News Release
Wisconsin Society for Ornithology Announcing 2026 Passenger Pigeon Award Winners
Recognizing outstanding achievements in advancing bird conservation
Madison, March 4, 2026 — Through the Passenger Pigeon Awards, the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology recognizes individuals or organizations that have made outstanding achievements in advancing bird conservation, promoting the field of ornithology, and contributing to the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology mission of enjoying, studying, and conserving birds.
The Wisconsin Society for Ornithology board of directors selects recipients based on nominations received during the open nomination period. Award recipients are formally recognized during the Awards Dinner and Ceremony to be held at the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology Annual Convention to be held in Madison at the Best Western Plus Inn Towner in Madison on May 15, 2026.
Award Categories
- Bronze Passenger Pigeon - presented to individuals who have made outstanding contributions in their local communities or in the state to promote the field of ornithology.
Charles ‘Chuck’ Henrikson has been leading bird walks at the University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum in Madison every Tuesday morning for over ten years, rain or shine, inspiring people to get outdoors and discover the enjoyment of birds and birdwatching. In addition to leading walks, he sends out a weekly email “bird report” that describes the birds he has seen on the trail, including photographs. As a result of his efforts, more and more people have subscribed to the email list, and because the location is of international significance, Chuck’s numerous followers (fan club) have contributed to year-round data and observations. Moreover, Henrikson serves on the UW–Madison Arboretum Board of Directors, teaches classes, and leads walks for the Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance.
Jill Kunsmann a long-time board member of the Lake Michigan Bird Observatory, and exemplar of community-wide bird conservation, introducing new birders to the world of bird conservation and empowering them to take part in community science to support bird populations. Jill created a neighborhood community science group, the Nest Box Ninjas, in 2023, to promote local bird conservation through nest box monitoring. This group also monitored vegetation in their yards, which provided the Observatory with valuable data for their study on bird reproductive success relative to native vegetation. As a volunteer with the Observatory, she initiated the Observatory’s flagship event — the native plant sale — which now sells over 1200 native plants at reduced rates making it easier for the community to enhance their backyard bird habitat.
Mary Murrell has been writing, producing, and hosting the bi-weekly "Bird Report" on WVMO, Monona's community radio station, since 2018. Her reports are deeply researched, well written, and much beloved by the people of Monona and the Madison area. The educational content of her report often includes advocating for meaningful conservation efforts. Mary’s work was honored by the Wisconsin Broadcaster's Association in 2025. She serves as the Bird Guide for San Damiano Park in Monona, a recognized Bird City, during their annual celebration of World Migratory Bird Day.
Tom Schultz receives this award for his dedication and involvement in the local community of Green Lake promoting the protection of habitat and encouraging the enjoyment of birds and nature. Schultz co-founded the Green Lake Bird and Nature Club in 2015. Schultz leads frequent bird watching field trips and developed a map of Green Lake County birding hotspots. An advocate for education, Schultz presents educational programs on bird identification, recent sightings, and manages the club’s social media. The annual Green Lake Bird Fest was started by Schultz and includes a Birds and Brew Social, field trips, speakers, and engagement of local businesses. With support from Alliant Energy, Schultz installed Osprey nesting platforms at Green Lake, started the Green Lake Christmas Bird Count, installed informational kiosks about birds and their habitats, and is the coordinator of the Green Lake Breeding Bird Atlases.
- Noel J. Cutright Conservation Award - recognizes outstanding contributions to bird conservation in Wisconsin.
Erin Geise has dedicated years of service to the work of bird conservation. Through her work at the Cofrin Center for Biodiversity University of Wisconsin–Green Bay, Giese manages the research and restoration of the school’s multiple natural areas — Wequiock Creek and Point au Sable — and coordinates monitoring at Ken Euers Nature Area. In her role at the Cofrin Center for Biodiversity, Geise mentors students of all ages and career paths, works with the Oneida Nation on bird monitoring and conservation on their lands, performs outreach and science communication, coordinates with Northeast Wisconsin Bird Alliance, Audubon Great Lakes, the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, Piping Plover recovery in the Green Bay area, is a co-founding member of SOAR (Snowy Owl Airport Rescue), and manages University of Wisconsin–Green Bay involvement with the Great Lakes Wetland Monitoring Program.
