Criteria

• Community Leadership & Mentorship:

• Evidence of actively mentoring new birders, such as leading walks, sharing knowledge, or taking young birders "under their wing".

• Efforts to make the local birding community more welcoming to all individuals.

• Leadership in organizing local birding events, surveys, or educational programs.

• Citizen Science & Birding Advocacy:

• Consistent and high-quality participation in citizen science projects like eBird, contributing valuable data on local bird status and distribution.

• Involvement in long-term bird monitoring or research projects that advance local ornithological knowledge.

• Contributions to local or regional bird conservation and advocacy efforts. 

• Ethics & Responsible Birding:

• Demonstrated commitment to the ABA Code of Birding Ethics or similar guidelines, prioritizing bird welfare and respecting private property and public access rules.

• Serving as a role model for responsible and considerate behavior in the field.

• Passion & Knowledge:

• A deep and continually growing knowledge of local bird species, their behaviors, and habitats.

• The ability to communicate this knowledge with enthusiasm and clarity, inspiring others. 

 

Eligibility

---

• Nominee must be a Utah resident. 

• Nominee may not be a past GSL Bird Festival Birder of the Year recipient.