Dr. Michael H. Williams practices what he preaches at Veterinary Medical Hospital.

He cares about pets.

Williams also cares about birds of prey.

For the last 15 years, Williams has lent his skills to helping injured birds of prey.

Whenever an injured bird is found at the Jay C. Hormel Nature Center or brought to the Nature Center's naturalist and director Larry Dolphin, the bird is taken to Veterinary Medical hospital.

"The Nature Center is licensed as a holding facility," Dolphin said. "So we take injured birds of prey to Dr. Williams, who assesses their injuries."

"It may mean taking the bird to the Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota with the help of another volunteer, but it all begins with Mike's assessment. Our intent is to do whatever is necessary to get the bird back into the wild and he helps us do that" Dolphin said.

Is it any wonder the Austin veterinarian was selected for the 2002 Friends of the Nature Center Volunteer of the Year award?

Dolphin and assistant Julie Champlin make the selection each year. Marva Blake was the recipient of the honor a year ago.

Williams accepted the award and expressed his appreciation for the honor before an audience of volunteers in the Ruby Rupner Auditorium Tuesday night.

"It's an honor to work for you and the city of Austin," Dolphin said. "Volunteers make this place hum. We have over 70, who contribute in so many ways at Pioneer Day, the Halloween Warm-up, our environmental education workshops and other programs and activities."

Another example of volunteers' contributions is the new Preserving Our Legacy land acquisition fund-raiser, according to Dolphin.

A committee of members of the Friends of the Nature Center organization led by co-chairs Dave Cole and John Beckman has embarked on the goal to raise money to acquire 210 additional acres of land. "We're really excited about that," Dolphin said.

Dolphin also said one constant challenge is to "communicate the value of the Nature Center to the community."

His advice to volunteers was simple. "Keep it going. We need your support."

Entertainment was provided by Ken Lonnquist, a prolific song-writer with over 10,000 songs to his credit.

Lonnquist visited Southgate and Neveln elementary schools this week to provide environmental education and awareness to the children.

His hour-long program paid homage to the outdoors, childhood reminisces of growing up near Ashland, Wis. on the shores of Lake Superior and ongoing challenges of environmentalists.

He also recruited the audience's participation in his songs and had his own advice for all friends of nature everywhere.

"We gotta be good. We gotta do our part," he said.

For more information about becoming a Nature Center volunteer or joining the Friends of the nature Center organization, call Dolphin or Champlin at 437-7519.

Call Lee Bonorden at 434-2232 or e-mail him at lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com.