Tice Supplee, Director of Bird Conservation for Audubon Southwest, was honored with the David N. Pashley Lifetime Achievement Award from Partners in Flight for her contributions to bird and habitat conservation in the southwestern U.S. and northwestern Mexico. Tice had a 29-year career with the Arizona Game and Fish Department before embarking on her “second” career with National Audubon Society. Some of her many achievements include administering the Arizona Important Bird Areas Program, helping develop the Arizona Bird Conservation Initiative, and so much more. Tice has been a mentor to many, supporting the next generation of conservationists, and teaching others that conservation is a human act, and to do it well you need to make connections. She effectively uses her past career, connections, and friendships to forge effective and far-reaching conservation outcomes.

In her own words about her career, Tice explains that “Birds were my gateway to a career in wildlife biology. I was a Hawk Mountain hawk watcher in my teens. My career in Arizona and New Mexico has led me to an appreciation for the smaller brown birds of the southwest desert and grasslands. My stewardship bird, the Abert’s Towhee, lives in the microphyll woodland washes and rivers of the southwestern desert and is a great avian ambassador to promote the conservation of these places. My greatest reward is fostering conservation partnerships with communities and mentoring future avian biologists.”

The SJV is honored with have had Tice’s wisdom and expertise on our Science Working Group, Management Board, and a myriad of other projects throughout the years. Read more about her career and the award.