Retired veterinarian works to restore habitat in California
This year, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever will once again recognize a national “Volunteer of the Year.”
The award celebrates the very best the organization has to offer — the members and volunteers who optimize the Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever mission, who seek to protect and grow our wildlife habitat, and who help ensure our heritage continues for generations to come.
We have chosen six finalists (three Pheasants Forever and three Quail Forever) for the award. The winner will be announced at the upcoming National Pheasant Fest and Quail Classic, which runs March 7-9 in Kansas City, Missouri.
“Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever are dynamic conservation organizations, fueled by the dedication of volunteers,” said Tom Fuller, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s vice president of chapter and volunteer services. “The Volunteer of the Year award seeks to honor individuals who have made a profound impact on our mission. Our volunteer network is a vibrant community of passion and talent. This annual award is a celebration of the remarkable accomplishments of these volunteers, and is intended to inspire others to join the movement for upland conservation.”
Over the course of the next three weeks we’ll get to know each finalist, and celebrate their accomplishments in the world of habitat conservation. The next volunteer we’ll highlight this year is Dr. Jeff Novak.
Dr. Jeff Novak is a retired veterinarian and falconer who lives in Ridgecrest, California, and is a member of Ridgecrest Quail Forever Chapter 3176. Jeff works harder to support the local wildlife than anyone in the chapter. He almost single-handedly monitors the water levels of 100+ guzzlers over three mountain ranges in the local area. He hauls water to fill guzzlers that have not been repaired or are in a dry area of the range that did not get hit by desert thunderstorms.
Jeff hauls water daily from August to February and monitors guzzler water levels weekly through the breeding season. He donates his time, fuel, and wear and tear on his vehicle to ensure that Chapter 3176 always knows what’s going on and water is available for wildlife. Jeff also raises chukar and birds of prey. He regularly brings them for educational outreach with community members, including having a chukar station with baby chukar at the banquet.
He also retains all the historical documentation as well as pictures of work that has been completed over the years. Lastly, he provides the chapter a boots-on-the-ground resource that takes government agency representatives out into the field — showing them key ecological and environmental points of interest, educating them on the patterns of local flora and fauna, and showing them historical points of interest.
He is also a great recruiter, and has brought in a number of very committed volunteers to the chapter. Without Jeff, Chapter 3176 could not have anywhere close to the impact it has had on the local habitat, especially considering the amount of time and money he contributes individually.