At Audubon Assembly, we come together to celebrate our collective, statewide accomplishments while also shining a spotlight on the exceptional work of individual chapters. Each year, chapter presidents are invited to nominate their own chapters—or others—for awards recognizing excellence in education programs, conservation projects, and the honor of Chapter of the Year. Each award is presented to one "small" chapter (under 500 members) and one "large" chapter (over 500 members).
Nominations are thoroughly reviewed by the Audubon Florida Board’s Chapters Committee, which is composed of chapter leaders from across the seven regional conservation committees in our state. These leaders understand the time, effort, and dedication required to plan and execute high-quality projects, and this year, they faced a particularly challenging task. Not only did we receive a record number of nominations, but the caliber of the chapters’ work was exceptional.
The Best Education Award for a small chapter went to West Volusia Audubon Society for their Audubon Ambassadors program at Stetson University. The Ambassadors program is a campus-to-chapter connection program, providing opportunities for students at Stetson to get involved with Audubon while connecting more students on campus to Audubon’s work. Program achievements in the past year include tabling sessions, festival outreach, birding walks, and organizing ecosystem restoration planting events on Stetson's campus. The Ambassador program has also helped to establish an official Audubon Campus Chapter and has increased the diversity of board members of West Volusia Audubon.
The Best Education Award for a large chapter went to Duval Audubon Society for their Lights Out North Florida Bird Friendly Window Art project. This is a 2-for-1 education and conservation project, solving a problem with Cedar Waxwing window collisions at a local school. Duval Audubon worked with teachers to implement a bird-friendly window art project, allowing students to create window art that meets the requirements of anti-collision guidelines for birds. Not only did the project result in a beautiful facade of birdfriendly window designs, but also the start of a new “Science, Art, and Conservation” program at the school.
The Best Conservation Award for a small chapter was presented to Eagle Audubon Society for their native plant installations around a stormwater pond in their neighborhood. By replacing torpedo grass with native plants, they restored wildlife habitat and created a natural filtration system to improve water quality before it flows into Cypress Creek, Little Manatee River, and Tampa Bay. The project also serves as an educational tool for residents, highlighting the importance of water quality.
The Best Conservation Award for a large chapter went to Alachua Audubon Society for their American Kestrel nest box monitoring program, maintaining 35 nest boxes in Alachua County to support the threatened Southeastern American Kestrel. In partnership with Avian Research and Conservation Institute, the program tracks tagged and banded fledgling kestrels to study their survival and habitat needs. The project has successfully fledged 45 kestrels and engaged volunteers and students in conservation efforts.
Bay County Audubon Society was selected as the Small Chapter of the Year for its outstanding contributions to conservation and community outreach. Their flagship event, Nature Connection, grew to attract more than 2,000 attendees, inspiring a love of nature across the community. They have also demonstrated a strong commitment to stewardship through their dedicated care of Laidlaw Preserve. These accomplishments reflect their dedication to preserving natural spaces and fostering environmental awareness.
Audubon Everglades was selected as the Large Chapter of the Year. Audubon Everglades has experienced immense growth over the past year, as they worked on their transformation from a focus primarily on birding outings into a dynamic conservation organization. They have diversified their programs, expanding their reach through innovative initiatives like virtual events, inclusive birding workshops, and habitat restoration projects. Committed to advancing conservation and advocacy, the chapter has fostered environmental stewardship and inspired greater awareness and participation in protecting ecosystems.
A heartfelt thank you to all those who submitted nominations, and a huge congratulations to this year’s Chapter Awards recipients!
This article originally appeared in the 2024 Winter Naturalist.
