NOTE: The Ross Thompson Trophy is no longer awarded. This information is for archival purposes only. To learn about the current youth birding award, please visit our page about The Robert Curry Trophy.
Awarded annually to the young enthusiastic birder who has seen the most species of birds in the Hamilton Study Area in a calendar year.
Criteria is as follows:
- The observer must NOT have reached his/her 18th birthday during the year.
- The observer’s name, address, phone number and date of birth must be submitted with the application.
- The submitted bird list must include the date of each first sighting and location for each species.
- All birds must have been seen within one calendar year (i.e. January 1st through December 31st, inclusive).
- All birds must have been seen in the Hamilton Study Area (within 40 km of Dundurn Castle, Hamilton – see
map). - Submitted lists will be reviewed by a Ross Thompson committee before the trophy is awarded each year
- Young birders may wish to check HNC publications such as the Checklist of the Birds of Hamilton-Wentworth, the Date Guide to Birds of Hamilton-Wentworth,
and Birds of Hamilton and surrounding areas. - The submitted lists will not be returned; observers should ensure they have a duplicate set of records.
- The trophy may not be awarded more than twice to the same observer.
Ross Thompson Trophy Winner For 2009
Congratulations to Ezra Campanelli, Giovanni Campanelli and Owen Novasolec.
Ross Thompson Trophy Winner For 2008
<p”>Caleb Scholtens (left) receiving the Ross Thompson Trophy from Bob Curry at a Bird Study Group meeting. Caleb recorded 171 species of birds in the Hamilton Study Area in 2008. Highlights for his year were seeing a Northern Hawk Owl and a Pileated Woodpecker and having a ?Big Day? in May with over 100 species.
Ross Thompson Trophy Winner For 2007
Giovanni Campanelli (left) after receiving the Ross Thompson Trophy from Bob Curry at a Bird Study Group meeting. Giovanni recorded 132 species within the Hamilton Study Area in 2007.
Pictured at right are Ross Thompson Trophy winner Giovanni Campanelli (right) and runner-up Ezra Campanelli (left)
(Photo: Glenda Slessor).
| Ross Thompson Trophy Winners | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Recipient | # of Species |
| 2013 | Caleb Scholtens | 232 |
| 2012 | Lukian and Zakhar Husak | 255 |
| 2011 | Zakhar Husak | 208 |
| 2010 | Lukian Husak | 169 |
| 2009 | Ezra Campanelli | 172 |
| 2008 | Caleb Scholtens | 171 |
| 2007 | Giovanni Campanelli | 132 |
| 2006 | Owen Novoselac | 191 |
| 2005 | Laina Don | 183 |
| 2004 | Brandon Holden | 267 |
| 2003 | Anthony Miller | 260 |
| 2002 | Brandon Holden | 251 |
| 2000 | Carl Hamann | 248 |
| 1999 | Carl Hamann | 274 * highest to date |
| 1998 | Stuart Mackenzie | 247 |
| 1992 | Jamie Miles | 224 |
| 1991 | Jamie Miles | 217 |
| 1990 | Steven Miles | 243 |
| 1989 | Steven Miles | 247 |
| 1988 | Kristin Stubbing | 112 |
| 1987 | Kristin Stubbing | 108 |
| 1986 | Kristin Stubbing | 120 |
| 1983 | Adam Harrington | 130 |
| 1982 | Brian Pomfret | 206 |
| 1981 | Brian Pomfret | 220 |
| 1980 | David Agro | 206 |
| 1979 | David Agro | 213 |
| 1978 | David Agro | 161 |
| 1976 | Brian Horschnitz | 117 |
| 1968 | John Woodcock | 243 |
| 1967 | Russel Kardos | 264 |
| 1966 | Russel Kardos | 229 |
| 1965 | John Woods | 231 |
| 1964 | Gordon Commodore | 211 |
| 1963 | Lorraine Preston | 211 |
| 1962 | Bill Smith | 267 |
| 1961 | Bill Smith | 240 |
| 1960 | Ralph Idema | 240 |
| 1959 | Ralph Idema | 219 |
| 1958 | John Olmstead/John Miles | 242 |
| 1957 | John Miles | 263 |
| 1956 | Peter Hamel | 235 |
| 1955 | Peter Hamel | 218 |
| 1954 | Robert Henry | 210 |
| 1953 | Bill McCollum | 170 |
| 1952 | Bill McCollum | 156 |
| 1940 | Bob Elstone | 205 |
| 1939 | William Campbell | 204 |
In 2014 the Ross Thompson Trophy is replaced with The Robert Curry Trophy
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