Ann Bonnell Lived A Life of Service

Ann Bonnell’s death on December 26^th, 2023, at the age of 85, left a gaping hole in the heart of the Jefferson County birding community and in the hearts of her fellow PLAN Jeffco Board members.

Ann’s life was focused on family and service. As a high school biology teacher and volunteer Water Safety Instructor for those with special needs, she was able to reach into the lives of many, passing along her belief in service, empathy, and passion for the outdoors and all that it encompasses. Her specific focus, as we at PLAN Jeffco knew her, was birds – birding, leading Tuesday Birders, and teaching about bird life.

Ann Bonnell leading Tuesday Birders, photo courtesy of Family

Another passion of Ann’s was water and water quality. While on the Board of PLAN Jeffco, Ann monitored the reengineering at Chatfield State Park and reservoir, keeping us updated on the process and progress of that years-long operation. Shortly after joining PLAN Jeffco in 1997, she became deeply involved with the Save the Mountain Backdrop project here in our own Front Range, helping focus conservation efforts on the many watersheds that make up the western portion of Jefferson County.

Ann was an inveterate volunteer. She gave of her time and energy to volunteering with special needs populations and coaching Special Olympics swimming and cross-country skiing, which gave her a specialty in accessibility issues for our Open Space Parks.  She was a Volunteer Naturalist for Roxborough State Park, South Platte Park, Denver Botanic Gardens and the Audubon Society of Greater Denver.

Ann wasn’t just a Board member of the Audubon Society of Greater Denver, she was their 2^nd Vice President. She served on their Conservation, Trip, & Nature Center Committees, which gave her a very good reason to guide nature tours and kayaking trips at every opportunity. As a technical specialist for Audubon, she served on the Restoration Advisory Board for the Air Force PJKS Superfund site, located at their former Waterton facility.  She truly was a force of nature.

Ann Bonnell, Tuesday Birders, photo courtesy of Family

Ann believed in our mission: “PLAN Jeffco works to preserve open space in a manner consistent with our core conservation values by educating and monitoring government agencies, advocating, and working with aligned associations and citizens.”

She realized that, by working to conserve nature and open spaces, adding much valuable information on bird and birdlife requirements, she could be instrumental in providing safe habitat for her beloved birds.

One of the greatest gifts that Ann gave to us and to the world was her daughter, Mary Ann Bonnell, who is known as Jeffco Open Space Ranger One. The photo of Ann and Mary Ann on the PLAN Jeffco About Us – Board Members page is emblematic of the wonderful relationship between these two leaders in our conservation community. Mary Ann will most surely continue to champion her Mom’s belief in the value of nature, while teaching humans how to respect and treasure those experiences in the outdoors.

Ann & Mary Ann at the Lookout Mtn Nature Center 2018

We will miss Ann. As a committed and genuine conservationist, she kept us on the right track as we plowed our way through issue after issue. We will look to the skies, at her beloved birds as they wing their way to wherever they’re headed, and ask “What would Ann have us do?”

Articles written/co-authored by Ann Bonnell:

Birds of Jefferson County: Accipiters
https://planjeffco.org/birds-of-jefferson-county-accipiters/

Snowbirds
https://planjeffco.org/snowbirds/

The Great Backyard Bird Count between Friday, February 14 & Monday, February 17. Have You Watched Any Birds Lately?
https://planjeffco.org/the-great-backyard-bird-count-between-friday-february-14-monday-february-17-have-you-watched-any-birds-lately/

Birds of Chatfield
https://planjeffco.org/birds-of-chatfield/

The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) Results Are In – from the February 2014 Count!
https://planjeffco.org/the-great-backyard-bird-count-gbbc-results-are-in-from-the-february-2014-count/

The Bird Family with an Attitude: The Corvids
https://planjeffco.org/the-bird-family-with-an-attitude-the-corvids/

A Celebration of Ann’s Life will be held at the Crown Hill Pavilion of Reflection, 7777 W. 29th Ave. Lakewood, CO, on Friday, April 5th at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to EarthJustice, Denver Audubon, The Nature Conservancy, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, or the Denver Field Ornithologists are appreciated.

To read more about Ann Bonnell’s accomplishments:

www.evergreenaudubon.org/saluting-ann-bonnell

Olinger Funeral, Cremation & Cemetery – Crown Hill