The New Hampshire Audubon congratulates Robert Vallieres, raptor volunteer, on being awarded the Spirit of New Hampshire Award from Volunteer NH.
Each fall, a statewide celebration is held to present the Spirit of New Hampshire Awards in two major groups – volunteer service awards and volunteer program champion awards. The volunteer service awards recognizes people who provide volunteer services that strengthen communities. This year's award celebration will be held Nov. 10 at the Grappone Center.
Robert has been a volunteer with the Audubon for more than 12 years. A military veteran injured during active service in the Persian Gulf, Robert returned home to New Hampshire and after a field trip to view peregrine falcon nesting cliffs he made the Audubon a part of his recovery through countless hours of volunteering.
In his supporting letter for the award nomination, Audubon Conservation Biologist Chris Martin wrote “Robert developed a fascination for peregrine falcons, an uncanny eye for spotting them, and an exceptional gift for teaching others about them. . . . Robert possesses a disarming and infectious enthusiasm for wildlife, but his true passion is for birds of prey. His genuine and approachable manner means that kids and adults flock around him when he shows up with a red-tailed hawk perched upon his arm.”
Chris added, “He has used volunteering as a way to heal his wounds, and in the process, has influenced the lives of countless others.”
Robert is the face of the Audubon each fall at the organization's raptor migration observatory at Carter Hill Orchard. Robert is present every single day for the month of September and for a couple of weeks into October at the observatory. More than 2,000 visitors were welcomed by Robert last year as he spotted, counted and identified raptors flying overhead in their annual migration to South America.
For more information, visit nhaudubon.org or call 224-9909.
