The Linnaean Society of New York presents awards each year at its Annual Meeting. These include the Eisenmann Medal, the Natural History Service Award, and the Shelda Taylor Award. The Awards Committee carefully considers candidates for these awards and makes recommendations of their nominees to the board for approval. Not all awards are presented every year.
Eisenmann Medal
The Eisenmann Medal is given to an individual for excellence in ornithology and encouragement of the amateur.
Background of the Award
The first Eisenmann Medal was awarded to Ernst Mayr in 1983 at the annual meeting of the Linnaean Society. The award was established that year in memory of Eugene Eisenmann (1906-1981), an amateur ornithologist. Ornithology is one of the few sciences in which amateurs—those not formally trained in science or without an advanced degree—have made significant contributions to the field.
Eugene Eisenmann was a model member of the Linnaean Society of New York: a lawyer by profession, he was an avid amateur ornithologist who became one of the most influential figures in mid-20th century American ornithology. He was editor of The Auk in 1958–59, vice president of the American Ornithologists’ Union in 1967–69, and chairman of the AOU’s check-list committee, preparing the sixth edition from 1966 until his death in 1981. During 1947–49 Eisenmann served as president of The Linnaean Society of New York, and later he was elected a Fellow. He published more than 150 ornithological papers. His important “The Species of Middle American Birds” appeared as Volume VII of the Society’s Transactions.
Highly esteemed worldwide as an ornithologist, Eisenmann was also known for his willingness to spend countless hours advising students, amateur birders, and, indeed, anyone who came to him with questions about birds. Eisenmann’s office at the Museum became a center for students, scientists, and others interested in birds, including Linnaean Society members; he was never too busy to see them, and he carried on a large correspondence with ornithologists, both amateur and professional.
After his death, François Vuilleumier, a colleague at the Museum, wrote that “extraordinary generosity with his knowledge and time was one of Gene’s most remarkable traits.” Another ornithologist, Robert Raikow, said that Eisenmann’s influence in ornithology was far wider than indicated by his published works, “as he was a friend and advisor to many students, established scientists, and organizations.”
As editor of The Auk, Eisenmann once received a paper submitted by a high-school student in Canada. It needed work, but instead of rejecting it, Eisenmann helped the student improve it and later published it in The Auk. Today, that student is a well-known ornithologist in Canada. This is just one example of the contributions to ornithology enabled by Eisenmann’s extraordinary willingness to give of his time to encourage a beginner in the field.
Eisenmann Medal Recipients
1983 — Ernst Mayr
1984 — Joseph Hickey
1985 — Olin S. Pettingill
1986 — Roger T. Peterson
1987 — Chandler Robbins
1988 — Frank Gill
1989 — Helen Hays
1990 — Stuart Houston
1991 — David Wingate
1993 — Stuart Keith
1995 — Guy Tudor
1998 — Dean Amadon
2001 — Robert Ridgley
2002 — William Clark
2003 — Gary Stiles
2004 — David Hussell, Erica Dunn
2005 — John Fitzpatrick
2006 — David Sibley
2008 — Malcolm Coulter
2009 — Kenneth V. Rosenberg
2011 — Alvaro Jaramillo
2012 — Clive Minton
2013 — Kenn Kaufman
2014 — Sophie Webb
2016 — Tim Birkhead
2017 — Peter Harrison
2018 — John O’Neill
2019 — Peter Pyle
2020 — Stephen Kress
2021 — Peter and Rosemary Grant
2022 — Jennie Duberstein
2023 — Scott V. Edwards
2024 — George Archibald
Natural History Service Award
This award is given to individuals who, through working with members of the public, have triggered a lasting interest in natural history among them.
Recipients of the Natural History Service Award
2006 — Sarah Elliott
For her work in opening the natural world to many people in Central Park.
2007 — Starr Saphir
For working and teaching through her walks in Central Park.
2008 — Mary Yrizarry
For saving the last piece of unprotected land in Sterling Forest.
2009 — Darlene Smythe
For working to develop ways of making the outdoors accessible for handicapped individuals in state and federal parks.
2010 — Don Riepe
For his knowledge and enthusiasm, which have sparked an interest in natural history and concern for preservation of plants and animals in the New York area as well as in many places he has visited in other parts of the world.
