Bob Sallinger, a pillar of Oregon’s conservation community and a driving force in wildlife advocacy, died suddenly at the age of 57 on Thursday. His unexpected passing leaves a deep void in Oregon’s environmental landscape.

Sallinger dedicated over 30 years to the Audubon Society of Portland, where he championed conservation efforts from urban wildlife preservation to habitat protection. (The group changed its name to Bird Alliance of Oregon earlier this year.) Sallinger also was the founder and executive director of the nonprofit Bird Conservation Oregon. Most recently, he served as executive director and riverkeeper for Willamette Riverkeeper, a role he assumed in June this year after decades of environmental advocacy.

“No one, living or past, has done more for environmental conservation in the Portland region or across the state than Bob Sallinger,” said Kaitlin Lovell, a board member of Bird Conservation Oregon. “His conservation footprint also spanned the state. He was a key player in conservation efforts from the Elliott Forest, to Malheur National Wildlife Refuge and to the Klamath Basin.”

Renowned for his commitment to ecological preservation, Sallinger was instrumental in shaping policies that safeguarded Oregon’s natural resources. He held a law degree from Lewis and Clark Law School, a bachelor’s degree in biology from Reed College and served on multiple state boards, including the Portland Utility Board and the Elliott State Research Forest Board.

Mike Houck, Bird Conservation Oregon board member and the founder and director of Urban Greenspaces Institute, worked with Sallinger at the Audubon Society of Portland.

“With Bob Sallinger’s passing I have lost a friend, colleague and the fiercest conservation warrior I’ve ever known. We worked side-by-side for decades on a multitude of urban conservation issues,” he said. “Bob was a leader in shaping Metro’s Parks and Nature agenda which protected thousands of acres of natural areas. He led the fight to protect 600-acre West Hayden Island and single-handedly created safe nesting sites for urban Peregrine Falcons. When he wasn’t protecting their habitats he was nursing injured wildlife to be released back into those same habitats.”

— Tyler Brown is a breaking news reporter for The Oregonian/OregonLive. You can reach him at [email protected] or 503-221-8243.