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Peg Abbott is the owner and lead guide of Naturalist Journeys, LLC. She has been designing, guiding, and organizing natural history tours for more than 25 years, working for the National Audubon Society and other organizations before launching Naturalist Journeys, LLC in 1998. Her work has taken her from Alaska to Africa and Argentina, as well as many other locations around the world. She has conducted research on several bird and mammal species and keeps a close interest in Yellowstone and Mexican wolf reintroduction projects. Her interests include all aspects of natural history and geology. After 20 years in and around the Yellowstone area, Peg relocated in 2003 to the birding mecca of Portal, AZ.
Photo credit: Carol Simon
All Trips With Peg Abbott ⌄
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Vernie fell in love with birding in Southern Arizona in 2011 through his love of photography, starting out with just a camera and guide book. He started guiding in 2021 with his wife’s non-profit S.A.A.W.R. and the Tucson Audubon leading bird outings for people with disabilities. Though Vernie is primarily the Office Administrator at Naturalist Journeys, he does get the chance to guide from time to time. His excitement in seeing a Turkey Vulture (his favorite bird) for the 50th time or a lifer is contagious, and he has a true passion for helping others find, identify, and enjoy birds. As an avid mountain biker, he also started a non-profit focusing on trail maintenance and reopening trails after the devastating fires in the Catalina Mountains in 2003, overseeing thousands of hours of volunteer trail work. His favorite place to be is in Southern Arizona exploring along the Santa Cruz River or high up in one of the Sky Islands.
All Trips With Vernie Aikins ⌄
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Mollee is a lifelong lover of birds and nature based in West Virginia. She’s the owner of Nighthawk Agency, which creates custom projects with conservation and ecotourism organizations. Mollee has guided tours throughout the world for the past decade and loves to immerse in the wildlife, flora, and culture of each place she visits. She’s passionate about education as a means to conservation and serves on the boards of organizations including Frontiers in Ornithology and The Birding Co-op. She’s also the producer of Life List: A Birding Podcast and writes for a variety of bird and nature publications.
Mollee has loved photography since she started borrowing her grandma’s camera as a child, and usually has a camera in hand while birding, hiking, camping, and exploring the world. She’s most at home among mountains and hilly terrains.All Trips With Mollee Brown ⌄
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Greg recently retired as the Migratory Species Coordinator for U.S. Forest Service International Programs, working throughout the Western Hemisphere, and as Vice President for Audubon Society of Northern Virginia, serving on the Conservation and Citizen Science committees. He is currently a Board Member for BirdsCaribbean. For his Ph.D. in Zoology at University of Washington, he studied the coloration and behavior of Bullock’s Orioles. Greg studied ecology in Costa Rica with the Organization for Tropical Studies and has worked internationally for the past 20 years. Greg previously worked for the National Audubon Society, American Birding Association, Birder’s World magazine (sadly, now defunct), Partners in Flight, and Cornell Lab of Ornithology. He is a Fellow of the American Ornithological Society (AOS). He has been a birder since he was 11 and has birded in all 50 states and 47 countries.
All Trips With Greg Butcher ⌄
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Bryan started birding at Fort Clark Springs in southwest Texas when he was 10 years old and never stopped. He got his first taste of guiding while leading trips for the Rio Brazos Audubon Society during college. After graduating from Texas A&M in 2015 with a degree in genetics, Bryan worked as an avian field biologist on several projects across Texas and New Mexico. Currently residing in Albuquerque as a professional birding tour guide, he leads field tours, workshops, and youth birding programs across the US. In his free time, Bryan enjoys butterflies, searching for herps, photography, art, cooking, and gardening.
All Trips With Bryan Calk ⌄
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John Carlson
John’s first polar adventure was in 1994 when he worked as a general laborer at Palmer Station Antarctica. He has spent the last 29 years figuring out ways to continue to visit high latitudes. This has included stints researching Adelie Penguins, conducting biological inventories on the Antarctic Peninsula, participating in bird research efforts in the Bering Sea and northern Baffin Bay, and as a guide/naturalist on many expeditions to the Antarctic continent, as well as to South Georgia and the Falklands and Hudson Bay in the north. John obtained his BA in Zoology from the University of Montana and MS in Zoology and Physiology from the University of Wyoming. He was born and raised in northeastern Montana and has had a strong interest in wildlife in general and birds specifically for as long as he can remember. When he isn’t visiting the ends of the world, he is the Regional Grassland Conservation Coordinator for the US Fish and Wildlife Service Prairie and Mountain Region based in Billings, MT. He was formerly the Branch Chief for Resources and Sage-Grouse Implementation Lead for Montana/Dakotas Bureau of Land Management in Billings. Other relevant positions he has had include Wildlife Biologist with the BLM in Glasgow, MT and the Zoology Program Manager at the Montana Natural Heritage Program in Helena, MT. Additional irrelevant positions include bread store worker, fence builder, and snow shoveler at an Antarctic base. His life in Billings intersects with two teenage boys Benton and Crean and his long-suffering wife Laura. Two Flat-Coated Retrievers in the house, Sage and Quill, keep them all entertained and provide John endless hours of enjoyment each fall chopping cockleburs from their fur.
All Trips With John Carlson ⌄
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Troy has been an avid birder since high school. Raised in rural south-central Pennsylvania, he moved to Arizona in 1980 to pursue higher education and new adventures. For several years he conducted wildlife inventories on the upper San Pedro River for the Bureau of Land Management. He has worked for the nongame Branch of the Arizona Game and Fish Department since 1990, conducting surveys and coordinating projects for species of concern. He coordinated the Arizona Breeding Bird Atlas project from its inception. His passion for birds has taken him as far away as Peru and East Africa, and he plans to increase his world travels.
Photo credit: Hugh Simmons
All Trips With Troy Corman ⌄
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Dan Donaldson is an accomplished naturalist-birder based in Northeastern Ohio and has been guiding for Naturalist Journeys for nearly 20 years. Dan has developed his skills while working as a naturalist for a local park district for 25 years as well as with his full-time job as director of the local soil and water conservation district. Acustomed to varied audiences from novices to experts, Dan incorporates much more than just identification in his tours and programs. Dan has led tours for The Nature Conservancy, National Parks Conservation, and other tour companies. While now an international guide, his specialization in birding locales ranges from the Great Lakes to coastal destinations ranging from the Maritime Provinces of Canada and Maine, to the Florida Keys.
All Trips With Dan Donaldson ⌄
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Mason is a New Mexico native who started birding at age 11 when his family moved within walking distance of the Richardson Bay Audubon Sanctuary in Tiburon, California. Here, he became an Audubon Junior Naturalist. His love of birding and travel grew through as he moved with his family to Alaska, Ohio, and Vermont, college on the east coast, and a few years trying to eke out a living as a birder/ski bum in Montana and back in New Mexico.
In desperate need of gainful employment, Mason settled in Seattle where he spent most of his career at Microsoft. Mason was able to feed his habit by adding on a day or two of birding to business trips across the US, Europe, and Asia and travel with his family. His wife Suzy, who loves travel but isn’t a birder, is a good sport and jokes that being married to a birder has given her the opportunity to visit sewage treatment ponds around the world.
Mason retired a bit early in 2015 to help fledge his two sons, squeezing in travel and birding between soccer games and band performances. He was thrilled to finally combine his passions and profession when he joined Naturalist Journeys as a consultant in early 2020. Mason has led field trips in Guyana, Peru, Iceland, Texas, Washington, Wyoming, Southeastern Arizona, Minnesota, and South Africa.All Trips With Mason Flint ⌄
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A California native who moved to Honduras in 1993 for the Peace Corps, Robert stayed to make a life there, diving headfirst into the world of tropical birds. He is now considered the country's leading authority on both avifauna and butterflies – a double expert on beautiful flying things. He leads tours for Naturalist Journeys to Panama, Honduras, Texas and Trinidad & Tobago. Robert is the current President of the Pro Nature Honduras Foundation, a small non-profit which promotes nature-based sustainable tourism and environmental education. He is also the co-founder of the Honduran Ornithological Society. He has authored two editions of the "Guide to the Birds of Honduras." He and his partner Olivia hope to publish the "Guide to the Butterflies of Honduras" sometime in 2022. The couple lives in Emerald Valley where they protect 50 acres of rich mid-elevation rainforest and are working to install a nature center with their foundation.
All Trips With Robert Gallardo ⌄
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Frank is the Senior Naturalist at the New Canaan Nature Center and author of the bird finding guide, Birding in Connecticut. Through his birding tours, lectures, and classes, he has inspired countless birders to discover and appreciate birds. In a past life, he was the Senior Naturalist and Director of the Connecticut Audubon Society’s Coastal Center at Milford Point and once served as the New Canaan Nature Center’s Director of Eco-Travel and Field Studies. Frank was a past president of the New Haven Bird Club, and is currently co-secretary of the Connecticut Avian Rare Records Committee, and a federally licensed master bird bander. In 2003 he received the CT Outdoor Environmental Ed. Association's Environmental Educator of the Year Award. Frank is an avid nature photographer and author of two children’s books, Bird Calls, and Night Sounds, and writes a monthly natural history column for the New Canaan Sentinel.
