Audubon Florida not too long ago honored chapter leaders throughout our annual Meeting, held October 15–17, 2026. For many years, Audubon Florida has introduced collectively workers, members, companions, and different stakeholders to rejoice the yr’s accomplishments and sit up for upcoming priorities. The three-day occasion was hosted on the TradeWinds Resort in St. Pete Seaside and targeted on a theme of Defending What Connects Us —Water, Wildlife, and Neighborhood.
Meeting is our likelihood to shine a lightweight on standout tasks, acknowledge exceptional management, and rejoice what’s doable when chapters put their ardour for birds and pure areas into motion.
Annually, chapter leaders are invited to appoint their very own chapters, or others, for awards recognizing excellence in education schemes, conservation tasks, and total chapter achievement by means of the Chapter of the Yr award. Awards are introduced in two classes: one for smaller chapters (underneath 500 members) and one for bigger chapters (over 500 members).
Our awards acknowledge excellent work in schooling, conservation, advocacy, and total chapter achievement. We additionally acknowledge chapters of various sizes, as a result of we all know that membership, funding, and volunteer capability can form what a chapter is ready to accomplish.
Southeast Volusia Audubon Society: Excellent Training Program, Small Chapter
Constructing on their Crops for Birds schooling success and in search of to have interaction the neighborhood with their new Motus tower, Southeast Volusia Audubon created a Hen Migration program to show youngsters about birds and the challenges they face.
A four-person staff developed hands-on actions combining birding, science, expertise, video games, and out of doors exploration.
By way of programming at a neighborhood elementary faculty, the Marine Science Middle, and in the neighborhood, they reached almost 180 youngsters by means of this new program alone.
St. Pete Audubon Society – Excellent Training Program, Giant Chapter
For 18 years, St. Pete Audubon’s Dr. Harold Albers Trainer Ecology Camp has introduced educators along with native scientists and environmental consultants to deepen their understanding of Florida’s ecology and equip them to convey conservation into their lecture rooms and communities. This yr’s theme, “Nature’s Secrets and techniques in Your Yard, at College, and at Residence,” engaged 39 educators in hands-on studying about native crops, wildlife, and habitat conservation, with the potential to achieve greater than 1,500 college students.
Hernando Audubon Society – Small Chapter Excellent Conservation Undertaking
The Weeki Wachee River has confronted growing challenges from nutrient air pollution, shoreline erosion, and rising leisure use. Hernando Audubon took the lead in bringing collectively county and state businesses, environmental organizations, companies, landowners, leisure customers, and different stakeholders for his or her 2nd Weeki Wachee River Summit.
The occasion offered a chance to share updates on restoration efforts, hear immediately from stakeholders, and focus on what is required to enhance compliance with the river’s Springs Safety Zone and fertilizer restrictions.
Orange Audubon Society – Excellent Conservation Undertaking, Giant Chapter
Situated subsequent to Lake Apopka North Shore and the doorway to the Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive, Orange Audubon’s new 70-acre property provides an essential piece to a panorama formed by certainly one of Florida’s most famed restoration efforts. The chapter has lengthy related guests with the world’s exceptional birdlife and conservation story by means of its work on the Wildlife Drive.
Now, by means of its new birding park, Orange Audubon is increasing that work past the Wildlife Drive, partnering with volunteers and neighborhood members to revive upland habitat and create one other place for individuals to expertise the Lake Apopka panorama.
Highlands County Audubon – Excellent Advocacy, Small Chapter
As Highlands County Fee explored whether or not to create a brand new native land conservation program, Highlands County Audubon stepped up as a visual and constant voice for conservation. By way of neighborhood occasions, public outreach, conferences with elected officers, and partnerships with different native conservation organizations, the chapter helped convey residents into the dialog about what lands and pure sources they worth defending. Greater than 400 county residents finally shared their conservation priorities with county leaders, with defending threatened and endangered species and wildlife corridors rising among the many high priorities.
St. Pete Audubon Society – Excellent Advocacy, Giant Chapter
Over the previous yr, St. Pete Audubon mobilized neighborhood assist to guard coastal habitats, serving to transfer a music competition away from St. Pete Seaside throughout Black Skimmer nesting season, relocate a serious movie manufacturing away from Fort De Soto, and restore county funding for Shell Key and Weedon Island.
By way of public outreach, coalition constructing, letter-writing, media engagement, and direct advocacy, the chapter demonstrated the facility of neighborhood motion to guard crucial pure areas.
Citrus County Audubon Society – Small Chapter of the Yr Award
Citrus County Audubon reveals how a robust, collaborative management staff could make a chapter more practical and impressive. With a extra strategic method, the chapter considerably elevated its membership, expanded outreach, and launched conservation and advocacy efforts near residence.
From partaking hundreds at neighborhood occasions to making a native plant panorama at a county park and serving to launch the Welcome Again Songbirds Pageant, the chapter is popping a stronger basis into significant motion.
West Volusia Audubon Society – Giant Chapter of the Yr Award
A lot of West Volusia Audubon’s work is rooted in its longstanding partnership with Volusia County’s Lyonia Environmental Middle (LEC). By combining the chapter’s conservation experience and volunteer assist with the county’s academic sources and neighborhood connections, the partnership advances shared objectives whereas serving to West Volusia Audubon prolong its attain all through the area. From supporting scrub-jay analysis at Lyonia Protect to partaking residents in native plant gardening, environmental schooling, and native conservation, West Volusia Audubon demonstrates how sturdy partnerships can flip shared priorities into motion each at LEC and throughout the broader neighborhood.
With a theme of Defending What Connects Us —Water, Wildlife, and Neighborhood, Audubon Florida’s 2026 Meeting demonstrated progressive methods to guard birds and the locations they want, at this time and sooner or later, by means of studying classes, subject journeys, and displays. The 2026 occasion was generously sponsored by Florida Energy & Gentle Firm, Ferber Firm, Dwell Wildly Basis, Lykes Brothers, Inc., RiverGlades Household Workplaces, Kitson & Companions, and Vortex Optics.
