By Doug Leier
When a blizzard is raging outside, that's a good time to be inside, even if you're a biologist whose work, and free time, is mostly spent outdoors.
That was the case a couple of weeks ago as I glanced across a room at the Fargo Radisson Hotel, where more than a hundred career biologists listened as speakers went on about sandhill cranes and prairie grass, while wind-driven snow rapped at huge glass windows at the back of the room.
The room was full of diverse professionals from across the state — a game warden from Watford City, biologists from Dickinson, graduate students from the University of North Dakota and professors from North Dakota State — all gathering for the North Dakota Chapter of the Wildlife Society annual meeting.
The NDCTWS numbers about 300 dedicated members who make their living as professionals working in the natural resource field. The North Dakota group is an affiliate of the national Wildlife Society, founded in 1937 as an international organization of professionals active in wildlife research, management, education and administration.
The annual meeting includes presentations that range from contemporary issues such as concerns over natural resource commercialization, to intricate research studies such as “assessing the potential of stable isotopes to trace origins of goshawk movement” … pretty heavy stuff for this biologist.
As you can well imagine, biologists read, research and discuss amongst themselves throughout the year, but the annual meeting allows informal discussions and catching up. I found myself renewing acquaintances with past co-workers working at Audubon National Wildlife Refuge, and a former boss who now works at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regional office in Denver.
What's interesting to me as a biologist is trying to learn as much as I can from some of the best in the business. The number of studies taking place across North Dakota that lead to better understanding of the array of flora and fauna in the state is impressive. And, you would be surprised at the number of scientists from as far way as New York who have spent time here to help us better understand our own backyard.
At this year's meeting several awards were handed out.
The prestigious North Dakota Award is presented annually to a wildlife professional who has made outstanding contributions to North Dakota's natural resources during his or her career. This year it was awarded to Gary L. Krapu of Jamestown.
Krapu has been a research biologist at Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center in Jamestown for more than 33 years. He has conducted highly complex studies addressing a wide range of resource management needs and providing a positive influence on waterfowl ecology. Krapu has produced more than 100 scientific papers and reports and has distinguished himself among his colleagues as an outstanding research scientist.
The Habitat Award was presented to the North Dakota Natural Resources Trust. The mission of the Trust is to preserve, restore, manage and enhance wetlands, riparian areas, grasslands and other associated habitats.
From its inception, the Trust has played a role as facilitator between agricultural and conservation issues. Since 1986, it has been involved in wildlife habitat conservation projects that involved more than 304,000 acres and more than $2.5 million in direct payments to more than 2,500 landowners for conservation programs.
The Graduate Student of the Year awards were presented to Jessica Gregory of the University of North Dakota and Jeremy Guinn of North Dakota State University.
The Undergraduate Student Scholarships were presented to Robyn Kunick from the University of North Dakota, Elinor Hammond from North Dakota State University and Richard Rice from Minot State-Bottineau.
