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Dan Small, of Westby, has received the 2023 Communicator of the Year Award from the Bluebird Restoration Association of Wisconsin (BRAW).
The long-time host of Outdoor Wisconsin on Milwaukee PBS and PBS Wisconsin, and contributing editor for the Wisconsin Outdoor News, was cited for being an “important and significant environmental spokesperson for Wisconsin.”
According to BRAW president Steve Sample, Small has “worked to educate the public about the state’s many plant, insect and animal species, including the Eastern Bluebird.”
In reflecting on his contributions, Small noted: “Throughout my 50-year career, I have encouraged viewers, listeners and readers to learn about the interconnections between birds and other wildlife, and their dependence on a healthy, diverse environment. We need to consider our role as participants in the natural world and as its stewards.”
Small’s interest in birds began on family camping trips. “Those experience helped me understand the complexity of our natural world and led me to a career communicating about its wonders and the many activities that can bring us closer to wild things.”
To help birds now and on the future, Small suggests “becoming more aware of the impacts our actions have on nature and to preserving natural travel routes used by migrating birds to provide food and safe resting areas.”
Upon receiving his award, Small said: “This award is a great honor for me. I will continue to raise awareness about the importance of bluebirds and other grassland species.”