We remember and honor Bob Simons, who passed away in June, for his 52 years serving on the board of the Alachua Audubon Society. During his tenure, Simons spearheaded countless important conservation projects. As a young forest ecologist in the early 1970s, he identified an extensive, environmentally-sensitive, mixed-hardwood forest in northwest Gainesville. He convinced ten private landowners to sell their properties to the state and lobbied legislators for two years, resulting in the establishment of San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park. He also promoted the establishment of other natural areas including River Rise Preserve State Park, Silver Rise section of O’Leno State Park, Silver Springs State Park, Tosohatchee Preserve, Fakahatchee Strand Preserve, and Pinhook Swamp, which connects Osceola State Forest with Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.

Simons also recognized the precarious state of the Southeastern American Kestrel. For three decades he constructed, installed, maintained, repaired, and rebuilt countless nest boxes. He acquired a telescoping camera and developed a kestrel nest box monitoring project to share the exciting science of kestrels with college interns and other volunteers.

For decades, Simons was a leading voice at AAS for conservation initiatives. He advocated against large-scale development on ecologically sensitive lands in Alachua County; led opposition to the state park’s plan to allow grazing, timbering, and hunting on state parks; and advanced awareness and acceptance of controlled burns. These accomplishments represent just a fraction of Simons’ impact. Audubon is deeply grateful to Bob for everything that he accomplished to preserve and protect natural Florida.

This article originally appeared in the Summer edition of the Naturalist. Read the full magazine here.