2018
Award Winner: Volkher Looft

The 2018 Hans Löhrl Prize is awarded to Mr. Volkher Looft. His comprehensive work, “Years of the Goshawk—A Long-Term Study of the Breeding Biology of the Goshawk Combined with a Search for Influencing Factors,” published in 2017 in Corax 23: 161–239, exemplifies the lifetime achievements of an exceptionally dedicated field ornithologist, conservationist, and educator. For over 51 years, Volkher Looft has investigated aspects of breeding and population biology in a Schleswig-Holstein goshawk population against the backdrop of numerous ecological disruptions and changes. Among his vast body of findings, those concerning the species’ population regulation deserve special mention, as they can only be recognized and understood within the context of a consistent long-term study. In addition, with great enthusiasm and remarkable physical fitness—as evidenced by his climbing of countless nesting trees—he also devoted himself to the long-term monitoring of other species across large-scale study areas, revealing the ecological interactions between geest forests and lowland grasslands.

As an educator, Volkher Looft knew how to inspire numerous young people to take an interest in ornithology and nature conservation; through his intensive public outreach efforts, he achieved remarkable successes in nature conservation policy. He fought courageously and fearlessly against ecologically disastrous land consolidation projects and against the illegal persecution of birds of prey. He also laid the groundwork for the designation of the widely known Eider-Treene-Sorge lowland as a protected area. His long-standing commitment exemplifies the connection between basic ornithological research and sound nature conservation.

Prof. Dr. Oliver Krüger
, Dr. Bernd Leisler
, Dr. Karl Schulze-Hagen
, Prof. Dr. Hans Winkler

Presented by DO-G President Prof. Dr. Stefan Garthe
on September 20, 2018, at the 151st DO-G Annual Meeting in Heidelberg