stewardship Award:
New in 2008! This award is given to an individual or family in recognition of outstanding bird habitat management and conservation activities taking place on lands owned or managed by the individual or family and through their efforts. This award may also be used to recognize a private individual for outstanding leadership in his/her community in the field of bird and habitat conservation.

Criteria:
Any nominee having some or all of the following attributes reflected in the NPABC Mission Statement will qualify for consideration:

	Nominee uses and promotes coordinated, science-based, landscape approaches to voluntary land stewardship that conserve, improve, and expand habitat for all bird species.
	Nominee employs ecosystem-based approaches that are supported through partnerships that respect the importance of sustainable communities
	Nominee encourages communication, education, and a broader appreciation for the diversity of bird habitats and associated bird species within Nebraska

Awards Ceremony 2007

Recipients (click names to learn more about award recipients) Outstanding Bird Conservation Award: The Nebraska Chapters of Pheasants Forever The Nebraska chapters of Pheasants Forever have shown outstanding leadership, ingenuity, success, partnership-building, and volunteerism in the field of avian conservation in Nebraska. This award recognizes PF’s ability to take the grass-roots enthusiasm generated by the immense popularity of pheasants, and put it to work for habitat improvements that benefit not just pheasants, but a wide variety of birds and other wildlife. NPABC Steering Committee Chair Rob Ravenscroft presents Pete Berthelsen, Senior Field Coordinator for Pheasants Forever,  with the award, a Piping Plover (one of Nebraska's endangered birds) carved by Don Gabelhouse.

The Chairman's Award: Dr. Paul Johnsgard, Ornithologist, Author, and Professor  Dr. Paul Johnsgard has shown outstanding leadership through the dedication of his abundant life not only to the study and conservation of birds, but perhaps most notably to teaching and writing prolifically about birds and their habitats. He has contributed voluntarily to numerous efforts to further our understanding and appreciation of both the ecological and humanitarian significance of birds, wildlife, and the wild places in which they live. Paul Johnsgard receives a Long-billed Curlew, symbolic of Nebraska's grasslands, also magnificently carved by Mr. Gabelhouse.

 Awards Ceremony 2006

The first annual NPABC Awards Ceremony was dedicated to the memory of John Dinan, whose extraordinary achievements for the conservation of Nebraska’s birds has left an enduring legacy. John worked for the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission for 28 years, and served as the Non-game Bird Program Manager from 1994 until his passing in August 2005 due to leukemia. John’s commitment to the preservation of all birds, and his wisdom in understanding that conservation can only succeed where good science is combined with engaging the people who care about the resource and are impacted by conservation efforts, inspired him to help found the NPABC in 2002. His achievements were commemorated through a slide presentation at the beginning of the Awards Ceremony.

Recipients
(click names to learn more about award recipients)

Outstanding Bird Conservation Award: Cris Carnine for Nebraska Prairie Partners
Cris Carnine has shown outstanding leadership as Coordinator of Nebraska Prairie Partners, a joint undertaking by the Nebraska Game & Parks Commission and the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory to build a coalition of landowners and land managers who are actively involved in the conservation of lands important to prairie birds.

NPABC Steering Committee Chair Gloria Erickson presents Cris Carnine with her award, a Piping Plover (one of Nebraska's endangered birds) carved by Don Gabelhouse. Paul Tebbel receives a Long-billed Curlew, symbolic of Nebraska's grasslands.

The Chairman's Award: Paul Tebbel, Director of Audubon's Rowe Sanctuary
Paul Tebbel has shown outstanding leadership as Director of Audubon’s Rowe Sanctuary and as acting Director of Audubon Nebraska for nearly ten years. His tremendous contributions to education, research, management, and the Central Platte community have had a resounding impact on our appreciation of Sandhill Cranes and the central Nebraska migration spectacle.