After a long day working in front of a computer screen, Bob Lopp often grabs his binoculars and bird identification journal and goes searching. He’ll travel the quiet countryside in the Lower Valley or visit one of the many nearby lakes or parks. He’ll survey the skyline and plains to the mountains, hoping to catch a passing formation of Canada geese or a hawk floating overhead. He’ll listen for the chirps of any chorus of songs.
During one of his ritual outings recently Lopp spotted a large bald eagle peacefully perched in a cottonwood tree with its feathers fluffed out in the cold evening. Up the road Lopp encountered another treasured sight — a short-eared owl with a fiery coat of feathers.
It’s simple-yet-enchanting experiences like these that have inspired the 72-year-old Kalispell resident’s lifelong passion for “birding.”
“It really is very important to me,” he says.
“It allows me to get back outdoors to nature. Just to be back out and let all the rest slough off; you can’t do that all the time, but it sure helps once in awhile.”
After almost 40 years of stewardship and conservation work as a bird-watching enthusiast, Lopp earned this year’s Montana Audubon Lifetime Achievement Award.
At the annual state festival held in June in Kalispell, the executive director for Montana Audubon surprised Lopp with the honor.
Steve Hoffman cited the “hundreds — if not thousands — of hours of volunteer time” that Lopp has devoted to local and statewide Audubon efforts.
“Bob is an amazing individual,” Hoffman says. “He has done so much for the organization and the Audubon cause. We’re talking decades of work. He’s such a strong community member within the Flathead community.”
Lopp is a founding member of the Flathead Audubon Society, which has become one of the largest and most active chapters in Montana. The local nonprofit group has more than 400 registered members, including 80 to 100 who regularly attend monthly meetings. There are nine Montana Audubon chapters.
The organization’s efforts are focused on conserving birds, wildlife habitat and ecosystem diversity as well as promoting awareness and education in the community.
The varied habitats that encompass Northwest Montana are home to the most diverse range of bird species in the Northern Rockies, according Hoffman.
This vast gallery of bird-watching opportunities is one of the reasons why the Flathead Valley has so many active Audubon members.
“Of all the chapters in the state, Flathead’s consistently gets more people coming to their monthly meetings than any other chapter,” Hoffman says.
Hoffman also attributes the local chapter’s success to its leaders.
“They have outstanding leadership in the Flathead Audubon. People like Bob Lopp,” Hoffman says. “It’s just full of great people.”
 |
|
Bob Lopp’s Lifetime Achievement Award from Montana Audubon hangs on the wall of Jane Lopp and Associates’ conference room in Kalispell. – Lido Vizzutti | Flathead Beacon |
Birding has been a passion of Lopp’s since he was a boy growing up around Flathead Lake. When he was young and attending a church camp, one of the leaders took a group of kids on a nature hike. As they trekked through the woods, the leader would point out birds and their songs. For Lopp, it became an exciting new way to experience the outdoors. By the time he was in college, he and his friends were spending the weekends outside in search of new birds to identify.
“I’ve always been interested in everything outdoors, not as a sportsman but just interested in nature itself and our interaction with it and conservation,” he says.
Since helping organize the first Flathead chapter for Montana Audubon he has held nearly every office within the organization, including president and treasurer.
One of the organization’s pride-and-joy projects recently has been the Owen Sowerwine Natural Area, a 422-acre section of land a half-mile east of Kalispell. The property is owned by the state but the Flathead Audubon manages it, and it’s become one of only 40 sites designated “important areas” for bird habitat in Montana. Through fundraising, Flathead Audubon has maintained and conserved the area in full, making it a cherished place for bird-watching.
The local chapter is also increasing its outreach efforts with kids.
“It’s really important to get youngsters outside,” says Lopp, who spent almost 30 years teaching German at Flathead High School.
Lopp and his wife Jane work together at Jane Lopp & Associates, and they have spent a lifetime being involved together in and around the community they grew up in. The Flathead High graduates were awarded the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce’s highest honor, the Great Chief Award, in 1995. They have served on several community boards and been apart of many local organizations.
“We give a lot to the community because we get a lot from the community,” Lopp says.
For more information about Flathead Audubon, visit www.flatheadaudubon.org.