Royal Order of the Dipper & Founders’ Award
written by Melissa Leasia
It was my pleasure to award the Royal Order of the Dipper and the Founders’ Award to Carol Burdick and Chuck Aid, respectively, during the 2026 Annual Banquet at Hiwan Golf Club last month.
Carol, a long-time member and volunteer who joined the board a few years ago, was this year’s inductee to the Royal Order of the Dipper and received the coveted Dipper Award this year. Carol shows up to help with everything, especially if there are children involved or if she gets to wear a costume. For the past three years she has been instrumental in making the BASH and Benefit a fun and successful fundraiser. She is one of our writers, editors, and proofreaders and always has well-reasoned and helpful suggestions during board and committee meetings. When Carol has a great idea, she runs with it. For example, in some sort of meta volunteer universe, she suggested that we should reinstate the role of volunteer coordinator and volunteered to do it herself. As a result, she has spent countless hours revamping our volunteer recruiting and record-keeping, has been working with staff and other board members to update the Volunteer Handbook and to plan upcoming volunteer training workshops. Carol has also been instrumental in getting the new volunteer software up and running. Thank you, Carol, for all you do!
The Founders’ Award gives special recognition to one or more members who have made notable contributions to Evergreen Audubon and the wider conservation community, promoting environmental policy, creativity, coalition-building, education and/or outreach. Although it is not awarded every year, the Board of Directors unanimously and enthusiastically voted this year to present the Founders’ Award to Chuck Aid.
Chuck has served as a Board Member, Conservation Chair and Christmas Bird Count Chair. He has been a regular contributor to the Dipper newsletter (including this issue), our website, and other publications – notably the Breeding Bird Atlas and Birds of Evergreen. Chuck has been and continues to be a generous mentor to birders and naturalists at all levels. A gifted and dedicated teacher, Chuck has lead hundreds of bird walks and other outings, workshops, and classes, including all-day adult field trips to Colorado’s plains; wildflower hikes here in the foothills; classes at Jefferson County Outdoor Lab; outings on Mountain Area Land Trust properties; and has spent untold hours sharing his expertise with our young naturalists at Evergreen Nature Center and during our after-school programs and camps.
When I reached out to some of the people who have worked closely with Chuck over the years, I received several beautiful tributes. This one was especially apt:
“Chuck is an inspiration to all generations and a consummate teacher. We can all be grateful for his lifetime drive to educate and inspire budding conservationists. In such dark times, we need to focus on the lights that never flicker.” (Vanessa Hayes)
Thank you for everything, Chuck.
Birding Challenge & Bird of the Year
provided by Chris Marr
2025 Birding Challenge
- Amelie Anderson Completed: Jefferson Country (Jeff Co.), State of Colorado (CO)
- Mark Anderson CO
- Ron Belak Bear Creek Watershed (BCW), Jeff Co, CO
- Peg Linn BCW, Jeff Co, CO
- Kathy Madison BCW, Jeff Co, CO
- Steve Garman BCW, Jeff Co, CO
- Chuck Aid Jeff Co, CO
- Holly Marr BCW, Jeff Co, CO
- Chris Marr BCW, Jeff Co, CO
Bear Creek Watershed Bird of the Year
Blue Wing x Cinnamon Teal Hybrid – Ron Belak & Peg Linn
Volunteer Recognition
provided by Emma Vasicek
- “If You Build It” Award – Chuck Burdick
for designing, building, and installing the enclosures for the Nature Center Animal Ambassadors - “Habitat Hero” Award – Amelie Anderson
for designing, planning, and planting the native plant garden in front of the Nature Center - “Education Extraordinaire” Award – Jay Tierney
for numerous hours volunteering with the education programs