Celebrating the Thomas W. Keesee, Jr., Conservation Award and Audubon New York Award for Environmental Media. The annual Keesee Awards Luncheon is held in support of Audubon New York’s mission to protect birds and the places they need.

Thomas W. Keesee, Jr., was a longtime member of the National Audubon Society’s Board of Directors and served as its Chairman from 1979 to 1983. He was seen as a strong, effective leader who believed that chapters played an important role in delivering  Audubon’s mission at the local level. As Chairman, he fostered ground-breaking initiatives in field work, such as the Save the Condor Program in California and the Puffin Project in Maine.

At the event, two awards are traditionally given: the Thomas W. Keesee, Jr.,  Conservation Award and the Audubon New York Award for Environmental Media.

Held on Halloween, the 2024 Keesee Awards luncheon was a joyful celebration of birds and the people who protect them. Thank you to all who showed up in bird and insect-themed costumes!

Together, we offered Douglas Tallamy and BirdNote the recognition they deserve for their remarkable leadership and commitment to inspiring millions of conservation actions for birds.

The 2024 Keesee Awards Luncheon was co-hosted by Eunice and Rob Burnett, Deane and John Gilliam, Darcy and John Hadjipateras, Laurie and David Hodgson, Angela and Thomas W. Keesee III, Allen P.K. Keesee, Anne Keesee Niemann and Thomas M. Niemann, Victoria Shaw, Virginia Stowe, and Karen Thomas. 

PREVIOUS HONOREES: THOMAS W. KEESEE, JR., CONSERVATION AWARD

The Thomas W. Keesee, Jr. Conservation Award has been presented annually by Audubon New York to honor the individual or individuals who have shown remarkable leadership and commitment, particularly in New York State, to Audubon’s mission.

2024 - Douglas W. Tallamy, PhD
2023 - Bahamas National Trust, NYC Plover Project, and Massachusettes Audubon
2022 - Save NYS Wetlands Coalition
2021 - (No award given as the event celebrated its 20th year with a program which included Scott Weidensaul and the Audubon Mural Project)
2019 - Gregory Long
2018 - Laura O'Donohue
2017 - Sheila Brady and Susan & Coleman Burke
            with Special Recognition of Patricia H. Keesee
2016 - Christopher (Kim) Elliman
2015 - Honeywell
2014 - Alexander E. Zagoreos
2013 - Allison Whipple Rockefeller
2012 - Virginia Stowe and Margot Ernst
2011- Carol Browner and Toyota
2010 - John Flicker
2009 - Audubon New York's Founding Chairman Constantine Sidamon-Eristoff
2008 - George E. Pataki and Peter Berle*
2007 - New York State and City Parks Commissioners Carol Ash and Adrian Benepe
2006 - Wendy Paulson
2004 - Marian S. Heiskell
2003 - Samuel F. Pryor
2002 - John Bierwirth
2001 - Donal C. O'Brien*

*In Memoriam

PREVIOUS HONOREES: AWARD FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MEDIA

The Audubon New York Award for Environmental Media recognizes print, broadcast, and other media makers who influence positive change in the world of bird conservation. 

2024 - BirdNote
2023 - David Sibley
2022 - Jennifer Ackerman
2021 - (No award given as the event celebrated its 20th year with a program which included Scott Weidensaul and the Audubon Mural Project)
2019 - David Quammen
2018 - John McPhee
2017 - Terry Tempest Williams
2016 - Dr. Edward O. Wilson
2015 - Scott Weidensaul