Each year, Travis Audubon selects an honoree to receive our Victor Emanuel Conservation Award. The award is named after its first recipient, Victor Emanuel, who was honored in 2010.

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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 in March 2025, 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.

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Former Recipients

2025
Bill Bunch
Executive Director of Save Our Springs

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