Honored by National Geographic, Turkish ecologist invited to the White House

Turkish scientist Cagan Sekercioglu, hailed as one the world's "emerging explorers" in this month's issue of National Geographic magazine, has been invited to visit the White House for his achievements. Sekercioglu, an ornithologist and conservation ecologist, was chosen by National Geographic to be included in the magazine's 2011 group of explorers for his impressive research on bird populations and environments in Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Nepal, Tanzania and Turkey. He was awarded his new title at a recent ceremony in Washington. Sekercioglu also received an invitation from the White House to meet with US President Barack Obama and other senior officials. Sekercioglu has amassed data from fieldwork and scientific literature into a unique global database showing which birds are threatened across the planet. As a scientist, director of an award-winning conservation organization, and wildlife photographer, he also leads conservation projects within local communities to protect birds and their environments at risk of endangerment or extinction.