Many thanks to John Riutta over at Born Again Birdwatcher for passing along the great news that Kenn Kaufman was awarded the American Birding Association's Roger Tory Peterson Award for the Promotion of Birding at the association's convention this weekend.
The ABA bestows the award only infrequently and only to truly very special people: those who can look back on a "lifetime of achievements in promoting the cause of birding." Past recipients include Arnold Small (2000), Pete Dunne (2001), David Sibley (2002), and Victor Emanuel (2004).
Who better to join this stellar group than Kenn?
Besides being an expert birder, a naturalist, a teacher, and the author of our popular "ID Tips" column, Kenn is an accomplished author, a talented artist, a photographer, a conservationist, the youngest person ever to receive one of the ABA's other major awards -- the Ludlow Griscom Award -- and a real pleasure to work with. (Read a short bio.) I've learned so much from him, and I've enjoyed every moment.
Congratulations, Kenn, from me and everyone here at Birder's World! -- C.H.