On behalf of the Kirtland Bird Club in northeast Ohio, we acknowledge the great con-tributions of Ed Pierce to the birding community:
 

• Around 1980, Ed became publisher of The Ohio Cardinal, the journal of record for observers of Ohio's bird life. Along with the Ohio Ornithological Society, he continues this involvement to this day.

• Since 1981, he has coordinated and participated in the monthly Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge bird census. He compiles and archives the records of the census, and has developed the refuge bird list.  He continues this work to this day.

• In 1991, he helped form the Ohio Bird Records Committee, and continues to be very involved in maintaining and ensuring accurate birding records for Ohio.

• In the early 2000s, he was integral in the formation of the Ohio Ornithological Society and is currently Vice-President.

• He is an active participant with bird surveys for the Summit County Metroparks system, the Greater Akron Audubon Society and the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

• In 1989, he conceived and organized the monthly weekend van trips for the Kirtland Bird Club.  Over the past 17 years he led over 150 van trips throughout Ohio, Michigan, West Virginia and Canada.

Since the KBC van trips’ inception, untold numbers of birders have seen countless more birds than would have been otherwise possible.  Ed’s good-natured leadership got us up before sunrise and kept us going all day, teaching us where to look for the birds and even why to look there. He managed to accommodate each participant, and always without a cross word or making anyone feel out of place. That is no small accomplish-ment. But best of all, his dedication to planning and directing van trips fostered relat-ionships among birders, creating an atmosphere that brought experienced devotees into contact with neophytes--to the betterment of all. That camaraderie and the many friendships it spawned is what will remain long after the images of warbler grand slams along Lake Eire, boreal raptors in Canada, and wandering gulls over Niagara Falls all fade from our memories. On top of everything else, Ed kept meticulous records from each trip furthering species distribution accounts.

The club is grateful to Ed for initiating the van trips and for his years of dedication con-tinuing them.  We thank you, Ed, for your many years of contribution to the betterment of the birding community. And present you with these gifts of our appreciation.