In November 2020, the Colorado birding community lost one of its pillars when Joe Roller passed away. Joe was an invaluable contributor to Colorado Field Ornithologists, Denver Field Ornithologists, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, and many more Colorado organizations. Joe was a fountain of birding lore and loved people as much as birds. Many considered him a beloved friend.
In honor of Joe's joyful service and dedication to the Colorado birding community, CFO and Scott Somershoe partnered to create a new research grant - the Joe Roller Memorial Grant. This grant is awarded each year to the top-scoring research or conservation grant submitted to CFO's Grants program.
Colorado birding extroidenaire Joe Roller. Photo by Tom Wilberding.
Joe Roller Memorial Green Big Year
To honor Joe's legacy, Scott Somershoe partnered with CFO in 2020 to create the Joe Roller Memorial Grant to support bird research in Colorado.
The grant was initially funded by pledges raised through Scott's 2021 Green Big Year, a green (carbon-free) birding initiative. Throughout the year he walked and biked from his home in Littleton, Colorado to see as many species as possible in 2021.
Scott had a spectacular year which he recorded in his Joe Roller Memorial Green Big Year blog.
- Green Big Year species list: 285
- Miles on a bike: 3,125
- Elevation gained: 128,000 ft
- Funds raised: $43,000+