Nominations are now open for the Owl Awards 2026, an annual recognition celebrating individuals and groups who have made outstanding contributions to bird conservation and environmental stewardship.
The Owl Awards honour the dedication, passion, and impact of those working to protect birds, their habitats, and the broader natural environment. From conservation practitioners and researchers to community champions and volunteers, these awards shine a light on the remarkable efforts taking place across the country.
We invite nominations for individuals, organisations, or initiatives that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to conservation over the past year or throughout their careers. If you know someone whose work deserves recognition, we encourage you to submit a nomination.
Please submit nominations to Dr Isabel Human at isabel.human@birdlife.org.za
on or before Friday, 10 July 2026.
2025 Owl Awards
BirdLife South Africa recognises the valuable contributions that people and organisations make to the conservation of South Africa’s birds and their habitats. This recognition is in the form of the presentation of our annual Owl Awards to deserving recipients.
View the recipients of the 2025 Owl Awards, as well as read their full citations, below.
2025 Owl Awards recipients
Ian Barber
EcoSolutions
Dr Rob Simmons
Steve Davis
Libby Hirshon
Tsawule Farmers’ Association
Peter Divall
Dr Michael Riffel
Ester van der Westhuizen-Coetzer
Owlet Award recipient
Gabby Sykora
Eagle-Owl Award recipients
Brent Coverdale
Dr Azwianewi Makhado
Previous Years
BirdLife South Africa’s 2024 Owl Awards event was hosted at Everard Read Gallery, CIRCA on 25 September 2024.
You can view photos of the event and the winners, as well as read all the winners’ citations below.
For more information, please contact BirdLife South Africa on 011 789 1122 or email Isabel Human