Category: Distinguished Ornithologists

On 28 September 2024 at the OFO Convention in Leamington, Ontario, Mark Kelday Peck received the Distinguished Ornithologist Award of the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) in recognition of his tremendous contributions to OFO and the Ontario birding community as well as for research projects that have resulted in new ornithological knowledge. We were delighted to…

In 1997, OFO’s first distinguished ornithologist was the legendary Earl Godfrey. It was stated that his “enthusiastic encouragement of young birders launched the careers of many natural science specialists throughout Canada.” Bruce Di Labio, the recipient of the 2023 OFO Distinguished Ornithologist Award personifies such a lifelong contribution to bird study. Like many, Bruce’s passion…

Introduction I presented the Ontario Field Ornithologists’ (OFO) 2022 Distinguished Ornithologist Award (DOA) to Dr. Erica Nol at the Annual General Meeting of the OFO in Leamington on 24 September 2022. I have known Erica for over two decades, during which time I worked, volunteered and completed two graduate degrees under her supervision. I can…

Margaret Jean Christine Bain came to what was seen around the world as a very desirable Canada, flush with promise and optimism in the immediate aftermath of hosting the world at the very successful Expo ’67, and one still freshly caught up in the excitement of ‘Trudeau-mania’. She was part of the tail end of…

Introduction It was my great honour to present the 2018 Distinguished Ornithologist Award (DOA) posthumously to Alan Wormington at the Annual General Meeting of the Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) in Leamington on 29 September 2018. Although I dearly wished he could have been there to accept it in person, I am sure almost all of…

Dan Strickland received the Ontario Field Ornithologists’ (OFO) Distinguished Ornithologist Award for 2017. It was my honour and pleasure to present this award to Dan, my long-time friend and Algonquin Provincial Park colleague, during the OFO Convention at Long Point in September. His outstanding record of scientific research on the Gray Jay (Perisorius canadensis) and…

The Ontario Field Ornithologists’ (OFO) 2016 Distinguished Ornithologist Award was presented to Jean Iron. Jean has been a constant presence and leading figure in OFO for almost 25 years. She’s been at the head of the line when something needed doing and she seems to always have been present when things were happening. From her…

This year’s recipient of the Distinguished Ornithologist Award is D.V. (Chip) Weseloh. Chip is well known to many Ontario birders but some highlights of his background will be important to those who may not know him or know why he was given this award. His contributions include: outstanding scientific research, long-term service to Ontario Field…

We both take great pleasure in being able to nominate Clive Goodwin for the 2014 OFO Distinguished Ornithologist Award. Clive has been a leader in Ontario field ornithology and conservation for nearly our entire lifetime and his selection as a recipient of this award is certainly well deserved. Clive was born in Leeds, Yorkshire, England,…

Jon McCracken is a modest, low-key kind of person, who surely does not think of himself as a “Distinguished Ornithologist.” Yet, there is scarcely a person more immersed in learning about Ontario and Canada’s birds, or more deeply involved in working for their welfare. People who don’t know Jon personally are nonetheless very likely to…