Lt. Evan Laskowski with Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission received the Law Enforcement Award from Audubon Florida Executive Director Julie Wraithmell (left) and Holley Short (right), Audubon’s Shorebird Stewardship Coordinator for the Tampa Bay area. Photo: Luke Franke/Audubon

TALLAHASSEE, FL – More than 300 participants from across the state met at the 2019 Audubon Assembly in Gainesville Florida to discuss conservation, water, and birds. Field trips, learning sessions, a plenary panel, and keynote presentation by Dr. Tom Frazer, Chief Science Officer for Florida, focused on science-based strategies for clean water and healthy watersheds, while awards recognized individuals and organizations that went above and beyond to create a more resilient Florida.

Lt. Evan Laskowski with Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission received the Law Enforcement Award. According to Holley Short, Audubon’s Shorebird Stewardship Coordinator for the Tampa Bay area, “Lt. Laskowski has been a key player in the success and protection of the St. Pete Beach Black Skimmer colony. He was there from the start, doing undercover work to prevent disturbances as the Black Skimmer colony was trying to settle, and was present at the St. Pete Beach colony the evening of July 4th to prevent additional disturbance to the colony.”

Audubon Florida Executive Director Julie Wraithmell and Holley Short, Shorebird Stewardship Coordinator for the Tampa Bay Area, presented award to Lt. Laskowski during the 2019 Assembly.