Hans Löhrl Prize

For her innovative field studies on cranes, terns, and bird eggs; her groundbreaking contributions to ecological research in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania; and her exceptional dedication to teaching and fostering the next generation of researchers.

Wolfgang Dornberger, a member of the DO-G since 1969, is receiving this year’s Hans-Löhrl Prize for his long-term studies—conducted over nearly 50 years—on the biology and population dynamics of the yellowhammer.

Dr. Simon Thorn receives the 2019 Hans Löhrl Prize for his research on the effects of natural disturbances—with and without subsequent silvicultural interventions—on forest bird communities, which he has published in a series of complementary studies.

The 2018 Hans Löhrl Prize is awarded to Mr. Volkher Looft. His comprehensive work, “Years of the Goshawk—A Long-Term Study on 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.

Dr. Nina Seifert receives this year’s Hans Löhrl Prize for the publication Seifert N, Haase M, Van Wilgenburg SL, Voigt CC, & Schmitz Ornés A (2016) “Complex migration and breeding strategies in an elusive bird species illuminated by genetic and isotopic markers,” J Avian Biol 47: 275–287 …

Dr. Johannes Kamp receives the Hans Löhrl Prize for his research on population changes in various Eurasian bird species and his long-term efforts to preserve the diversity of steppe birds.

Mr. Jan Engler was awarded the 2015 Hans Löhrl Prize for his research on the population dynamics of two species of warblers (the Orphean Warbler and the Yellow Warbler) as well as the Citril Finch (Engler et al. 2013, J. Evol. Biol. 26: 2487–2496 and 2014 J. Ornithol. 155: 657–669).

The 2014 Hans Löhrl Prize was awarded to Dr. Christian Rutz for his multifaceted approaches to research on New Caledonian straight-billed crows (Corvus moneduloides).

The 2013 Hans Löhrl Prize was awarded to Dr. Martin Flade for his critical assessment of bird conservation in Germany in his publication “From the Energy Transition to a Biodiversity Disaster—On the State of Bird Conservation in Germany” 2012 *Vogelwelt* 133: 149–158.

The 2012 Hans Löhrl Prize was awarded to Dr. Heiko Schmaljohann of the Institute for Bird Research “Vogelwarte Helgoland” in Wilhelmshaven for his wide-ranging and outstanding studies on the topic of “Optimal Bird Migration.”

The 2011 Hans Löhrl Prize was awarded to Priv. Doz. Dr. Hinrich Martin Schaefer for his research on the behavior and ecological interactions of fruit-eating birds.

Dr. Beat Naef-Daenzer of the Swiss Ornithological Institute in Sempach received the 2010 Hans Löhrl Prize for his contributions to a comprehensive understanding of the ecological mechanisms underlying the evolution of life history traits in small birds.