All Trips With Frank Gallo ⌄
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Originally from Baldwin Park, California, Corina’s love of the outdoors began with childhood hikes alongside her dad, exploring local trails and wild places. She has been an avid birder for over a decade and has guided at the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival since 2016. A defining moment in her birding journey was witnessing a spring migration fallout on South Padre Island, an experience that instantly hooked her. Since then, birds have taken her across 16 countries and 6 continents in pursuit of new species and unforgettable field experiences. After several years in Texas and time spent in Maryland, she now calls South Carolina home. Outside of guiding Corina works as a consulting biologist, currently spending much of her time conducting fieldwork in Nevada. Whether exploring local hotspots or international destinations, Corina brings curiosity, enthusiasm, and a deep appreciation for birds to every outing.
All Trips With Corina Giron ⌄
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Sharon became an avid birder and naturalist while a student at UC-Santa Cruz. After working as a field biologist for several years, she moved to Tucson for graduate school in ecology where she studied song mimicry by Lesser Goldfinches. In 1987, she rerouted her career into education, bringing her love of science to thousands of middle school students. Since retiring from the classroom in 2020, she has renewed her birding passion and is excited to share knowledge of birds and ecology with tour participants.
All Trips With Sharon Goldwasser ⌄
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Gerard Gorman is a deeply experienced birding and wildlife guide, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe where his knowledge of the wildlife sites of the region is second to none, having visited every country from the Baltic to the Black Sea. In recent years he has led several Naturalist Journeys groups across Europe and Africa. Gerard is also an author, and his books include Central and Eastern European Wildlife (Bradt, 2008) and Birding in Eastern Europe (WildSounds, 2006). His main ornithological interest focuses on woodpeckers, and he is regarded as an authority, authoring an unprecedented seven books on the family, including the acclaimed Woodpeckers of the World (Bloomsbury, 2014) and Woodpecker (Reaktion, 2017). His latest works include, The Wryneck (Pelagic Publishing, 2022), the definitive monograph on this fascinating species, and The Green Woodpecker (Pelagic Publishing, 2023). Gerard is also interested in wildlife tracking, and his Pocket Guide to Tracks and Signs of European Wildlife (Bloomsbury) was published in 2014.
Photo credit: probirder.com
All Trips With Gerard Gorman ⌄
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Stephen Grace is an award-winning author, educator, photographer, and conservationist whose work explores the intersection of nature, science, and culture. For more than two decades, he has guided travelers through landscapes ranging from New Zealand to Alaska, Guyana to Tanzania, and India to Belize. He is the recipient of the Naturalist Journeys 2024–2025 Guide of the Year Award.
After moving from Colorado to the Oregon coast, Stephen’s life took a decisive turn when he watched a Tufted Puffin ferry fish back to its burrow. Soon afterward, hearing the ethereal song of a Swainson’s Thrush confirmed a calling that would shape his life: studying birds and sharing their stories with others.
Now based in Port Townsend, Washington, Stephen explores the Pacific Northwest through outdoor pursuits and natural-history investigations—from paddleboarding alongside whales to identifying bats by their biosonar, and from advocating for old-growth forest preservation to restoring native prairie.
Whether guiding in the field or interpreting nature through story, Stephen weaves science, place, and wonder into experiences that resonate long after the journey ends.
All Trips With Stephen Grace ⌄
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Tina joined NJ in 2023 and is Peg's right hand on the International Operations team. She grew up on the east coast and moved west after college. Tina was a biologist for the National Parks System for 10 years and worked in private industry as a biologist before that. Tina splits her year living in Cottonwood, Arizona and Fernie, British Columbia, where she spends her free time birding, doing photography, traveling with friends, trail running and mountain biking, and hanging out with her dogs.
All Trips With Tina Greenawalt ⌄
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Carl was born and raised in the lowlands in Belgium and became a passionate naturalist at a very young age. As a teenager he gathered as much info as he could about biodiversity and started learning all the bird sounds in his area, later to be expanded with a passion for butterflies, amphibians, reptiles, mushrooms, mammals, and ecosystems where his wanders on the planet would take him. Carl has travelled to all corners on this wonderful planet and has huge respect for the diversity of life on it. He speaks four languages and has a passion for organic foods, geology, ecosystem management, and restoration in Belgium and the Netherlands. A mix of biodiversity knowledge, culture, and humor is his daily recipe as a guide. Carl has travelled also all over the United States many times and he loves communicating with North American visitors. Carl has been working independently as a nature guide for over 35 years and his passion only grows. Sharing knowledge with kindred spirits is his favorite "sport."
All Trips With Carl Grillet ⌄
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Chris Harbard is a well-known British ornithologist and conservationist who now lives in SE Arizona. After 24 years working with the world’s largest bird conservation organisation, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, he moved to the Austrian optics company Swarovski and managed their birdwatching website for several years. He is now a freelance author, editor, broadcaster and lecturer, as well as an occasional bird guide in SE Arizona where he and his wife help to run the Southwest Wings Birding and Nature Festival. He is on the board of the Arizona Field Ornithologists.
Chris writes for Birdwatch magazine and was editor of the Birdwatchers' Guides series of books. His own books include Birdwatch, Songbirds, A Birdwatcher's Quizbook, A First Guide to Birdwatching.
Working as a naturalist lecturer on board expedition cruise ships for the last eighteen years has taken him to remote areas of the Arctic, Antarctic, Atlantic and Pacific. Although his main area of interest is birds, especially seabirds, he also enjoys a range of other wildlife such as cetaceans, butterflies, dragonflies and plants.All Trips With Chris Harbard ⌄
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Being born and raised near Durban, South Africa, Wade’s passion for birds and wildlife started early in life. Often visiting Kruger National Park and being gifted his first camera at 6 years old, Wade began his lifelong fascination with birds. Since moving to the United States, he has guided ecotours in Montana, Florida and Arizona. Having grown up in a country with a robust megafauna ecosystem, he has fallen in love with the North American megafauna. He has spent extensive time in the backcountry filming and photographing everything from bears to alligators. When not looking at birds, he loves creating videos about wildlife on his Youtube channel. Wade has a deep passion for connecting people with wildlife and wild spaces, which fuels his goals as a guide and naturalist.
All Trips With Wade Holm ⌄
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Scott’s passion for the outdoors and wildlife has provided him with a wide range of experiences in the field, beginning with songbird and owl surveys, as well as mammal and amphibian surveys. In 2007 Scott began leading birding tours in the western U.S., starting in his home state of California and subsequently in Arizona, Texas, Utah and parts of two summers in Alaska. In 2011 he became the Outdoor Education Coordinator for California State University Chico’s Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve. Scott began five years of guiding wildlife tours in Grand Tetons and Yellowstone National Parks in 2020. In 2025, Scott and his wife built a home in Portal, Arizona, at the mouth of magical Cave Creek Canyon, where he leads day birding trips. Scott has written two novels, one dealing with the gray wolves of Yellowstone and one about border-crossing jaguars.
All Trips With Scott Huber ⌄
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David Jaffe is an engaging naturalist inspiring people through his curiosity to develop meaningful connections with our home planet. He has been an avid birder since volunteering with the National Audubon Society in 1991. Over his 30+ year career in the outdoor industry, he has gained experience as a guide throughout the United States and on all seven continents. He is a certified National Geographic Photography instructor and works as a naturalist and lecturer on expedition ships. He helped establish a marine protected area off the coast of Madagascar and assisted with bird research projects in the United States, Canada and South America. He has led backcountry trips in Denali National Park and gained great insights while working as a Park Ranger in Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks. He is a passionate birder with a keen interest in geology, botany, and the intricacies of natural history. He loves this work and infuses every tour with his enthusiasm, knowledge and care.
All Trips With David Jaffe ⌄
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Barb’s passion for birds started early; in grade school she spent hours leafing through her mother’s Birds of America, making lists of birds according to color. A family trip to Europe at age 12 opened the world to her. She returned to Switzerland as an exchange student in high school and in college guided student tours with the Experiment in International Living.
Barb volunteered with Golden Gate Raptor Observatory trapping and banding raptors for 5 years and has participated in many Christmas Bird Counts. After 25 years as a small business owner, Barb sold out and with her partner Liz, spent the following 5 years work-camping in their RV, crisscrossing the US and Canada exploring National Parks and Monuments, choosing destinations according to migration, connecting with nature, people and history.
Not yet ready to retire, in 2016 Barb prepared for a new career as a Certified RV Technician which led to touring contracts with an exclusive, small RV Caravan company. Several tours to Alaska and the Grand Circle of the Southwest were the perfect opportunity to feed the travel bug and share nature, culture, history and local cuisine with guests.
