LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Thomas M. Jasikoff for his outstanding
work as an Avian Conservationist

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that the continuing
welfare of the citizens of this great State and nation is greatly
enriched by the purposeful endeavors of organizations and individuals
committed to the preservation of our environment, and to the enhancement
of appreciation for the distinctive inhabitants and features of our
natural surroundings; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern and fully in accord with its long-
standing traditions, it is the intent of this Legislative Body to honor
Thomas M. Jasikoff for his outstanding work as an Avian Conservationist
on Saturday, April 21, 2012; and
WHEREAS, On this special day, Thomas Jasikoff is being recognized by
the Seneca County Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, Throughout his life, Tom Jasikoff has been blessed with a
profound appreciation for creation and a genuine love of birds, wildlife
and nature; from a very early age, he always knew that he would devote
his life's work to wildlife and avian conservation; during his youth, he
nurtured his interests in bird lore by devoting much of his free time
exploring and binding in the fields and woods surrounding his boyhood
home on Long Island, and eagerly absorbing everything related to birds
and nature; and
WHEREAS, Thomas Jasikoff pursued his hobby with passion and the
encouragement and support of his parents and mentors, and supplemented
his growing interests by becoming actively involved with the Boy Scouts
of America, the Audubon Society and the American Museum of Natural
History; during high school, he volunteered as a student ornithologist
and apprentice at the Kalbfleisch Field Research Station, where he
assisted researchers with the husbandry of captive songbirds, operated
mist nets and walk-in traps, sharpened his bird identification skills
and banded thousands of birds as part of an established year-round bird
banding program; and
WHEREAS, During his college years, Thomas Jasikoff studied zoology,
ornithology and wildlife conservation at the State University College at
Geneseo, and earned both a bachelor's and master's degree; at 18 years
of age, he received support, funding and approval from faculty at the
Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology Peregrine Project, and the Geneseo
Biology Department for his original proposal to conduct a multi-year
raptor research study, whereupon he obtained state and federal falconry
permits, built indoor aviaries, trapped six adult American Kestrel
Falcons from wild populations and eventually received National publicity
and media attention after successfully breeding a colony of 13 American
Kestrels in captivity at SUNY Geneseo; and
WHEREAS, During the early 1970s, Thomas Jasikoff also received
National Science Foundation Grants to conduct breeding bird surveys
during two field seasons, as well as accompany the American Museum of
Natural History on an ornithological expedition to Peru and Ecuador,
South America to study, record and collect tropical flycatchers; and
WHEREAS, Thomas Jasikoff began his work with the U.S. Fish and Wild-
life Service right out of college, in 1976, as a young biological tech-
nician at the Minnesota Wetlands Management District and Waterfowl
Production Area; for the past 36 years, he has continued his employment
with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the National Wildlife Refuge
System, as a professional wildlife biologist and refuge manager; and
WHEREAS, During his career, Thomas Jasikoff has been involved with
numerous wildlife research studies, wildlife management programs, commu-

nity outreach and public communication campaigns, landscape-level
conservation efforts and large-scale habitat restoration projects on
numerous National Wildlife Refuges throughout the United States; and
WHEREAS, For the past 15 years, Tom Jasikoff has served as the Project
Leader and Wildlife Refuge Manager of Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge
in the Finger Lakes Region of Central New York, as well as the St.
Lawrence Wetland and Grassland Management District in northern New York;
and
WHEREAS, During his tenure at both Montezuma NWR and the St. Lawrence
District, Tom Jasikoff has provided the vision, inspiration and leader-
ship to expand and improve the entire scope and operation of both
programs and develop a motivated team and professional staff; and
WHEREAS, Thomas Jasikoff has received numerous professional awards and
honors throughout his career recognizing his creative and successful
approaches in developing cooperative partnerships; and
WHEREAS With him throughout have been his wife, Pam and their five
children, all of whom feel privileged to be a part of his life and
rejoice in his achievements; and
WHEREAS, Thomas Jasikoff's distinguished record merits the recognition
and respectful tribute of this Legislative Body; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Thomas M. Jasikoff for his outstanding work as an Avian Conserva-
tionist; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Thomas M. Jasikoff.