BSBO Wins Prestigious Award!

We are thrilled to share that BSBO 
has received a prestigious Cardinal Award!

What a tremendous honor to receive this prestigious award!
Our heartfelt thanks to all those who support BSBO in any way. We owe this award to you.

The Cardinal Award is presented by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) to individuals and organizations demonstrating exceptional awareness and concern for the ideals reflected in the Department's mission.

Cardinal Award nominations are made by ODNR employees, and we're supremely honored that members of the ODNR team recognize BSBO as a valued partner.​

L-R: BSBO Banding Projects Director Ryan Jacob, BSBO Research Assistant Annalise Bokenkamp, Ohio Division of Wildlife Chief Kendra Wecker, BSBO Executive Director Kimberly Kaufman, ODNR Director Mary Mertz, BSBO Education Director Jamie Cunningham, BSBO Volunteer Kenn Kaufman, and ODNR Assistant Director Steve Gray.

Several members of the BSBO staff traveled to the Ohio State Fair for the award ceremony in the wonderful 8-acre ODNR park at the fairgrounds. Our Executive Director, Kimberly Kaufman, accepted the award on behalf of BSBO's staff, board, volunteers, members, and supporters.

We offer sincere thanks to Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Ohio Division of Wildlife (ODOW) for this tremendous honor, and we also thank our amazing team of volunteers, members, and supporters who make our work possible. This is your award, too, and it's an honor to share this accomplishment with all of you.​

The 2025 ODNR Hall of Fame Inductees and Cardinal Award recipients pose with Governor and First Lady DeWine, ODNR Director Mary Mertz, Assistant ODNR Director Steve Gray, and ODOW Chief Kendra Wecker. 

And finally, we offer congratulations and gratitude to all of the natural resources champions who were recognized yesterday. It was an honor of the highest order to share this with all of you.

Ohio Natural Resources Hall of Fame inductees: Jean Beaty, Paul Brooks, Cheryl Harner (posthumously), Stu Lewis, Sr., Elaine Marsh, David Nolin, and Harvey Webster. 

Cardinal Award recipients: Black Swamp Bird Observatory, Willie Franklin, Dale Gnidovec, Phil Hillman (posthumously), Vicki Proctor, and Dan Yaussy ​