Fred Strand worked tirelessly on behalf of endangered and threatened species and promoted the establishment, management, and protection of bird habitat, relentlessly working to educate the public on bird conservation issues. Strand spent over 46 years saving the Common Tern from extirpation on Lake Superior and was responsible for progress toward the recovery of the species in Wisconsin. Since 1984, Strand banded over 20,000 Common Tern young, which have formed the nucleus for maintaining a stable Common Tern population along Western Lake Superior. He continues to be the sole manager of these colonies, well past his formal retirement. The comprehensive nest monitoring and banding data that he has compiled through a lifetime of hard work and dedication is exceptionally rare and worth celebrating and speaks to the character of this humble and resolute steward.
- Samuel D. Robbins Lifetime Achievement – honors people who actively contribute to the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology above and beyond their having previously received the Silver Passenger Pigeon Award.
Carl Schwartz has been engaged in Wisconsin's rich history of ecologists and naturalists throughout his professional and volunteer career. He is well known and highly respected among Wisconsin birders, spreading the joy of birding and bird conservation effortlessly across all the birding organizations he works with in Wisconsin, but especially with the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology. He is great at bringing people and partners together, thoughtfully making introductions and raising dollars to support bird conservation, research, and programming. His career as a reporter and editor continues to inspire him to be a wonderful storyteller as the current editor of the WSO newsletter, Badger Birder — amplifying bird conservation achievements statewide. Carl is active at the local level through multiple birding clubs like the Ozaukee Washington County Birding Coalition and Noel J. Cutright Bird Club and also at the state level with WSO and the Great Wisconsin Birdathon. During his service as the Bird City Wisconsin Program Director, he spent countless hours traveling the state to recruit and cultivate communities to incorporate sound decisions that would benefit birds communitywide. As the first BCW Program Director he designated 77 communities as Bird Cities.
- Special Recognition Award – recognizes the collective efforts of a far-reaching project or partnership that increases the public's awareness and appreciation for birds, their habitats, or the need for conservation.
The Prairie Enthusiasts have worked tirelessly to preserve, restore, and protect prairies and oak savannas throughout Wisconsin (and Illinois and Minnesota). Their land management has created and/or preserved vital habitat for grassland birds, whose numbers are in steep decline. The Prairie Enthusiasts work extensively with private landowners to protect remnant prairies on their land or begin prairie restoration, often through the Conservation Reserve Program. They provide consulting services and volunteer crews for prescribed burns of private land. Through their education efforts, The Prairie Enthusiasts have raised public awareness of the role prairies and oak savannas play in our ecosystem and the importance of protecting grassland birds.
Gathering Waters has spearheaded the collective effort to preserve and expand the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund working tirelessly to lobby, advocate, and rally Wisconsinites to work together to save the fund that allows conservation organizations to buy land that is precious and necessary habitat for birds and other wildlife in Wisconsin. Through the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund, the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology purchased land to increase the Honey Creek Preserve. The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship program is in jeopardy and is in need of funding reauthorization. Gathering Waters continues to lead efforts to save this valuable program.
For further information about the award winners and the years of recognition, visit Awards - Wisconsin Society for Ornithology. To register for the 2026 Passenger Pigeon Award dinner visit Annual Convention - Wisconsin Society for Ornithology
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The Wisconsin Society for Ornithology is a nonprofit organization established in 1939 whose mission is: promoting the enjoyment, study, and conservation of Wisconsin’s birds. The Wisconsin Society for Ornithology sponsors birding field trips throughout the year, hosts an annual birding convention, publishes a quarterly journal and monthly newsletter, offers research grants, and serves as an informational resource center on bird-related issues. The Society provides opportunities for all people to enjoy resident and migratory birds, while being a leading steward of and ambassador for Wisconsin birds. Home - Wisconsin Society for Ornithology
