Garry George, Chapter Network Director for Audubon California and Peg Olsen, Chief Conservation Officer for the National Audubon Society present Callison Award to Bruce Schoppe at the Audubon National Convention

We are proud to announce that another local California chapter leader is the recipient of the Charles H. Callison Award for Audubon Volunteer of the Year. Bruce Schoppe, President of Ventura Audubon, has been recognized for his significant contributions to bird conservation. The National Audubon Society recognizes only two people per year for this distinguished honor. Bruce's accomplishments include protection of Western Snowy Plover and California Least Tern colonies on Ventura County beaches and Least Bell’s Vireo on the Ventura River.

Bruce has written numerous grants to secure funding to assist with the recovery of the threatened Western Snowy Plovers and endangered California Least Terns. These funds have been used to contract with permitted biologists to monitor nests at Ormond and Hollywood Beaches. Bruce has also served as a beach docent on these beaches for many years.

To further Ventura Audubon's conservation programs, Bruce has built a coalition of partners including the Ventura Hillside Conservancy, Southern California Edison, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, to protect and improve the habitat of the Least Bell’s vireo and other songbirds from the parasitic brown-headed cowbird.

Bruce has also been a leader in education initiatives, working with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and Audubon Education Committee members to instill an appreciation for birds and nature among young people in local classroom settings and on field trips to area beaches.

Bruce installing a sign near a Snowy Plover nest on Ormond Beach

Finally, Bruce has worked with Walter Fuller, Steward of Ormond Beach, to create an educational and outreach program to protect the large number of birds that use Ormond Beach for nesting, foraging and resting. Ventura Audubon is providing a small stipend to Walter for the six months of the breeding season for his tireless efforts in patrolling the area and making it a safe place for people and birds.

Jim Susha, Joyce Schoppe, Walter Fuller, Cynthia Hartley, and Bruce Schoppe at Ormond Beach

Laura Gulovsen, Program Chair for Ventura Audubon, notes that Bruce is an exemplary representative of Audubon, “Bruce is generous with his time, is always available to consult, works wonderfully with our volunteers and other community organizations.”

Thank you Bruce for everything you do for your chapter, birds and your community!