2025 Victor Emanuel Conservation Award Celebration honoring Bill Bunch
The Board of Directors of Travis Audubon is honored to announce that the 2025 Victor Emanuel Conservation Hero is long-time protector of Barton Springs and the Edwards Aquifer, Bill Bunch.
From Boy Scout to environmental attorney, Bill Bunch has been advocating for Central Texas’ waterways and natural spaces for over 30 years. In 1992, Bill co-founded the Save Our Springs Alliance with esteemed conservationist Brigid Shea, and he has served as the organization’s Executive Director since 2000. Save Our Springs plays a key role in protecting the Edwards Aquifer and Austin’s beloved Barton Springs, leveraging education, advocacy, and legal action to stop overpumping, overdevelopment, and pollutant contamination.
Celebrate Conservation Hero Bill Bunch
Saturday, October 4, 2025
Junior League of Austin
Doors open at 11am
Enjoy a tasty lunch on us, learn about this year’s Conservation Hero, and bid on exciting items in our live auction.
Tickets sales ended September 5, 2025. If you weren’t able to meet that deadline due to extenuating circumstances but would still like to attend, please email Lisa Ramie at lisa@travisaudubon.org.
See What’s Up for Auction
We’re hosting two auctions this October in support of Travis Audubon’s programs. All proceeds from these auctions will fund our nature preserves, inclusive education programs, and advocacy efforts on behalf of native birds.
Silent Auction: October 1-4
Our online, silent auction launches on October 1st at 11am CT and will feature a mix of birding trips, experiences for nature lovers, and gift certificates to local businesses. Keep an eye out on our emails and social media posts for a link to that auction when it begins. The auction will end October 4th at 11am CT.
Live Auction: October 4
Attendees of our Victor Emanuel Conservation Award Celebration will have a chance to bid on five exciting experiences in our live auction. Click the button below to preview what’s up for auction this year.
Remembering Victor Emanuel
Victor Emanuel, the namesake of our conservation award, was a Texas native who spent decades studying birds and sharing his knowledge with others. He was our first Conservation Hero in 2010, recognized for his work as a pioneer in ecotourism by leading trips to birding destinations domestically and internationally. Victor passed away this March, but his legacy will endure in the people he has touched and the contributions he has made to the birding world. Read more about Victor’s legacy.
Get to Know Bill Bunch
Bill Bunch grew up in San Antonio and Arlington, studied biology at the University of Colorado Boulder, and earned a law degree from the University of California, Berkeley. Bill was a competitive swimmer growing up, and he remembers visiting New Braunfels for a swim meet when he was eight and being struck by the beauty of the crystal-clear water. In college, Bill was inspired by many professors, including his ornithology professor, Olwen Williams, who he remembers petting a hawk specimen during one of her lectures. That class took him on birdwatching trips, inspiring a passion for bird conservation that would drive his future law career. While working at Stuart Henry’s law firm, Bill represented environmental groups like the Hill Country Foundation, the Sierra Club, the Texas River Protection Association, and Travis Audubon. The Golden-cheeked Warbler and many other species of Texas wildlife were added to the endangered species list in the 1980’s and 90’s thanks to the work of Bill Bunch and other conservationists.
This Year’s Sponsors
Program Sponsor: David and Wendy Todd
Favor Sponsor: 
Award Sponsor: Jerry’s Artarama
Decor Sponsor: Minuteman Press, The Natural Gardener, Tillery Street Plant Company
Cedar Waxwing
Andrew & Nona Sansom
Austin Water
Bernard & Anne DiFiore
Celeste Treadway & Harry Leuzinger
Friends of Blair Woods
Lidia Agraz & Maura Powers
Richard Deulofeut & Matthew Law
Save Our Springs
Shannon Davies
Victor Emanuel Nature Scholarships
Painted Bunting
Kirk Mitchell & Sheridan Lorenz
Jenny Clark
Jordan & Lyn Weingarten
Black-capped Vireo
Winkler Family Foundation & EverGreen Austin
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
GOOD TROUBLE
Former Recipients
2024
Virginia Rose
Founder of Birdability
2023
George Bristol
Texas parks and conservation advocate
2022
Camp El Ranchito
Nature-immersion summer camp & education program
2021
Greg Lasley
Photographer & naturalist
2020
Shelia Hargis
Conservationist
2019
Chris Harte
Conservationist
2018
George Cofer
Founding Chief Executive Officer of Hill Country Conservancy
2017
Mickey Burleson
Prairie conservationist
2016
Valarie Bristol
Former Travis County Commissioner
2015
Bob Ayres
Trustee of the Shield-Ayres Foundation
2014
Georgean Kyle and Paul Kyle
Chaetura Canyon stewards
2013
David Bamberger
President of the Bamberger Ranch Preserve
2012
Carter Smith
Executive Director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
2011
Andrew Sansom
Executive Director of the Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University-San Marcos
2010
Victor Emanuel
President of Victor Emanuel Nature Tours
About Travis Audubon:
As an independent chapter of the National Audubon Society, Travis Audubon promotes the enjoyment, understanding, and conservation of native birds through inclusive environmental education, habitat protection, restoration, and management, and conservation advocacy. Travis Audubon manages four wildlife sanctuaries in the Austin area, including protected habitat for the endangered Golden-cheeked Warbler. Since 1952, Travis Audubon and its members have recognized the importance of preserving the ecological balance necessary for healthy, sustainable, and habitable communities, both for people and wildlife. Get involved and learn more at www.travisaudubon.org and follow on Facebook @TravisAudubon and Instagram @TravisAudubonSociety.
Your Membership contribution will make you a partner in Travis Audubon’s mission to promote the enjoyment, understanding and conservation of native birds & their habitats.