The purpose of the World Owl Hall of Fame is to bring public recognition to the owls and humans who have done great things to make this world a better place for owls.  Three types of awards are given out each year: the Lady Gray'l Award (for owls), the Champion of Owls Award (for humans), and the Special Achievement Award (for humans).

The Lady Gray'l Award is named for a Great Gray Owl who was hatched in 1984.  Thanks to caring biologists with an interesting plan, that same owl who would have starved as the runt of the brood spent a 21-year career touching the lives of untold thousands of people and giving researchers new insights into the life of the Great Gray Owl.  Lady Gray'l spent nearly her entire lifetime living and working with Dr. Bob Nero, raising money for owl research through their hundreds of school visits and day-long stints in malls.  Thanks to Gray'l, Great Gray Owls were plucked from relative obscurity to become the provincial bird of Manitoba.  Lady Gray'l flew from this world on October 13, 2005, and this award was established to honor her accomplishments by recognizing other owls following in her footsteps.

The Champion of Owls Award is given to humans who have had a broad geographical impact on owls in multiple fields such as conservation, science, legislation, education, and/or rehabilitation, usually over a lifetime.

Starting in 2008, the Special Achievement Award was instituted.  This award is for humans who have made a significant contribution to owls through a specific project or for efforts in a specific geographic area.  The Special Achievement Awards are sponsored by the Global Owl Project.

Nomination Instructions

• Anyone may submit a nomination, including self-nominations.

• Nominations will be held and considered for a period of three years without the need for resubmission.

• Award nominees may reside anywhere in the world.

• Both living and deceased owls and humans may be nominated.

• Nomination forms may be downloaded as Microsoft Word documents.  Filled out forms may not exceed two pages in length with one inch margins and 11 point Arial font.  Questions may not be deleted.

• E-mail submission of nominations is preferred, but traditional mail is also acceptable.

• Nominations must be received by Saturday, 1 November 2008 to be considered for the 2009 awards.

• Award winners will be notified in December 2008.

• Award winners will be announced publicly in mid-January 2009.

• Awards will be presented Saturday, 7 March 2009 at the International Festival of Owls banquet in Houston, Minnesota, USA.

• Photos and a narrative of main accomplishments will be requested for award winners.  These will be used for World Owl Hall of Fame promotions, posted on the International Festival of Owls website, and included in a book to be housed at the Houston Nature Center in Houston, Minnesota, USA.

• Winners will receive a physical award.  Lady Gray'l and Champion of Owls Award winners will also receive a small cash award.

• Nominations should be directed to:

International Festival of Owls

PO Box 731

Houston, MN 55943

USA

507-896-HOOT (4668)

nature@acegroup.cc

Download Lady Gray'l Award Nomination Form (Microsoft Word)
Download Champion of Owls/Special Achievement Award Form (Microsoft Word)
(we will decide which award category is most appropriate for your human nominee)