Black Swamp Bird Observatory (BSBO) recently held its annual volunteer appreciation event. Held virtually this year, the Bird Observatory recognized several dedicated volunteers with prestigious awards. Shieldcastle Awards for Outstanding Volunteer Service were presented to Tom Bartlett and Margy Trumbull. Named in honor of Mark and Julie Shieldcastle, two of the founding members of the BSBO, the Shieldcastle Award recognizes individuals who have given extraordinary time, talent, and service to BSBO’s mission of teaming research with education to promote bird conservation.

Two Conservation Service Awards were presented to Steve Pollick and John Hageman. This award is given for exemplary service to the cause of bird conservation.

The Observatory’s annual volunteer appreciation event celebrates BSBO’s work and the thousands of volunteer hours required to achieve the organization’s goals. This year alone, over 200 volunteers contributed a total of nearly 4,500 hours to supporting BSBO’s mission.

From hosting one of the country’s largest birding festivals, The Biggest Week In American Birding, banding more songbirds than any other bird banding research station in the country, and offering free songbird education programs to thousands of local students, BSBO has grown into an organization with an international reach.

Black Swamp Bird Observatory is a nonprofit that teams research with education to promote bird conservation. Learn more at www.bsbo.org.