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A JOINT RESOLUTION AND PROCLAMATION TO HONOR AND RECOGNIZE KILLIAN SULLIVAN, 2025 YOUNG BIRDER OF THE YEAR, IN CELEBRATION OF WORLD ANIMAL DAY AND WORLD HABITAT MONTH
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WHEREAS, the American Birding Association named Killian Sullivan, a 13-year-old student at Gahanna Middle School East, as the 2025 Young Birder of the Year (10-13 yr olds), a national recognition honoring his exceptional skill and leadership in birding; and
WHEREAS, Killian's passion for birding is demonstrated by his remarkable documentation of nearly 700 bird species (an industry gold standard) across the United States, and driven by a spark ignited during a family trip to California when he first encountered a Steller's Jay; and
WHEREAS, Killian founded his own organization, Buckeye Birding, to enhance education, conservation, and community enjoyment of birds, hosting a six-part birding workshop at the Grange Insurance Audubon Center, including topics such as bird anatomy, song identification, warbler spotting, and more; and
WHEREAS, Killian is an active member of the Ohio Young Birders Club, promoting youth leadership in environmental stewardship and empowering others through community and shared enthusiasm; and
WHEREAS, the City of Gahanna wishes to proudly acknowledge Killian's accomplishments in conjunction with World Animal Day and World Habitat Month to illustrate how local youth leadership contributes to broader conservation awareness; and
WHEREAS, in 1985 the United Nations General Assembly declared the first Monday in October as World Habitat Day to draw attention to our ability to create healthy, safe communities where people thrive and opportunity abounds; this year's theme of urban crisis response connects directly to issues affecting urban areas including climate patterns, housing access, and social cohesion; and
WHEREAS, World Animal Day originated 100 years ago in 1925 when zoologist Heinrich Zimmermann sought to uplift humane and ethical care of animals, and tod...
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