Next to his family, the most important thing to Eric Beck is conservation. He has logged more than 200 hours in a volunteer position for Audubon, while juggling a career and college classes. A lifelong birder and conservationist, Eric’s dedication has earned him the position of coordinator for the Oklahoma Important Bird Areas program. For the past two years, Eric has worked tirelessly to improve and protect Oklahoma’s unique plains habitat – not just for threatened and rare species like the Lesser Prairie Chicken, but for the enjoyment and education of people. Under his watch, two Important Bird Areas have been designated in Oklahoma, with potentially five more to come. (Important Bird Areas are areas designated as being of utmost conservation importance since many bird species rely on them for their survival.) Eric also organized one of Audubon Oklahoma’s most popular events to date: the Lesser Prairie Chicken Weekend, which introduced Oklahomans to the unique birds living in the Northwestern portion of the state and encouraged them to volunteer to protect this threatened species.
As part of his TogetherGreen Conservation Fellowship, Eric will support and strengthen the Important Bird Areas program in Oklahoma that he has been so instrumental in leading. His fellowship will help with the creation of another Lesser Prairie Chicken Weekend, as well as a weekend devoted to Black-Capped Vireos, to allow even more Oklahomans to experience the wonders and beauty of local wildlife and habitats. Eric also hopes to offer students from nearby schools the chance to help protect Lesser Prairie Chickens, by helping them mark seven miles of interior fence at the Selman Ranch Important Bird Area. Since as much as 40% of Lesser Prairie Chicken mortality in Oklahoma results from fence collisions, this effort will make a huge difference in saving the threatened species, and in encouraging young people to get involved in conservation.