Dual addictions to travel and birding have guided Barb’s journeys through Europe, South and Central America, Mexico, Canada, and every US state. Always with a pair of binoculars handy! Barb looks forward to each opportunity to share the excitement and joy of these passions with our guests here at Naturalist Journeys.All Trips With Barbara Jording ⌄
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Wes Larson is a wildlife biologist who specializes in some of the most beloved and threatened species around the world. His primary research has been on polar, black, grizzly and sloth bears, but he has been lucky enough to work on conservation projects with myriad other species, including Golden Eagle, African Wild Dog, Green Sea Turtle, Elephant Seal, Spotted Eagle Ray, Burrowing and Flammulated Owl, American Kestrel, Temminck’s Ground Pangolin, and American Alligator. Wes also has a passion for wildlife conservation education, and hosted the Mission Wild series for CNN’s Great Big Story, and regularly shares his travels and field work with his large social media following. He credits his love for wild things and bears to an upbringing in Montana, where the forests and mountains are a last refuge for his favorite species, the Grizzly Bear of the Rocky Mountains. Wes’s passion for all things wild is infectious and the only thing he loves more than seeing wildlife in its natural habitat is sharing those experiences with other people.
All Trips With Wes Larson ⌄
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Pat Lueders has been leading tours for Naturalist Journeys since 2014 after volunteering as the Field Trip leader and coordinator for St. Louis Audubon for 10 years. She has led tours regularly in the U.S. including Utah, Arizona, Texas, Ohio, Georgia, South Carolina, and New Jersey. Internationally, she has led groups to Central America (Costa Rica, Panama, Belize, Guatemala), South America (Galapagos, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago), and Africa (Kenya & Uganda). For the fall 2023 & winter 2024, she’s excited to return to Trinidad and add New Zealand, Jamaica, and Portugal to her itineraries.
When home in St. Louis, she’s been the coordinator of the Great Rivers Trumpeter Swan Watch for 12 years, and she conducts Breeding Bird Surveys for the Missouri Department of Conservation and the U.S. Department of Natural Resources.
All Trips With Pat Lueders ⌄
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Jorge is a national guide of Ecuador, who graduated from the University of Tourism Specialties of Quito (UDET). He lives Northwest of Pichincha near Mindo in the cloud forest. He loves the area because he can improve his birds' calls daily, and he considers himself lucky to have a family dedicated to conservation through bird watching. Guiding is his full-time job, and he enjoys traveling and birding in different areas of the world. Jorge has been with Neblina Forest for more than 15 years. He guides our groups in Colombia, Ecuador, and the Galápagos Islands.
All Trips With Jorge Luna ⌄
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Patrick Maurice was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia and graduated from the University of Georgia with a Wildlife Science degree in 2021. Patrick is a lifelong birder, thanks to his mother, and has birded extensively across the United States and around the world. He regularly guides for birding festivals such as The Biggest Week in American Birding, Georgia Birdfest, and the Southeast Arizona Birding Festival. He is intimately familiar with Georgia’s diverse ecoregions and birdlife and has spent countless hours birding across the state. When he isn’t traveling or guiding, Patrick can be found back home in Athens, Georgia, playing soccer, cheering on the Dawgs, or enjoying a refreshing sour beer.
All Trips With Patrick Maurice ⌄
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Dave is a naturalist with interests in birds, migration, ecosystems and natural disturbances, plants, and gardening. He holds a PhD from the University of New Mexico. Dave worked for The Nature Conservancy for 25+ years as Director of its Migratory Bird Program. He has researched in Latin American and the Caribbean. An avid birder, Dave enjoys teaching about natural habitats and local cultures. He has published papers in scientific and popular journals.
All Trips With Dave Mehlman ⌄
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Kip Miller worked 36 years as a park naturalist in southwest Michigan, before moving to Colorado Springs in 2019 to be closer to mountains and his grandkids. He enjoys sharing his enthusiasm for birds and believes birding is more fun in shared company. He has been organizing and leading birding events, tours and local field trips since the 1980s. Kip has experience guiding in most regions of the United States, including Alaska, and has organized and co-led tours to many international destinations as well. His other outdoor passions include mountain biking, backroads cycling, hiking, Nordic skiing and walking his dogs—all activities that provide good opportunities for casual bird observations as a bonus!
All Trips With Kip Miller ⌄
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A birder for more than half a century and a committed conservationist with a wide-ranging interest in nature, Dominic founded the leading UK magazine Birdwatch, ran it for 27 years, and was also Managing Editor of BirdGuides.com for six years. He has led tour groups to many exciting destinations around the world over the past 25 years, with field experience in more than 80 countries and territories across all seven continents. A leading UK eBirder, reviewer and hotspot editor, Dominic is one of the few to have seen more than 800 species in his home region of the Western Palearctic. He has served on the Portuguese Rarities Committee and the Council of the Ornithological Society of the Middle East, and has worked as Ornithologist on an expedition cruise ship. His books on birds include the well-received Birds of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, published by Lynx Edicions in 2017, and he is currently Editor-in-Chief at BirdLife International, the world’s largest conservation partnership. He is married with two children and a Romanian rescue dog, and divides his time between Norfolk and London, where his long-term study of a local landfill led to him discovering Britain’s first (and only) Slaty-backed Gull.
All Trips With Dominic Mitchell ⌄
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Andrea is an Ecuadorian bird guide who has been guiding since 2006. She started as a local guide at the Bellavista Reserve cloud forest in Ecuador and then was recruited by Neblina Forest as a guide in 2010. Since then, Andrea has trained in Brazil, Peru, and other locations in Ecuador. Her good energy and kind touch with clients, as well as her good ears and great eye for birds, ensures her groups have an excellent experience. Andrea lives in Ecuador with her family.
Guest Quote: *I’m writing to tell you how excellent our guide, Andrea Molina, was. She has an outstanding blend of knowledge, interpersonal skills, and professionalism, and is overall a cool person who is fun to be around. She really made the trip special.*All Trips With Andrea Molina ⌄
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Xavier Muñoz's background is in tourism business administration and he also is also a professional bird-naturalist guide. Co-founder of Neblina Forest in 1994, Xavier collaborates with his peers in Ecuador and the USA, including Fundacion Jocotoco and Rainforest Trust; for Xavier, ecotourism and conservation walk together. Xavier has worked with Naturalist Journeys for more than six years, leading tours in Ecuador, Peru, Brazil, and Trinidad & Tobago. He lives in Ecuador with his family and horses.
Photo credit: Demis Bucci Fotografia
All Trips With Xavier Muñoz ⌄
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Chris developed a passion for birding early, joining Christmas Bird Counts across the Northeast with his father. His birding journey has since taken him from California to Florida, with Arizona remaining a perennial favorite. He studied Forestry and Agriculture in northern Vermont, concentrating on mammal and avian behavior, before moving to North Carolina to serve as Curator of Birds at Sylvan Heights Waterfowl Park, working hands-on with global waterfowl species in a managed setting. After seven years in North Carolina, he joined Disney’s Animal Kingdom, where he has managed both birds and African hoofstock. He now serves as Zoological Manager of the Night Team. Beyond his professional work, he and his wife conduct ecological surveys in Central Florida, contributing to research on Crested Caracaras, Snail Kites, Bald Eagles, Sand Skinks, and Gopher Tortoises—reflecting a career-long commitment to conservation. Birding has remained a constant throughout his life along the East Coast. In 2019, he reached a major milestone with his 700th North American species: a Ruddy Ground Dove in Arizona, shared with his father. Now based in Polk City, Florida, he takes great joy in guiding and helping birders discover new species—and looks forward to finding exciting lifers together.
All Trips With Chris Newton ⌄
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Kurt developed a life-long interest in nature at a young age while roaming the diverse habitats of Northern California. A devoted biologist and student of the natural world, Kurt’s humor, friendly nature, and obsession with biodiversity are central in sharing his passion for birds and the outdoors. After studying wildlife biology at Cal Poly Humboldt, he spent more than a decade monitoring birds in the field. His work spanned diverse habitats, from the Peruvian Amazon and the Hawaiian Islands to the Intermountain West and California’s Sierra Nevada and Farallon Islands. Currently, he’s wrapping up his PhD at the University of Maine, studying Golden-winged Warbler and Blue-winged Warbler hybridization in Northern New York. His free time is spent birding and fishing with his wife and friends, traveling, and native plant propagation.
All Trips With Kurt Ongman ⌄
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James grew up in New Jersey and started birding at a young age. He continued that passion by getting an undergraduate degree in Wildlife Ecology from the University of Maine. Since then, he has worked and birded extensively across the United States, including conducting point counts and banding ducks in Maine; identifying and counting waterfowl in Nebraska; counting migrating raptors in Texas, Arizona and Wyoming; and surveying for Northern Goshawks in northern California. The past three springs he has been a bird guide in the Chiricahua mountains in southeast Arizona, and he enjoys sharing his passion for birds with others. His favorite bird is the Red-headed Woodpecker.
All Trips With James Petersen ⌄
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Robert has dedicated his life to conservation, natural history, education, and the arts. Over the course of his career, he worked to protect wildlife and preserve vital habitats, with much of his later work focused on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. As U.S. Program Director for the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative, Robert led efforts in large-landscape conservation, with a particular emphasis on safeguarding habitat for grizzly bears. He also served as Vice President of Education for Yellowstone Forever, the official nonprofit partner of Yellowstone National Park, where he helped expand public understanding of the park’s ecology.
