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CORVALLIS - John A. Crawford, professor of wildlife ecology at Oregon State University was honored recently with two awards for his lifelong research in wildlife conservation.

The Order of the Antelope, an Oregon-based conservation organization with about 2,500 members, awarded Crawford its "Award of Excellence" for his research on sage grouse and other species of wildlife in the Great Basin. The sage grouse, the west's largest native upland bird, has been in rapid decline in recent decades.

In addition, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awarded Crawford a "certificate of appreciation" for his sage grouse research on Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge in southern Oregon over the past 14 years.

During this time, Crawford directed eight graduate students' research projects on the refuge. All of his students have gone on to be professionals in the field of wildlife ecology.

Crawford's sage grouse research centered on habitat relationships, particularly the importance of the role of herbaceous plants during the sage grouse's reproductive period. Federal agencies are looking at declining numbers of sage grouse to determine whether it warrants protection under the Endangered Species Act.

Joining the OSU faculty in 1974, Crawford established the game bird research program at OSU. He received his doctorate in range and wildlife management at Texas Tech University. He has held numerous offices and editorial positions with professional organizations and was recently elected to the board of directors of the North American Grouse Partnership, an international conservation organization.