Aberdeen graduate Dr Jeff Watson has become just the second Scot to be awarded the RSPB Medal in recognition of his outstanding contribution to bird conservation.
The RSPB Medal is the Society's most prestigious award. It is presented to an individual in recognition of wild bird protection and countryside conservation. Past winners include Sir David Attenborough, Rt Hon John Gummer, Dr Colin Bibby and Bill Oddie.
Presenting the medal to him last week, Professor Ian Newton FRS, Chairman of the RSPB's Council, said: 'It's been my pleasure to know and work with Jeff over the years and I am honoured to now present him with the RSPB Medal."
Jeff graduated from Aberdeen with a Zoology degree in 1974, and then carried out his PhD from Aberdeen, working in the Seychelles on the ecology of the endemic Seychelles Kestrel. Following this, he worked for the WWF on the conservation of various endangered land birds in the Seychelles.
On return from the Seychelles he worked for a short time with the Scottish Wildlife Trust before joining the Nature Conservancy Council to lead a major research project on land use change and impacts on golden eagles.
Jeff's work on golden eagles was published in several scientific papers and his monograph "The Golden Eagle" (1997), published by Poyser/Academic Press, was awarded the Birdwatching Magazine Prize for monograph of the year. The book has virtually sold out, and a second edition is in preparation; such is the international interest in the book that a Japanese edition was published earlier this year.
Following the re-organisation of the Nature Conservancy Council, Jeff continued working for Scottish Natural Heritage in the Highlands and, since April 1997, served as a Director on the SNH Management Team.
He has had lead responsibility for the Natura programme (the designation, conservation and management of Special Protection Areas and Special Areas of Conservation), the National Nature Reserve series and has played a vital role in the creation of the Cairngorms National Park and the protection of the Flow Country.