Before his time in the Yellowstone region, Robert spent nearly two decades with the National Audubon Society. There, he held national leadership roles including Director of Bird-Friendly Communities and Director of Field Support for the Western United States. His conservation career began with The Nature Conservancy, where he led education programs in Montana’s Crown of the Continent ecosystem along the Front Range of the Rockies. In addition to his conservation work, Robert has a strong foundation in the arts. He earned a BFA from Washington University in St. Louis and an MFA in painting from the University of Montana. Early in his career, he worked as a scientific illustrator in the University of Montana’s Division of Biological Sciences, contributing to numerous books and scientific publications. In 2010, he was honored as the featured artist for International Migratory Bird Day.
Robert is a co-founder of the Montana Natural History Center in Missoula and has served on the boards of several conservation and education organizations, including the Montana Environmental Education Association, Friends of the Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge, and the Northern Rockies Heritage Center. An experienced naturalist guide, Robert has led tours across the U.S., Mexico, and South America, with destinations including coastal Oaxaca, Machu Picchu, and the Galápagos Islands. He now lives in the Bitterroot Valley of western Montana, where he enjoys woodworking, canoeing, hiking, birdwatching, and restoring his land with native plants.All Trips With Robert Petty ⌄
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Jeremiah is a wildlife biologist, bird guide, and naturalist living in Hayden, Colorado. Originally from Oregon, his enthusiasm for wildlife and ecology was fostered by a youth spent in the woods. After receiving degrees in Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences from Oregon State University and Environmental Studies at the University of Oregon, he pursued a career in federal service as a wildlife biologist. In 2025, he left federal service to start a new chapter as bird and expedition guide and biological consultant. He lives on a former cattle ranch in Northwest Colorado with his wife Emily, her mom Penny, and their dog, Cricket, where they manage the land for native flora and fauna.
All Trips With Jeremiah Psiropoulos ⌄
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Bryan Shirley graduated from the University of Kentucky with a degree in Japanese/International Economics. He lived in Japan for 3 years when he was 20 and fell in love with the language and culture and has been guiding and birding there ever since. Besides guiding in Japan, he regularly leads tours for Japanese birding groups around the US and other countries. When not guiding he has been involved with various DWR and USFWS projects such as relocating Sage Grouse, breeding bird surveys, and bird-related projects for private environmental consulting firms. He also has volunteered his time to serve as president of Utah County Birders and organizes the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Counts for Provo and Payson, Utah where he currently resides. He currently is a member of the Utah Bird Records Committee.
All Trips With Bryan Shirley ⌄
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Steve Shunk started birding in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1989, and he moved to central Oregon’s ‘Woodpecker Wonderland’ in 1997, where 11 woodpecker species breed annually. This phenomenon led to a 20-year obsession studying this charismatic family of birds. Steve founded the region’s woodpecker festival in 2008, and his Peterson Reference Guide to Woodpeckers of North America was published in 2016. He has fed leeches (his own blood) in Malaysian Borneo, and he has watched Spotless Starlings swarming around the Greek ruins of Sicily. Steve’s Alaska adventures have taken him from Ketchikan to Barrow and St. Paul Island. One of his favorite destinations takes him to see ‘eastern’ warblers breeding across the boreal forest of Alberta, but recent adventures have led him to favor the cushion plants and condors of the Peruvian high Andes. Steve speaks at bird festivals across North America, and he returns annually to speak and guide at the Vallarta Bird Festival in far-western Jalisco, Mexico. Steve joined Naturalist Journeys earlier this year, and we are excited to have him on the schedule for 2021 and beyond.
Steve’s work as a field biologist has taken him from the Coast Range of Oregon to California’s Sierra Nevada. Most recently, he conducted point-count and woodpecker surveys for a study in the Central Oregon Cascades. Steve co-founded the East Cascades Bird Conservancy (now East Cascades Audubon), and served as its first president. He also co-founded the Oregon Birding Trails Program and coordinated its flagship project, the Oregon Cascades Birding Trail. When Steve is not traveling the world for tours and lectures, he can be found writing, skiing, hiking, and watching woodpeckers at home in lovely Sisters, Oregon.All Trips With Steve Shunk ⌄
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Hugh Simmons' interest in photography began when he was a young boy, as did his love of nature. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology during which he was “sparked” by a chance encounter with an Eastern Towhee. Not long after college he took up birding with, of course, a desire to photograph birds. Today he enjoys sharing his decades of photographic knowledge to help others get the most out of their photography whether it be of birds, landscapes, flowers, other wildlife or people. Hugh is a founding member of the North American Nature Photographers Association and served on the board of directors of the National Audubon Society. He is a long time board member of the Chesapeake Audubon chapter in Maryland and is the Audubon Climate Watch Coordinator for his area. Hugh also volunteers with the Cape May Bird Observatory and the Phoenix Wildlife Center.
All Trips With Hugh Simmons ⌄
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Kent was born and raised in Nebraska and this is where he developed his passion for birds and nature in general. He worked 20 years at Audubon’s Rowe Sanctuary where he helped countless visitors experience the annual spring staging of Sandhill Cranes along the Platte River in south-central Nebraska. While at Rowe, he conducted bird surveys on the sanctuary and coordinated and led birding field trips for the annual Audubon Nebraska Crane Festival. He also spent three seasons leading tours to see displaying Greater Prairie-Chickens and Sharp-tailed Grouse for Calamus Outfitters in the Nebraska Sandhills. Kent and his partner Kathy currently reside in southwest Virginia.
All Trips With Kent Skaggs ⌄
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James grew up in Sheffield in the UK. Little could he have known at the tender age of ten that a boyish hobby would eventually lead to a career. After studying graphic design at The Sheffield College, his fascination for large scale bird migration drew him to Israel, one of the largest migration flyways in the World. He joined several bird migration surveys and by 1995, he’d ultimately discovered a love for guiding and the magic of the shared birding experience in the deserts of Southern Israel. With some 30 years of experience behind him, he has led hundreds of tours throughout Europe, Africa, and North America.
In recent years he’s featured as a regular guide on the Naturalist Journeys team, having led or co-led over 40 tours to a wide variety of destinations but especially the tropics of Central and South America. Forever grateful of life’s opportunities, he thinks of global travel as a ‘gift’ and brings expertise, enthusiasm and a quiet sense of humor to the tours.
Prior to his tour leading career, James was an accomplished illustrator and placed runner-up in the prestigious British Birds ‘Bird Illustrator of the Year’ competition in 1992. His artwork has appeared in numerous birding publications, books, and identification guides. In 1996, his set of national stamps were represented at the 9th Asian International Philatelic Exhibition in Beijing and included a special souvenir sheet featuring eight songbirds of Israel.
When not leading tours James conducts field research for Mass Audubon, the Biodiversity Research Institute, and the University of Massachusetts. At home, he’s always looking for an excuse to be outdoors and can often be found riding his bike on the roads and gravel paths of Western Massachusetts. Locally, he likes to reduce his carbon footprint and keeps his daily birding ventures to within 20 minutes of the family home in Northfield where he resides with his wife Susannah and their teenage son Matan.
All Trips With James P. Smith ⌄
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Nathan Varley and Linda Thurston met in 1996 working on the Yellowstone Wolf Restoration Project in its earliest stage. Project director Doug Smith takes some credit for matching the two wildlife biologists who married 3 years later. Following their years with the wolf project, they created THE WILD SIDE, LLC for their ecological research and university-level field programs. Over a decade ago, YELLOWSTONE WOLF TRACKER was developed as Yellowstone's premier wildlife guiding service, providing services for hundreds of guests throughout the year, and setting the standard for professional service in the industry today
All Trips With Nathan Varley & Linda Thurston ⌄
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Drs. Howard Topoff and Carol Simon have been study leaders on natural history trips for over 30 years. Both are formerly professors at the City University of New York and Research Associates at the American Museum of Natural History. Howard Topoff has spent 40+ years researching the social behavior of animals. His field research has been conducted in Central and South America, Africa, and in the deserts and mountains of Arizona. In addition to his publications in scientific journals, his more popular articles have appeared in magazines such as Scientific American and Natural History. His research has been featured on National Geographic Television, and Scientific American Frontiers. Carol Simon is broadly trained in ecology, behavior and evolution. Her research on the social behavior of reptiles has taken her to many areas of North and Central America. Her current field research on reptile behavior is based in the Chiricahua Mountains of Arizona. As an added bonus, Carol and Howard provide multimedia presentations that provide in-depth insights into the natural history of the regions visited.
All Trips With Drs. Howard Topoff & Carol Simon ⌄
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Rick lives in Oakland, NJ with his wife Patricia and two adult children, Jack and Annabel. Rick has led birding trips for a number of years as a volunteer for various local nonprofits, and for Oakland residents in his town's 40-acre Great Oak Park. For over 30 years he has counted birds on annual big days to raise dollars for endangered species recovery efforts in his home state. His passion for conservation started during his college years at Rutgers where he majored in Biology, and he has been a trustee of the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ since 2000. His volunteer and fundraising efforts for The Raptor Trust, the largest wild bird rehabilitation center on the east coast, resulted in his addition to their board of trustees in 2018. One of his favorite areas to visit is Central America and he has hosted tours for Naturalist Journeys in Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala, and Belize. In his spare time besides birding, Rick enjoys playing street hockey, fishing, and visiting the jersey shore, especially Cape May.
