Kimball Garrett and WFO President Debbie Van Dooremolen present the Alan M. Craig Award to Jon L. Dunn. Photo: Thomas A. Blackman

The Alan M. Craig Award, established in 1987, is given on an irregular basis for “exceptional service, leadership, and dedication to WFO over a sustained period of time.” The award is named in honor of Alan Craig, a founding member of WFO and a founding editor of Western Birds (formerly California Field Ornithologists and California Birds, respectively) which he edited for 14 years.

On October 12, 2024, at the 48th Annual Conference in San Diego, California, WFO presented the Alan M. Craig Award to Jon L. Dunn for his extraordinary service to the organization. Jon is a charter member, having joined the organization in 1969 at the age of 15. Jon has been one of WFO’s longest-serving directors. Following a period during which he served at least 11 years on the Board, he was elected vice president in 2017 and president in 2019. His presidency spanned the Covid years, a particularly challenging time for an organization such as WFO. His dedicated and innovative leadership guided us through that difficult period, and WFO emerged every bit as strong as it was prior to the pandemic, if not stronger.

Jon has served on many Board committees, but his support of our publications is especially noteworthy. Peer-reviewed scientific publications are at the core of WFO’s mission. Jon has been involved in developing projects, and editing and promoting our Studies of Western Birds series, and is a staunch supporter of Western Birds. No one has done more to help support our Publications Fund by leading fundraising field trips, promoting publications to our membership, and working with major donors.

For WFO, Jon has led tours to Cuba, Costa Rica, Wisconsin, and seven ecoregions of California. In addition, he is a regular field trip leader and workshop presenter at our annual conferences. A decades-long, full-time tour leader with WINGS Birding Tours, Jon is an expert in conducting trips that encounter many birds, and he always educates participants about many aspects of the lives of the species they see. Participants on Jon’s tours benefit from his encyclopedic knowledge and come away with more than ticks on a checklist.

Jon’s long service, enthusiasm for our mission, and extensive knowledge of our history have made him an exceptional ambassador for WFO, and one who richly deserves the recognition of the Alan M. Craig Award.

Thank you to Ken Able and Kimball Garrett for their contributions to this article, and to Debbie Van Dooremolen and Kimball for presenting the award to Jon.