CFO 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award to Nic Korte
CFO recognizes persons of character who have gained the respect of birders in their community through decades of service to birders and birding with the Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2025, CFO recognized the Nic Korte with this award. The award was accepted by Nic during the CFO annual meeting held during the 2025 Convention in Grand Junction.
Lifetime Achievement Award Nomination Letter
Nominated by Helen Butts & Cary Atwood
It is with great admiration and appreciation that we nominate Nic Korte for the CFO Lifetime Achievement Award. Nic is a dedicated birder, conservationist, and community leader whose contributions to birding and habitat protection span decades and have left a legacy in Western Colorado and beyond.
Arriving in Grand Junction in 1977, Nic Korte has called Grand Junction home for more than 40 years. During that time, he has become a pillar of the birding and conservation community. He is a past president of Grand Valley Audubon Society and has served as the Conservation Chair of the organization for over 20 years, serving on the board for nearly 30. In that time, Nic has been a driving force behind numerous initiatives that support bird conservation, community education, and habitat protection. He has also connected with the young aspiring naturalists in “the Valley” and thanks to him, many are motivated to give back to nature.
Among his many efforts, Nic leads the Grand Valley Audubon Society’s Western Screech-Owl observation project, combining citizen science, conservation advocacy, and public engagement. Through his efforts to monitor and provide habitat, including more than 100 nest boxes, in recent years Grand Mesa County has often had the highest population of this species in the world. His passion for birds doesn’t stop at the U.S. border—Nic has made more than 30 trips to the tropics, immersing himself in avian biodiversity and furthering his understanding of global bird conservation challenges. He chronicled these adventures in his book, Ten Jungle Days, published by Outskirts Press. Likewise, he has lasting connections with communities in Costa Rica and Ecuador.
Nic’s love for birds has deep roots. Growing up in the farmlands of rural southern Illinois, his earliest encounters with the natural world came through hunting and fishing. But a 1956 edition of the World Book Encyclopedia—specifically the well-worn pages of the “B” volume on birds—sparked a deeper interest that has impacted his life and ours. His interest in following the science and health of Western Screech Owls is a significant legacy in Grand Junction.
During his career as a geochemist, among other work he led cleanups of groundwater. Although Nic’s professional career began in geochemistry, it was during his time at the University of Arizona in Tucson that he encountered his first birders and discovered the lifelong hobby that would soon evolve into a passionate calling.
Nic’s outstanding service to the ornithological and conservation communities has been recognized at the regional and national levels. In 2015, he was honored with the Richard G. Levad Award from the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies for distinguished service to the ornithological community. Four years later, he received the William Dutcher Award from National Audubon for his leadership in the birding community of Western Colorado.
Today, Nic continues to share his knowledge and insights through his blog, Birds and More – Birding and Conservation in Western Colorado [LINK: https://birdsandmore.blog/], inspiring seasoned birders and newcomers alike.
Nic Korte embodies the spirit of lifelong birding, blending scientific curiosity, community service, and a heartfelt love for the natural world. His decades of work have made a profound impact on bird conservation and awareness in Colorado and beyond. It is our honor to nominate him for this well-deserved Lifetime Achievement Award.