Photo credit: Hugh Simmons
All Trips With Rick Weiman ⌄
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Steve Agricole is the manager and guide of Birding Seychelles, who has been offering bird guiding services since 2012. His experience comes from working on Cousin and Aride Islands after years of being exposed to a conservation aspect of living. Steve uses the knowledge gathered as the beacon of being a great and enthusiastic bird guide.
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Neil Allicock is a passionate young naturalist and guide from Surama Village in Guyana’s North Rupununi, one of the country’s most wildlife-rich regions. Introduced to conservation through the Surama Junior Wildlife Club and inspired by time spent photographing wildlife with his father, Neil developed a deep appreciation for biodiversity from an early age. Today, he works with the community-owned Surama Ecolodge, where he shares his knowledge of local wildlife and helps support sustainable tourism initiatives that benefit his community.
In addition to guiding visitors in Surama, Neil assists with wildlife and birding tours through Ron Allicock Travel and Tours across the Rupununi. He is also one of Guyana’s top-ranked eBird contributors, recognized for his exceptional ability to identify and document bird species throughout the region. His bird observations contribute valuable data that support scientific research, conservation efforts, and our understanding of the health of local ecosystems.All Trips With Neil Allicock — Guyana Expert ⌄
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Daniel’s passion for photography began at an early age. He worked as an editorial photographer before committing to nature photography 20 years ago. He has been leading photography tours since long before Iceland became a popular photography destination, and shares his skills through workshops in Iceland, Svalbard, and Greenland in the high Arctic.
Daniel is also passionate about birds. He enjoys photographing them and learning through observation. He is actively involved in conservation and has been on the Board of Directors for BirdLife Iceland for 20 years.All Trips With Daniel Bergmann - Iceland Expert ⌄
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Jane Blackwood is a naturalist, land manager, and ranger based in the Tablelands of North Queensland. With decades of experience working alongside Traditional Owners across the Kimberley, Top End, Central Australia, and Far North Queensland, she brings a deep understanding of Australia’s landscapes, seasons, and wildlife. Jane studied ecology at the University of Queensland and James Cook University, complementing her academic training with extensive field experience and knowledge shared by Indigenous Elders.
A lifelong birder, Jane developed her passion for birds during family camping trips throughout Queensland and the Northern Territory. Her ornithological experience includes research on breeding Arctic Tern populations in the Shetland Islands and establishing wetland bird monitoring programs within Indigenous Protected Areas in northern Australia. She is also an avid native plant enthusiast who enjoys sharing her knowledge of Australia’s remarkable flora, fauna, and natural history with travelers.All Trips With Jane Blackwood — Australia Expert ⌄
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Ryan Chenery was born and raised in beautiful Barbados! Ryan’s first job on the island took him beneath the waves where he conducted coral reef surveys for the Bellairs Research Institute. Yet it wasn't long before his passion for birds and wildlife on terra firma saw him employed as Chief Naturalist and Eco-Guide Manager at the largest remaining mangrove wetland on Barbados (the Graeme Hall Nature Reserve), and later travelling further afield to conduct field research on birds and amphibians in the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest and Ecuadorian Amazon.
After being swept off his feet by a Yorkshire Lass, he followed her to England where he continued his passion for “all things birds" with employment at the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Here he spent three years at the organization’s internationally renowned seabird reserve Bempton Cliffs, where highlights included kittiwake monitoring in gale-force winds and rescuing disoriented gannets by perching both he and the birds precariously on the edge of 300 ft cliffs - to better allow them to catch enough updraft to head back out to the North Sea! Subsequent employment in the UK saw Ryan take on the role of National Parks Officer at the North York Moors National Park – a position he held for 3 years before returning to Barbados to conduct multi-island wildlife trips full time. Ryan has enjoyed all of the wonderful roles he has undertaken across the globe, but his greatest passion remains leading wildlife adventures through the magical islands of the Lesser Antilles. The tiny island gems will always be his home and he loves nothing better than sharing the unique wildlife, vibrant cultures and untamed wildernesses that each island has to offer with nature enthusiasts from around the world. Oh, and the food, he absolutely loves the island food, and has even been known to also share this...occasionally!Photo credit: The Bajan Birder
All Trips With Ryan Chenery - Caribbean Expert ⌄
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Raised in the local Kek’chi Maya community, Steve Choco is one of the top local guides in Belize, and a great resource for visitors exploring on this Southern Belize nature tour. Steve developed his love of nature and his early fascination with wildlife during camping trips with his grandfather in the Belizean bush. Recognized today for his unparalleled birding skills, Steve was the 2017 recipient of the prestigious National Tour Guide of the Year award, given annually by the Belize Tourism Board. Naturalist Journeys relies on Steve and other experts to ensure high quality birding (and cultural) experiences for travelers.
All Trips With Steve Choco - Belize Expert ⌄
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António was born in Portalegre, North Alentejo and studied Biology at the University of Algarve. He grew up in a small village where he developed a special connection with nature from a very early age. After his studies, he spent time as a volunteer in wildlife conservation. He eventually started working in a wildlife rescue centre and, some years later, in an environmental organisation focusing on birdlife studies and conservation. António has 15 years’ field experience in Southern Portugal and has a great knowledge of its biodiversity and birdlife in particular. He regularly travels abroad to birdwatch and, apart from birds, enjoys hiking and has an interest in butterflies, mammals and flowers. He is active in the preservation of the environment and is committed to wildlife conservation, supporting several projects on biodiversity conservation.
All Trips With António Cotão — Portugal Expert ⌄
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Cat Davidson is an award-winning birding and ecology guide who has been part of the Inala guiding team since 2017. With a diverse background in birding, ecology, and botany, Cat has guided in some of the world’s most remarkable landscapes, including subtropical Queensland and the remote Falkland Islands. Before joining Inala, she worked as a bird guide in Lamington National Park and as a war and wildlife guide in the Falkland Islands.
After visiting Bruny Island to speak at the Bruny Island Bird Festival, Cat quickly fell in love with the island and made it her home. She now guides extensively throughout Tasmania and leads birding tours across Australia, particularly in Western Australia and the Top End. Cat has also played a key role in coordinating the Bruny Island Bird Festival and co-created the popular Inala Beginner’s Guide to Birdwatching alongside Dr. Cat Young.
In recognition of her exceptional guiding, Cat was named both the Tasmanian and Australian Tour Guide of the Year in 2025. Her enthusiasm, expertise, and passion for sharing Australia’s birds and natural history make her a favorite among travelers.All Trips With Cat Davidson — Australia Expert ⌄
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Manuel is a certified guide with over 15 years of experience leading trekking and self-supported expeditions, specializing in logistics and planning for remote and rugged environments, particularly in the high Andes. A decade ago, a domestic accident temporarily halted his mountain pursuits, triggering anxiety and depression. Seeking solace, Manuel turned to birding and exploring the cloud forest, finding therapeutic relief and eventually attaining full certification as a birding guide. After some time, Manuel rediscovered his passion for mountaineering and embraced cycling and bike-packing. His deep interest in birds, plants, and wildlife solidified his reputation as a respected naturalist. Notably, during a bicycle excursion in the Central Andean Range, he discovered a new population of Yellow-eared parrots. Recent challenges compelled Manuel to take on a role as a park ranger, deepening his connection to nature and leading him to adopt Zen Buddhist practices, fostering a stronger spiritual bond with the forest. Now back to focusing on birding, Manuel incorporates compassion into his daily life, perpetually drawn to the untamed essence of nature.
All Trips With Manuel Espejo — Colombia Expert ⌄
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Johan Fernández Ramírez has a Diploma in Naturalist Guide and is pursuing a career in Management and Protection of Natural Resources. Johan has worked as a guide since 2003. In 2007 he initiated a research program about the birds of Carara that lead him to start the Christmas Bird Count of Central Pacific of Costa Rica with National Audubon Society. The same year, Johan help organize the Shore Birds Count of Costa Rica, and during the count he recorded Costa Rica’s first Pacific Golden Plover. Johan is also co-founder of the Costa Rican Ornithologists Union, where he actively participates in various bird conservation programs and has conducted several bird inventories in various areas of Costa Rica; he has a great knowledge about the status and distribution of the Costa Rican birds. In 2015, he was selected by Noah Stryker to guide him during his visit to Costa Rica for the Global Big Year and their journey is well described on Noah’s book Birding Without Borders.
All Trips With Johan Fernandez — Costa Rica Expert ⌄
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Carlos Gonzalez is a wildlife biologist from Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, who has been working with birds for the past fifteen years. A Mexico specialist as a lead guide, he has led trips in his home country since 2019 in the states of Sonora, Sinaloa, Nayarit, Michoacán and Oaxaca. Carlos also has experience with Arizona, California and Nevada birds, wildlife, and landscapes. He is an avid citizen-scientist, contributing regularly to iNaturalist and eBird.
