USFWS science awards focus on birds

Among various awards announced recently by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the Rachel Carson honors went to an individual and a group who created innovative conservation models and ways to manage bird populations. The awards recognize FWS employees "for significant contributions expanding knowledge in the scientific, conservation and wildlife management fields," according to a press release. The recipients also receive $50,000 to support their continuing efforts.

Dr. John Tirpak, a wildlife biologist in Vicksburg, Miss., received the individual award for his focus on landscape, or large-scale, conservation planning and management of winering waterfowl.

The group award went to a collective in the service's Division of Migratory Bird Management known as the Branch of Population and Habitat Assessment. The service said:

BPHA’s work over the years has contributed significantly to numerous scientific and technical achievements in the management of waterfowl and other migratory birds, successes that have been widely recognized throughout the wildlife research and management communities.