After 48 dedicated years, Professor Dr. Claus König is
still working with his wife and research partner Ingrid on a long-term study of
Eurasian Pygmy Owls. These owls were extirpated from the Black Forest in
Germany due to deforestation after World War II, and the Königs reestablished a
population from birds raised in captivity after the area was reforested.
Professor Dr. Claus König spent much of his career at
Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde (Museum of Natural History) in Stuttgart,
Germany. He served as the curator of ornithology there for about 30 years,
then was named the director, and eventually a professor of bioacoustics and
ornithology.
König’s deep interest in owls has led him to studies in
Europe, Africa, and South America. His years of research coupled with his
passion for bioacoustics brought him to the realization that owl vocalizations
are inherited, not learned, and are thus an important isolating mechanism for
species. As a result of his work he has described several new species of owls.
Another passion of Claus and Ingrid König is making nature
documentaries, often featuring owls. Besides making several films for TV,
Professor Dr. König has published over 250 scientific papers, written numerous
articles for magazines, and written or co-authored several books. He is
probably best known to owl biologists around the world for authoring the “bible”
on owls, along with his colleagues Friedhelm Weick and Jan-Hendrik Becking:
“Owls—A Guide to the Owls of the World” in 1999, as well as the updated and
revised second edition “Owls of the World” in 2008.
Special Achievement Award - Raju Acharya, Nepal
Working to protect owls in Nepal is an
uphill battle. Until Mr. Acharya started his efforts, there was little data on
the species that live in the country or their populations. There is illegal
hunting and trading of owls, and they are not necessarily regarded with good
will.
In the short three years that Mr.
Acharya has been working to protect owls in Nepal, he has truly made a
difference. He led a team of 10 volunteers to conduct ground-breaking surveys
of the owls of the country and has interviewed hundreds of people around the
country about their knowledge and attitudes about owls. He is currently working
to ascertain the extent of the hunting and trade in European Eagle Owls in his
country.
Spreading knowledge is the key he is
using to help owls in Nepal. Mr. Acharya has reached at least four million
Nepalese people through radio, television, and newspaper. He has conducted 200
owl conservation awareness programs targeting 5,000 students and other
stakeholders and is currently working to produce a field guide to the owls of
Nepal.
He is helping to form eco-clubs in
schools, works to ban killing of owls by catapult, and is stressing the control
of forest fires to conserve their forest habitats. Since agriculture is the
backbone of the economy, he also is focusing on how beneficial owls are to
agriculture.
Mr. Acharya is truly making
Nepal a better place for owls, and you can help him by making a tax-deductible
donation to his work through the Friends of the Houston Nature Center.
Click on the "Donate" button below to make a donation using PayPal or a major
credit card.
You can also donate by check. Please note in the
memo line that the contribution is to support Raju Acharya's work in Nepal and
make the check payable to and mail to:
Friends of the Houston Nature Center
PO Box 731
Houston, MN
55943
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