All Trips With Carlos Gonzalez — Mexico Expert ⌄
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Mark has been guiding tours for over 30 years and is still as passionate as ever about exploring and educating visitors about New Zealand ecology and our conservation efforts. Mark is a New Zealander and graduate of Otago University and is a passionate botanist and ornithologist. He is currently national President of the largest conservation society in New Zealand, the Royal Forest & Bird Protection society. Mark has been involved with many conservation projects over the years and he is currently coordinating an exciting and innovative seabird conservation project along the Otago coast. This project concentrates on restoring up to seven species of seabird that have disappeared from the coast due to predation. Mark has a rich history in conservation, he formerly worked for the New Zealand National Parks Service for 7 years and has had a professional involvement in conservation since 1979. In 1988 Mark founded his company to share his passion and knowledge with visitors to New Zealand and has been guiding ever since.
All Trips With Mark Hanger — New Zealand Expert ⌄
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Martin grew up in the Eastern Arc Mountains of Northeast Tanzania. It was here that he polished his birding skills as he learned from birders who visited and worked in the East Usambara Mountains. Through serving as a field assistant and research support staff, he learned bird identification, bird ringing and avian monitoring skills. Over the years he has worked with research and tour groups from the USA, Europe, South Africa and the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Today he is one of the top birders in the whole of Tanzania. He has led many birding trips and field expeditions across the entire Northern and Southern Tanzania. His bird identification skills are excellent. This is boosted heavily by his keen hearing and identification of bird sounds. Martin is a top guide for all the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania, where he knows all the endemic species and the sites to find them.
Martin’s kind and polite nature has made him a top favorite for guests visiting beautiful Tanzania.
All Trips With Martin Joho — Tanzania Expert ⌄
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Kalama was born and raised in the coastal region of Malindi, an area made famous by the legendary explorer Vasco da Gama. It is here that he started his guiding career, focusing mainly around the quiet town of Watamu. He got to practise his guiding as a keen big five guide. His career then took a turn when he joined the Arabuko Sokoke Forest Guides Association. Here he got the chance to meet and learn under his mentor, the late David Ngala. David introduced him to the world of birding. This became one of his main passions, and after a dedicated five years, Kalama acquired amazing spotting and identification skills. He has also participated in numerous research projects on some of the forest's endemic bird species, such as the Sokoke Scops-Owl, as well as endangered mammals like the Golden-rumped Elephant-Shrew.
Kalama is an active member of Nature Kenya. He has also participated in bird ringing activities at Arocha Kenya and the National Museums of Kenya. Additionally, he has continually volunteered in the annual waterfowl census conducted by National Museums of Kenya, Nature Kenya and Arocha Kenya, across Kenya. His passion for education also led him to volunteer with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) at Arabuko, where he conducted awareness programs for schools adjacent to the forest.
He then joined Cisticola Tours in Nairobi, where he interned and trained under the company’s umbrella network. This exposed him to many regions across Kenya and helped him polish his guiding skills. Today, Kalama is one of the best birding guides in Kenya.
All Trips With Kalama Kitsao — Kenya Expert ⌄
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Why travel with David MacKay? Known for his deep knowledge and experience with Mexican birds, David is also known for his infectious smile. He takes great joy in field time; working it hard and finding results. He enjoys life and travel as well, always planning a good day’s end meal to bask and review the day’s sighting highlights. He’s had over two decades of guiding trips and his organization shows that. You can count on David to be ready to go and steer his group to see numerous birds and have a good time.
All Trips With David MacKay - Mexico Expert ⌄
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Eric Antonio Martinez, has birded the Oaxaca area for nearly 20 years. His interest started in his own village of Teotitlan del Valle, but birding has taken him to many other parts of the world. He has volunteered and worked at the Long Point Bird Observatory in Ontario, Canada, and he visits Cuba each year to see family and bird (of course). Eric travels extensively within Mexico to enjoy the birds of his beloved country.
All Trips With Eric Martinez — Mexico Expert ⌄
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Jennie is a nearly life-long Arizonan that loves exploring different habitats in Southeast Arizona. Birding is an integral part of her social life and work life and much of her free time is spent in the field birding or learning more about birds and their ecosystems. As Director of Bird Conservation for Tucson Bird Alliance, Jennie coordinates the Arizona Important Bird Areas Program and other bird survey conservation projects. She is also the coordinator for the Tucson Bird Count and organizes several large scale community science efforts in Southeast Arizona each year including Elegant Trogon surveys of five Sky Island mountain ranges, Western Yellow-billed Cuckoo surveys and the Desert Purple Martin Project. Jennie also enjoys sharing the amazing bird life of Southeast Arizona and amazing work of Tucson Bird alliance and frequently gives presentations and online talks on various subjects. Jennie is the Director of Bird Conservation for Tucson Bird Alliance.
All Trips With Jennie MacFarland — Tucson Bird Alliance ⌄
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From an early age, Gavin developed a deep fascination for birds after he visited Point Pelee National Park on a weekend trip with family. Since then, he has traveled extensively in Canada and to numerous locations in the tropics and around the globe in search of unique birding opportunities. In 2022 Gavin founded his own tour company with the goal of sharing his passion for birds with others. After high school, he studied Renewable Resource Management at Lethbridge College and briefly worked in environmental consulting. In addition to leading tours, Gavin is actively involved in the local birding community, serving as a volunteer eBird reviewer.
All Trips With Gavin McKinnon—Canada Expert ⌄
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Paul Mensah is an excellent birding and wildlife tour leader and has led many tours for international companies and private groups. Paul has an amazing ability to spot species in the most difficult habitat and he is also excellent at bird identification and knows all birds by song/call. An extremely popular leader with our clients, his professional attitude, logistical excellence and personable and social character are complemented by his calm leading style, enthusiasm and love of his work. His desire to always offer his best to clients ensures all his tours are highly productive and enjoyable. Paul lives near Kakum National Park and is always in the field researching species and new locations to find them. He is also one of our cultural tour guides as he loves sharing his exceptional knowledge of Ghana’s culture and history.
All Trips With Paul Mensah—Ghana Expert ⌄
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Since the beginning of his Environmental Sciences studies in Huelva, Spain, Manuel has combined the university with volunteering for SEO Birdlife and Doñana Biological Station, in addition to working as an environmental educator in the Odiel Marshes. Later, in 2007 he became an expert ringer by the EBD (Doñana Biological Station). Since 2012 he has been managing and acting as leading guide while teaching Zoology for the University of Huelva. Manuel has given numerous talks and taught courses for SEO Birdlife and worked in Doñana National Park in several bird banding and tracking projects for the Andalusian Government and Station Biological of Doñana (Glossy Ibis, Spoonbill, Black Kites, Black-necked Grebe…) Based in Tarifa, in the Cadiz region of Spain, he will lead tours to Spain and Morocco for Naturalist Journeys.
All Trips With Manuel Morales - Spain and Morocco Expert ⌄
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Alcides L. Morales-Pérez is a professional with over twenty five years of experience in the fields of ornithology, botany, ecology, agronomy and natural resources management. Born and raised in Puerto Rico he has has a profound connection with Puerto Rico's biodiversity and proven knowledge of the flora and fauna of the island and the Caribbean region. Alcides received his Bachelor's Degree in Crop and Agro Environmental Sciences from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus. He has also taken courses on ecology, biodiversity assessment and monitoring for adaptive management from the Smithsonian Institution. He has been working as a birding and nature guide over fifteen years. Fluent in both Spanish and English, Alcides has effortlessly guided diverse groups, from intimate small group tours, high end birding expeditions to large cruise ship excursions, on immersive journeys through the vibrant landscapes of Puerto Rico and the broader Caribbean region.
His expertise extends beyond guiding, as he actively contributes to ecological research and conservation projects, participating in diverse topics ranging from seabird colony monitoring, habitat restoration initiatives from wetlands, dry forest to coastal forests, animal plant interactions, seed dispersal, and rare and endangered plant conservation. His commitment as a custodian of Puerto Rico's natural treasures is highlighted through his published works with over fifteen peer review publications accessible on his ResearchGate profileAll Trips With Alcides L. Morales-Pérez - Puerto Rico Expert ⌄
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R. Mirwan bin Mustapha, aka Mirwan or just “Wan,” is a Sabah-born lad living in the northern part of Borneo. A licensed Tour Guide since year 2000, Mirwan shares his passion for nature and wildlife by leading tours to nature destinations across Sabah & Sarawak. In his free time, Mirwan conducts wildlife surveys off of Borneo’s ‘beaten path.’ His passion for birds began in 2008, and he currently has sighted more than 400 of Borneo’s 688 bird species. For the last eight consecutive years, Mirwan has played an active role as a Borneo Bird Race Marshall during the annual Borneo Bird Festival. As a member of the Borneo Bird Club, Mirwan has also represented this active group of birders at various other bird festivals and bird races (similar to big day competitions) across the region.