2011 — Jim Ash
For overseeing construction of the South Fork Natural History Museum and its innovative exhibits as executive director of the Museum and vice president of the South Fork Natural History Society. The exhibits prove exciting for visitors who come to “look” and leave “seeing.” The Museum is a source of information about plants and animals of the South Fork and, in a larger sense, of eastern Long Island.
2012 — Micky Maxwell Cohen
For leading trips for the Littoral Society and for birders visiting Jamaica Bay. His patience and remarkable attention to detail made him a remarkable leader sought after by many who visited Jamaica Bay.
2014 — Bette Midler
For conceiving and creating the New York Restoration Project and sustaining it since its founding in 1995. The organization has saved community gardens and has cleaned and restored many city parks—mostly those, such as Fort Washington Park and Highbridge Park, in long neglected, disadvantaged areas. Of particular interest to The Linnaean Society is the Project’s role in restoring and improving the Swindler Cove and Sherman Creek Park complex. This park provides wetland and mudflat habitat that is otherwise scarce in Manhattan, and is an important educational and community resource. The park is richly attractive to birds, and has become an appealing and rewarding birding destination.
2017 — Andrew Baksh
For his leadership role in enabling the restoration of the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge’s West Pond. His work with the public and with officials of the Gateway National Recreation Area will generate a lasting interest in natural history in many people. The West Pond was a valuable, mostly freshwater habitat that produced many memorable bird stopover and breeding records until superstorm Sandy opened a breach in the enclosing dike. With the help and encouragement of Andrew and the Birders’ Coalition for Gateway, the National Park Service has undertaken the repair of the breach and begun the restoration of the pond. Thanks to his work, we now look forward to the recovery of the West Pond and its hosting of much wildlife.
2018 — Don Torino
For his leadership role with the Bergen County Audubon Society and its conservation and educational work. His efforts with the public will generate a lasting interest in natural history in many people. Among his accomplishments are the amelioration of methane burning in the Meadowlands, thus saving raptors from being burned; monitoring and protecting the Ridgefield Park eagle nest; and restoring and maintaining wildlife habitat. His educational work has reached many through his presentations and fields trips, and led to increased plantings of native plants.
2019 — Helen Hays
For her dedication to birds, people, and science. Fifty years ago, Helen Hays took leadership of the Great Gull Island Project. In the years since, she has nurtured and protected the Common Tern and Roseate Tern colonies on the island and beyond in international collaborations. Her work has resulted in important advances in our knowledge of terns. Just as significantly, she has nurtured the passions and interests of the many students, volunteers, and scientists who have worked with her on this project.
2020 — Thomas Burke
For his work as the compiler and voice of the New York Rare Bird Alert since 1984. This service has provided birders with valuable and actionable weekly information about rarities in the New York City region, as well as seasonal changes in bird occurrences. He is also a long-time member of the New York State Avian Records Committee, which maintains the official bird list for the state.
2021 — Ritamary McMahon
For establishing and leading the Wild Bird Fund. The care and compassion that the WBF offers to the wild birds brought to its health center builds on the personal and intimate contact between the rescuers and birds, and helps to encourage interest in and interaction with the natural world by the rescuers, volunteers, and the general public. In addition, the WBF’s educational outreach to K–12 classes helps to instill an interest in natural history.
2022 — Christian Cooper
For assisting birders in Central Park, conducting the Feathered Friends after-school program and inspiring Black birders. He has always been a very helpful birding presence in Central Park. In May 2020, the incident with the woman and her unleashed dog in the Ramble brought the attention of the general public to birding and birders, and to the potential perils faced by Black birders. His calm actions during the encounter, and the grace with which he handled subsequent public attention were a credit to the birding community. Written after this experience, his graphic novel, It’s a Bird, forthrightly addresses racial bias; it is a book that will inspire future Black birders.
2023 — Shaibal S. Mitra and Patricia Lindsay
For their work with the Kingbird, the New York State Ornithological Association’s quarterly journal of New York ornithology, and the New York State Avian Records Committee, furthering interest in birds and in natural history.
