The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has conferred its most prestigious prize, the Arthur A. Allen Award, to Victor Emanuel, founder of Victor Emanuel Nature Tours (VENT), the largest bird and nature tour company in the world.
The award is named for Arthur "Doc" Allen, who founded the Lab of Ornithology in 1915. The award is given to an individual who has made significant contributions to ornithology by making it accessible to the general public. Doc Allen devoted his life to advancing the belief that nonprofessional birders can make a difference for birds. Birding has become one of the most popular outdoor recreations in the country, due in part to the early efforts of Allen, the country's first professor of ornithology.
Victor Emanuel Nature Tours is the largest bird and nature tour company in the world. VENT has been in operation for 25 years and offers more than 150 tours to some 100 countries worldwide.
Conferring the prize in June 5 ceremonies, John Fitzpatrick, director of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, said: "Victor Emanuel's contributions to the world of birds are enormous and varied. He has introduced the beauty, mystery and importance of birds to tens of thousands of people by providing access to and knowledge of some of the world's most important and threatened avifauna, in places such as the Galapagos Islands, the rainforests of Central and South America, and richly diverse habitats of the African continent. Moreover, his company has consistently led the way in engaging scientifically trained individuals as tour leaders. Besides ensuring educationally rich experiences for the traveler, this has provided invaluable field experience for young professionals, some of whom have gone on to become renowned scientists."
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