All Trips With R. Mirwan bin Mustapha — Borneo Expert ⌄
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Lester Nanan comes from a family of environmentalists, and his late father Winston Nanan was a key figure in the protection of the Caroni Swamp and Trinidad’s national bird, the Scarlet Ibis. Lester started birding as early as 17 years old, assisting his father in documenting species in the Caroni swamp and then later, the wider Trinidad and Tobago. An explorer, adventurer, a naturalist and conservationist, he has been sharing his knowledge with guests of Naturalist Journeys and sister company Caligo Ventures for decades. His present mission is to ensure that Caroni Swamp is declared an ‘environmentally sensitive area’ so that every species that enters the swamp is protected. Lester works with conservation organizations, protected area managers, government agencies, the tourism board, tour operators and guides throughout the country to develop sustainable tourism opportunities while at the same time working to build the demand for bird watching, photography and natural tourism.
All Trips With Lester Nanan — Trinidad Expert ⌄
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Norbu has been at the forefront of birding excursions and exploring Bhutan’s diverse ecosystems for over 25 years. As an avid birdwatcher, he has spent many weeks traversing Bhutan, identifying prime locations to observe the most coveted bird species, such as the elusive Wren Babblers, Pheasants, Trogons, and other notable species found in Bhutan. His explorations have contributed to expanding the knowledge of many species that were previously poorly documented. Norbu has also been a pioneer among local birding guides, as he was one of the first to lead international birding tours independently.
Norbu’s vast experience in leading birding groups has helped numerous birders witness even the rarest of bird species. With his in-depth knowledge of the local culture, Norbu provides clients with a unique and immersive cultural experience during their tours. He is also known for his dedication to training and mentoring aspiring young guides who wish to pursue their career in birding and nature guiding. Along with birding tours, Norbu is also skilled in organizing nature tours and cultural tours that offer a more comprehensive Bhutanese experience.All Trips With Norbu — Bhutan Expert ⌄
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Growing with in his grandparent ?s home, José loved enjoying the flora and fauna all around him. His interest in his environment is what drove him to become a naturalist guide. And, after much study, by 2006 he finally became a specialized birdwatching and naturalist tour guide. José has learned to speak fluent English and has knowledge in German. He has collaborated in bird counting efforts and has worked with cruise tourist groups taking them on bird watching expeditions and helping them with photographic techniques. When he has some time off, he loves traveling to Carara National Park (his favorite birding spot). He also enjoys discovering new and exciting hidden places around the country.
All Trips With Jose Armando Obando — Costa Rica Expert ⌄
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Ana Paula Oxom grew up in Guatemala City, where family road trips sparked a lifelong love of nature and the country's rich landscapes and cultures. While earning a degree in Sustainable Tourism and Management at Universidad del Valle de Guatemala, an ornithology course ignited her passion for birds and led her to specialize in avian projects throughout Guatemala and South America.
Ana began her career as a bird guide and has since become deeply involved in birding tourism, tour planning, and conservation. She contributed to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Merlin app by annotating bird sounds to improve species identification. Today, she is developing a bird photography tour company in Guatemala and helping lead reforestation and nest-box projects on her family's properties. An avid traveler and birder, Ana has explored birdlife across Africa, Asia, and the Americas and enjoys sharing her knowledge through guiding, photography, and sound recording.All Trips With Ana Paula Oxom - Guatemala Expert ⌄
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Raised right next to the mudflats of the Bay of Cádiz, Victor developed a total fascination for all aspects of natural history from a very early age. A lifelong birder, with extensive travel industry experience in various areas, he began leading wildlife activities during the ten years he lived in Ireland, Germany and Poland. Victor joined Birding Tarifa in 2017, looking after travel operations, participating in field surveys and guiding birdwatching tours always with great enthusiasm and a friendly disposition. Additionally, he enjoys his role as eBird reviewer for the province of Càdiz.
All Trips With Victor Porras — Spain & Morocco Expert ⌄
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Jason is a well-known and well-respected naturalist guide in Trinidad & Tobago. He began his career at the world-renowned Asa Wright Nature Centre at the young age of 12. His now-30 year career has allowed him to host some of the world’s premier environmentalist and celebrity birding authorities, along with the countless bird and nature enthusiasts from around the world. Jason is proud of his homeland of Trinidad & Tobago, and eager to show off the rich dense biodiversity which exists throughout both islands. His passion for and knowledge of the islands' flora and fauna and history and culture is evident in every tour, with clients leaving fully informed about the country’s natural history.
His delivery makes each of his tours an enjoyable experience for the most avid birding to the beginner nature-lover.All Trips With Jason Radix — Tobago Expert ⌄
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Roland Rumm discovered birding later in life but quickly established himself as one of northern Central America's leading guides. Born in Germany and raised in Honduras from age 12, he developed a deep appreciation for the tropics while exploring the country's northern coast and Caribbean islands.
Since embracing birding in 2015, Roland has spent thousands of hours in the field and now leads tours throughout the region. He has documented three bird species new to Honduras and serves as a regional eBird reviewer. Known for his extensive knowledge of local culture, history, and wildlife, Roland is widely connected across Central America. He lives with his two sons on the island of Guanaja, Honduras, and spends much of his time exploring the rainforests, mountains, and remote birding destinations of the region.All Trips With Roland Rumm - Guatemala Expert ⌄
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With more than 20 years of experience guiding English-speaking clients in protected areas across a wide range of ecosystems in Bolivia, Chile, Panama, and Costa Rica, Hugo brings extensive expertise in Neotropical ecology, ornithology, and general zoology. His specialties include birdwatching, wildlife observation, environmental interpretation, and wildlife photography. He has trained local guides and park rangers in protected areas throughout Bolivia and Costa Rica, teaching ecotourism, environmental interpretation, ornithology, and other subjects related to sustainable tourism.
Hugo has served as a consultant on ecotourism and protected area management projects for a variety of government, non-governmental, and private institutions, and is a former university lecturer. Additionally, he is a photographer and writer whose work has appeared in numerous books and magazines focused on nature conservation, ecotourism, and protected areas.All Trips With Hugo Santa Cruz — Bolivia Expert ⌄
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Avijit (Avi) Sarkhel lives in New Delhi in Northern India & runs a travel company for inbound tours to the Indian Sub-continent. Avi (as most people call him) has been designing and leading wildlife and birding tours for the last two decades all over the sub-continent. He has lead tours with a number of well-known tour operators from all over the World. Avi enjoys meeting people and showing them his country and its wildlife and nature. He is concerned about the well-being of his co-travelers, enjoys having a laugh with them
and is always ready to address their concerns while on tour.
Avi is well-versed with the forests of the sub-continent, he has traveled all over the country, seen almost all of the birds and most of the mammals and is keen to learn more. He believes that there is a lot to learn about the wildlife of the areas that he travels to and enjoys learning from his guests.Photo credit: Vana Safaris
All Trips With Avijit Sarkhel - India and Bhutan Expert ⌄
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Martha has been exploring Costa Rica since childhood. Inspired by her family of educators and farmers, she became a tour guide in 1999, combining her passion for teaching with hands-on cultural experiences. She specialized in wildlife and birds, with birding by ear being her speciality. Martha has lead multiple birding trips across Costa Rica.
All Trips With Martha Seely — Costa Rica Expert ⌄
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From the mangrove coasts to the icy Himalayas and remote Andaman Islands, Saurabh Sawant has spent nearly two decades exploring, documenting, and teaching about India’s extraordinary biodiversity. Recognized as one of India’s finest naturalists and a renowned wildlife photographer, Saurabh is also a conservationist, researcher, and educator. He has discovered and described new species and documented more than 1,200 bird species, along with elusive mammals and an incredible diversity of reptiles, amphibians, and insects.
Recipient of the Carl Zeiss Conservation Award (2015), Saurabh leads wildlife and photography tours for top national and international agencies, crafting journeys that combine awe-inspiring encounters with engaging insights into culture, ecology, and conservation.
Beyond guiding, he heads Sanctuary Nature Foundation’s conservation projects, serves as Projects Director at Rishi Valmiki Eco School, and integrates bioacoustics research as a Certified Sound Recordist (Cornell Lab of Ornithology). A prolific contributor to Sanctuary Asia and visiting faculty for the MSc in Biodiversity and Wildlife Conservation, he inspires travelers, students, and future conservationists alike.All Trips With Saurabh Sawant — India Expert ⌄
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Dteng Sripanomyom has been birding for nearly 25 years and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science from Khon Kaen University and a Master’s degree in Conservation Ecology from King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi. He conducted his thesis about shorebirds conservation in the Inner Gulf of Thailand. After he finished his masters was employed as a biodiversity conservation scientist, which included work as a researcher for Harvard University for three years, then Princeton University for two years. Besides academic research, he often was invited as a bird leader for university student birding camps and was a lecturer about birdwatching technics for the beginners. Dteng has done bird research and surveys in South Korea, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Israel and Australia. Dteng lives in the small town of Amnat Charoen in northeast of Thailand. During rainy season he takes care of his cactus nursery and permaculture farm, then guides full time during the birding season.
All Trips With Dteng Sripanomyom—Thailand Expert ⌄
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Tim was born in Zimbabwe and his early years of experiencing wildlife and nature brewed a deep passion. After returning to Africa from Australia, he studied as a field guide in the greater Kruger area. Tim started his guiding pathway in central Namibia before exploring and working country wide as well as various countries in southern Africa. Photography and animal behaviour drive his zest for the African bush with birds and African Wild Dog being his greatest enjoyments.