2024 — Chris Allieri
For his work with the NYC Plover Project, which he founded. Its mission is to protect the Piping Plovers that nest in the Rockaways. Volunteers patrol the beaches. There are delicate, diplomatic interactions needed in setting limits on the dogs, picnickers, off road vehicles while safeguarding the needs of the nesting plovers. It is best if the plovers are not only protected, but that the beachgoers recognize the value of the birds and the need for protection. It helps that the plovers are cute. The park police can be used as a backup. The project also partners with local schools to expand awareness of Piping Plovers and their vulnerable habitat.
Shelda Taylor Award
This award is given in honor of Shelda Taylor, who taught in the New York City school system. She emphasized natural history, particularly birds, in her classes. Recipients are teachers who have made a sustained and substantial impact on educating K–12 students on aspects of natural history.
Recipients of the Shelda Taylor Award
2007 — Peter Joost
For his work with high-school students, teaching them about birds and taking them to look at birds in the New York area as well as South America.
2011 — Thom Schuchaskie
For his work in the New York City school system, introducing children to the outdoors through Urban Kid Adventures, a series of very successful after-school programs designed to get children into the parks to identify birds, mammals, and whatever else they might see.
2017 — Teresa Furman
For her work in inspiring an interest in birds in her second-grade students at PS 87.
2019 — Nadir Souirgi
For his work inspiring an interest in birds in elementary-school students, instilling a love of nature in our children. His founding of the Harlem County Bird Club, teaching about bird biology, and leading field trips has helped develop interests in birds, instilling a love of nature in his students.
2020 — Diana Lennon
For her work in inspiring an interest in birds and natural history among her science students at the Columbia Secondary School.
2021 — Christopher Joya
For his work as a sixth-grade science teacher at MS 88 in Brooklyn. His focus on local New York City ecology and wildlife, as well as wildlife medicine, has inspired an interest by his students in natural history. Further, his work in teaching about global climate change may help in enabling future mitigation efforts.
2024 — Anthony Ciancimino
For his work runing a science/nature after school program for the Children’s Aid Society on Staten Island. He takes the children in the program on bird walks. The hope is to turn them into “hardcore birders”.
Presidential Citation
This award is given to recognize extraordinary service to the Society, with the President’s approval or instigation.
Recipient of the Presidential Citation
2022 – D. Bruce Yolton
Given in recognition of his extraordinarily valuable work for the Society. His technical expertise was instrumental in creating and maintaining the Society’s new website, enabling our online meetings, and facilitating and streamlining the Society’s operations.
Lillian C. Stoner Award
Each year the New York State Ornithological Association (formerly the Federation of New York State Bird Clubs) offers the Lillian C. Stoner Award to high-school and college students interested in birds. Members of NYSOA nominate young birders in their areas to receive the Lillian C. Stoner award, with NYSOA making the final selection of the awardees. This award provides modest funding to help young people meet their expenses in attending the annual meeting of the Association. A list of recent nominees of the Linnaean Society of New York follows. All were selected by NYSOA for the Stoner Award.
Recipients of the Lillian C. Stoner Award
2010 — Jacob Drucker
2011 — Alexandra Hale
2015 — Marc Katz
2019 — Ryan Zucker
2022 — Julien Amsellem
Honorary Members
According to The Linnaean Society’s bylaws, “Honorary members shall not exceed 10 in number, and shall be persons eminent for their attainments in one or more of the natural sciences.” The Society currently has eight honorary members:
Humberto Berlanga, Mexico
Timothy Birkhead, England
Orlando Garrido, Cuba
Dominique Homberger, United States
Arturo Kirkconnel, Cuba
Yossi Lessham, Israel
Guy McCaskie, United States
Kiyoaki Ozaki, Japan
Fellows
Fellows are elected from the Linnaean membership for their contribution to the Society above and beyond committee duties and fulfilling responsibilities as officers. There is no limit on the number of fellows that can be elected. Current fellows are:
Tom Burke
John Cairns
Stephen Chang
Dale Dancis
Joseph DiCostanzo
Sherry Felix
Jill Hamilton
Ruth Hart
Helen Hays
Kathleen Howley
Anne Lazarus
Richard Lieberman
Charles McAlexander
Miriam Rakowski
Lenore Swenson
Lydia Thomas
Fifty-Year Member Award
Society members who have been members continuously for 50 years are given an award—an engraved Peregrine Falcon statuette.