From the Alabama Wildlife Federation
Wildlife Conservationist of the Year
Roger Clay was awarded the Wildlife Conservationist of the Year by the Alabama Wildlife Federation.
Roger Clay received the 2024 Alabama Wildlife Federation Governor’s Conservation Achievement Award as the Wildlife Conservationist of the Year Award.
The AWF Governor’s Conservation Achievement Awards (GCAA) are the most respected conservation honors in the state of Alabama. Over the past 50 years, AWF has presented these awards to individuals and organizations that make great contributions to the conservation of Alabama’s wildlife and related natural resources.
Thirty-six years ago, Roger Clay began his career with the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division as a non-game wildlife biologist.
Over his distinguished career, Roger has been instrumental in a host of wildlife success stories, including:
• Bald Eagle Recovery in Alabama – Roger led the translocation and rearing of young eagles
• Monitoring and conservation of coastal shorebirds, including at Gaillard Island in Mobile Bay – home to Alabama’s largest population of nesting Brown Pelicans
• He has conducted over 150 breeding bird surveys
• Bring Back the Bluebirds Campaign
• Eastern Indigo Snake reintroduction
• Gopher Tortoise surveys and monitoring
• and the list goes on….
For 22 years, Roger has also been Alabama’s Falconry Coordinator, working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and falconers to develop and maintain a high integrity program throughout his tenure.
As one of his peers stated, “His commitment to leadership and the role model he represents ensures the health of the natural resources of our community and state.”
