TALLAHASSEE, FL – Audubon Florida not too long ago honored conservation leaders throughout its annual Meeting, held October 15–17, 2026. For many years, Audubon Florida has introduced collectively workers, members, companions, and different stakeholders to rejoice the 12 months’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.
The Volunteer of the 12 months Award is given to a person who has a historical past of exhibiting exemplary dedication to birds and the locations they want and who constantly goes above and past of their service to conservation. This 12 months’s award went to Eve Waterman. Eve has been volunteering with the Audubon coastal workforce within the Tampa Bay area for a number of years, regularly doing a morning shift at Ft. De Soto Park stewarding Wilson’s Plovers, Least Terns, and American Oystercatchers, then a night shift at Redington stewarding Black Skimmers. She averages 50+ shifts a 12 months, and her hours translate to roughly $2,500/12 months in donated worth to Audubon Florida. She can also be Treasurer of the St. Pete Audubon Chapter.
The Teddy Roosevelt Award is given to a person demonstrating management, resolve, and braveness on behalf of Florida’s surroundings. Audubon is happy to acknowledge State Senator Jeff Brandes and U.S. Consultant Al Lawson, Jr. When Florida’s Legislature voted in a speedy three-day June particular session to position Modification 3 on the November poll, former State Senator Jeff Brandes and former U.S. Congressman Al Lawson, Jr. knew one thing needed to be executed. The modifications proposed in Modification 3 would cripple metropolis and county budgets, forcing cuts to every part from parks and libraries and making it tougher for communities to forestall sprawl. And the poll language was deceptive, steeped in political rhetoric and missing the transparency that voters deserve. These two former elected officers reached throughout the aisle and collectively filed a authorized problem, standing up for voters, asserting that poll language isn’t any place for partisan rhetoric: voters deserve clear, neutral language to contemplate. Regardless of a vigorous protection by the state Legal professional Common’s workplace, Brandes and Lawson’s problem prevailed, forcing the Legal professional Common to rewrite the modification language. Their management is an instance of the respect for voters and poll integrity that Floridians count on. And their continued efforts to teach voters concerning the impacts of this modification show that the surroundings is not a partisan situation right here. It is a Florida situation — one which impacts our prosperity and high quality of life, and one that’s value combating for.
The Distinguished Philanthropist Award is given to a person or group in appreciation of their devoted philanthropy, advocacy, and for being a driving power for Audubon’s work. This 12 months’s honor went to Collier Neighborhood Basis for serving as an distinctive accomplice to Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. Eileen Connolly-Keesler accepted the award on behalf of the Basis, which offered beneficiant and sustained assist to advance vital hydrologic analysis, strengthen conservation science and land stewardship, and broaden Audubon’s capability to teach and encourage future generations on the Sanctuary. Most notably, their extraordinary $100,000 reward to Audubon’s capital marketing campaign in 2025 was a transformational funding in Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary’s future, facilitating essential enhancements to the campus to raised serve the group as a middle for conservation, schooling, and analysis. Their partnership demonstrates a profound dedication to defending the pure assets that maintain Southwest Florida and making certain that Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary thrives for generations to come back.
The Man Bradley Award acknowledges a person for stewardship within the face of threats to birds and their habitats and a relentless dedication to conserving Florida’s wildlife. Audubon chosen not too long ago retired Audubon Everglades Science Coordinator Paul Grey, PhD, to obtain this 12 months’s award. All through his 31-year profession at Audubon, Grey has embodied the hallmarks of Audubon tradition: science-based, collaborative, solutions-oriented, and intersectional. Whereas Grey introduced sturdy science to a few of Florida’s most tough water and wildlife points, this success was additionally constructed on relationships. He labored with ranchers, company workers, scientists, landowners, and conservation companions — typically individuals coming at a difficulty from very totally different views — and constructed the belief and credibility wanted to maneuver tough points ahead.
The Everglades Champion Award is given for daring motion on behalf of the Everglades or steady management on behalf of Everglades restoration and the restoration of Lake Okeechobee and its estuaries. This 12 months, Audubon proudly acknowledges Chauncey Goss. Since 2019, Goss has served as Chairman of the South Florida Water Administration District Governing Board, guiding it by means of a interval when main Everglades restoration tasks have superior into development and to completion. Below his management, the Board invested in water high quality, storage, and lowering Lake Okeechobee discharges. Accomplishments throughout Goss’ tenure embrace expanded water-quality monitoring within the Northern Everglades and Lake Okeechobee, completion of the EAA Reservoir Stormwater Therapy Space, completion of the Everglades Restoration Methods development section, progress on the Western Everglades Restoration Venture, and completion of the Picayune Strand Restoration Venture. The South Florida Water Administration District additionally helped safe latest state-federal agreements accelerating the EAA Reservoir and different tasks, working throughout state and federal businesses, tribes, and conservation companions all through.
The Legislation Enforcement Officer of the 12 months Award is given to an officer or officers who’ve demonstrated that defending wildlife is greater than a job, however an ethical obligation, and have made important contributions to defending Florida’s wildlife both inside or above the course of their common obligation. This 12 months’s award went to Sgt. David Estes, Cpl. Robert Kirkland, and Cpl. Jerrod Carver with the Collier County Sheriff’s Workplace Agriculture Unit. These people are Audubon’s first name when points akin to trespassing, unlawful entry, potential poaching, or different safety issues come up. Their fast response, professionalism, and familiarity with the Sanctuary enable Audubon workers to deal with delicate conditions safely and successfully whereas minimizing impacts to wildlife and guests. Past responding to incidents, the Ag Unit serves as a visual presence that helps deter criminal activity and reinforces the significance of defending this internationally important ecosystem. Their constant reliability, willingness to collaborate with workers, and their ever-present regard for Audubon’s conservation efforts have strengthened our potential to safeguard the Sanctuary’s wildlife, habitats, and guests.
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 periods, discipline journeys, and displays. The 2026 occasion was generously sponsored by Florida Energy & Mild Firm, Ferber Firm, Dwell Wildly Basis, Lykes Brothers, Inc., RiverGlades Household Workplaces, Kitson & Companions, and Vortex Optics. Discover extra data at Audubon.org/Florida/Meeting.
