Florida GCSA honors Native Bird Boxes’ Brian Beckner with Marie Roberts Lifetime Service Award

The Florida Golf Course Superintendents Association (GCSA) recently honored Brian Beckner, founder and operator of Native Bird Boxes, with the Marie Roberts Lifetime Service Award. The Estero, Fla.-based business promotes native bird populations in urban green spaces, including golf courses.

The award recognizes individuals whose participation, support and achievements have made significant contributions to the Florida GCSA and Florida golf industry.  

 “Brian’s work helps golf courses be even better at what they are already doing,” said Florida GCSA president Ryan Swilley, CGCS, from The Dye Preserve Golf Club. “Every golf course provides bird habitat. Thanks to Brian, more and more of them now provide a fine-tuned habitat that actively promotes native species. And Brian has a special gift for bringing nature into focus with his expertise and infectious personality.” 

 In his work advocating for native bird species, on bird tours and speaking with golfers and club members, Beckner explains some of the education and qualifications necessary to become a superintendent and the strict environmental rules they must follow.

“I tell people that golf course superintendents are greater eco-servants to their environment and this world than they could ever know,” Beckner said.  

 A lifelong golfer, Beckner first worked on a golf course in Texas and, like so many superintendents, immediately fell in love with the idea of marrying his passions for golf and the outdoors into a career. He moved to Florida in 1997 and, until 2013, worked in golf course maintenance, first at the Club at Pelican Bay, then as golf course superintendent at La Playa Golf Club. In 2009-2010, he served as president of the Everglades GCSA. 

 
Ornithologist George McBath inspired Beckner to launch a business building and installing nesting boxes for native birds. Beckner’s business peaks during Florida’s golf season (November-April). Beckner also hosts golf course wildlife tours, speaks at superintendent meetings and helps lead U.S. Environmental Protection Agency tours to educate lawmakers on eco-friendly golf course maintenance practices.

 “We are extremely grateful for what Brian brings to the golf industry and his service to the environment in Florida,” Swilley said. “He has taken the passion that all superintendents share for the environment and turned it into his cause and his career. So, we are proud of him as well.”