All Trips With Tim Smith — Namibia Expert ⌄
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Nick has been pursuing birds since the age of six after being shown a Dartford Warbler by his father on a family holiday. After traveling and birding in the Pacifica and Southeast Asia, Nick settled in Thailand over twenty years ago and now has over a decade of experience in leading bird tours throughout Asia. Widely recognized as the leading guide for Thailand, he can find difficult species and interpret the ecology of the bird, as well as the conservation issues many species face.
All Trips With Nick Upton - Thailand and Asia Expert ⌄
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Max has been leading eco-tourism itineraries for over 30 years, and his love for bird watching began in childhood. He honed his skills and knowledge during his bachelor's degree in Natural Resources Administration and Management. Max is an expert in identifying flora and fauna species throughout Costa Rica and beyond, and he always shares his vast knowledge of natural history and tropics with his guests, including anecdotes from his years of guiding. Max's sharp hearing skills make him an excellent bird watcher, and he has led trips in Central America and Brazil in addition to Costa Rica. He is also a passionate teacher who enjoys sharing his knowledge with others. Max has written numerous articles on sustainable tourism and is an active volunteer with the Red Cross, as well as a member of the Ornithology Association and the Ornithological Union of Costa Rica. With his wealth of experience and expertise, Max fills his tours with knowledge, awareness, and passion, making him an exceptional guide for anyone seeking to explore and appreciate the natural wonders of Costa Rica.
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Richard’s passion for birds was fired in the bird-rich environments of South Africa where he worked as a game ranger in the 1990’s. From here he made a move to Ecuador where he worked as a nature and bird guide and enjoyed birding the amazingly diverse habitats of the Amazon, cloud forests and the Andes. With his enthusiasm for birds now incurable, Richard embarked on an international bird-guiding career that saw him travel and bird across Africa and further afield. Richard’s favourite destinations include Namibia, Cameroon, Tanzania, Bhutan, Antarctica, and of course Australia.
Richard’s tenure with our local operator in Tasmania began in 2013 where he worked as a guide and in operations for three years before he returned to university and obtained on Honours degree in Science. Richard has also worked as an ecologist where he deepened his understanding of the natural world and indulged in his keen interest in botany. Richard is a passionate and knowledgeable guide who loves sharing his enthusiasm for birds and nature.All Trips With Richard White — Australia Expert ⌄
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Frank is Zambia’s leading ornithologist and ecologist. Being from Dutch origin, he worked with the Dutch ornithology trust SOVON after obtaining his MSc in Ecology from Nijmegen University. Most of his professional work focused on the breeding ecology and population dynamics of birds in the Netherlands. His involvement in Foundation WIWO focused on bird research and training projects mainly in Russia and Iran.
He came to Zambia with his wife Inge in early 2008 to work with Kasanka Trust on the management of Kasanka and Lavushi Manda National Parks, as well as Shoebill Island Camp in Bangweulu Wetlands. Tasks varied from mammal and bird monitoring, supervising PhD studies on Shoebill, Kinda Baboon and Straw-coloured Fruit Bat, facilitating film crews and writing management plans, to anti-poaching activities, building scout camps and bridges, creating firebreaks, and filling potholes in the dirt roads. The very Bangweulu Shoebills prominently feature in BBC's monumental "Africa" production, alongside Kasanka's mega-colony of Straw-coloured Fruit Bats (the world’s largest mammal migration) and the eagles preying on them, both facilitated by Frank.
Since late 2017 Frank and family, now based near Fringilla, Chisamba, run their own company Kigelia Solutions. Major projects since have included the Birds of Zambia app, a biodiversity survey of the Mafinga Mountains with the BirdLife partner BirdWatch Zambia, an NHK film production on African Skimmer, consultations linked to community conservancies in Mpumba, the creation and management of Kalwelwa Bushcamp in Mwinilunga, and the creation of Birding Zambia.
Side activities include the function of ‘Zambian Bird Recorder’ and Technical Advisor of BirdWatch Zambia, and country rep for African Bird Club. Several of his free-time explorations have focused on remote and unexplored parts of the Mwinilunga district. The large evergreen forests he and others identified using Google Earth, prove to hold real surprises like Vermiculated Fishing-owl and Spot-breasted Ibis. Frank is determined to ultimately create a large conservancy to protect Mwinilunga’s rich biodiversity.
From a young age, Frank has guided and trained people, in the Netherlands, Zambia, and many other countries. He loves sharing his passion for and knowledge of the bush. During his twelve years in Zambia, he guided numerous groups in numerous places, including tens of film crews and research groups, photographers and journalists.All Trips With Frank Willems — Zambia & Zimbabwe Expert ⌄
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Washington has been leading Wildlife and Birding Tours in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda for many years. He has a taste for everything in nature, from the small to the big and everything in between. His education background is in Environmental Science (BSc.), Animal Ecology (MSc.) and Animal Ecology (PhD.). He has continued to enrich his knowledge through many trainings, including the Certificate course in Fundamentals of Ornithology and Certificate course on the Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles. He is a member of the Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association (KPSGA). He was awarded the African Sustainable Tourism Fellowship Award in 2016. He co-authored the Guidebook to the Birds of Dakatcha Woodland IBA. He wrote the first Checklists to the Birds of Eburu Forest; and the Birds of Kenyatta University. He founded the Kenyatta University Birding Club in 2014. Over the years, he has worked and interned with many organisations; including the Ornithology Section of the National Museums of Kenya and Giraffe Center. He previously served as the Manager for the Kenya Bird Map Project. He is a member of the Bird Committee of Nature Kenya, and chairs the National Bird of Kenya Sub-committee. He is the Chairperson of the East African Rarities Committee. He is a National Geographic Explorer, on his work with African Crowned Eagles. He is a passionate film maker, and released his first documentary, “Urban Crowns”, in 2017. He is also an experienced nature photographer and has won many awards, including First Position in the Underwater Category of the 2016 East African Wild Life Photo Competition. He is a featured photographer in the ON THE ROAD INITIATIVE by NIKON. He is also a member of the African Primatological Consortium for Conservation. He is a former Chairperson of the Kenya Herpetofauna Working Group. He is also a TED Speaker, and gave a TED Talk titled “For the love of birds” in 2017. Washington has also discovered a lizard species new to Science (year 2021), which was named after his second name (Agama wachirai).
All Trips With Washington Wachira — East Africa Expert ⌄
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Stylianos received his Bachelor of Science in Forestry and Natural Environment from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and his MSc from the University of the Aegean where he is currently working toward his PhD in Environmental Sciences. Stylianos is an accomplished field researcher and his PhD work is focused on the small mammals of Lesvos island. Stylianos works as a freelancer environmental consultant and field researcher for companies in Greece and Europe conducting wildlife surveys. He has a strong passion for leading groups of birdwatchers and wildlife photographers to various wetlands and natural places of Greece. In his spare time, he enjoys wildlife photography and bird ringing.
All Trips With Stylianos Zannetos — Greece Expert ⌄
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Bella, the director of AlpineBirding, was graduated from Sichuan Agricultural University with a Bachelor's Degree. She joined AlpineBirding in early 2016 and became the director of AlpineBirding in 2018. She was born and grown up in a Bai ethnic family in Yunnan Province which boasts of the largest number of bird species in China. Her interests toward birds started with her observation of a Long-tailed Minivet in her mom’s garden at a very young age. As she grows up, the interests and love toward birds become stronger and stronger. Because of that, she found AlpineBirding before graduation and joined the company for further learning of birds. Bella has guided a number of birding trips in cooperation with AlpineBirding guide in the past years, her passion, readiness to help and detail-oriented attitude have won her lots of praise from our clients.
All Trips With Bella Zhang — China Expert ⌄
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Jon Atwood recently retired from his position as Director of Bird Conservation for Mass Audubon, where his work focused on grassland birds and full-life cycle conservation of Roseate and Least terns. He has been a practicing ornithologist and conservation biologist for more than 40 years, using behavioral studies of rare and endangered bird species to inform conservation planning. After completing his master’s and doctoral degrees in Southern California, where he studied Santa Cruz Island Scrub-Jay behavior, Least Tern breeding biology, and the taxonomy of gnatcatchers living in the deserts of North America, he moved to the East Coast in 1986. Building on his experience as a Master bird-bander, he worked at Manomet Bird Observatory and collaborated in the analysis of the first 30 years of Manomet’s landbird banding program. He also spearheaded federal protection of the California Gnatcatcher under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, led a long-term study of factors affecting Least Tern colony site selection, and contributed to early studies of Bicknell’s Thrush in New England. After leaving Manomet, Jon directed the Conservation Biology program at Antioch New England Graduate School where he taught Ornithology, Research Design, and GIS while mentoring more than 70 master’s and doctoral students. Jon has led field trips in Mexico (Yucatan and Baja California), Costa Rica, Belize, the Galapagos, the Amazon basin of Ecuador and Peru, Kenya, Southern California, Southeastern Arizona, Montana, and Maine.
All Trips With Jon Atwood — Guide Emeritus ⌄
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Bob Behrstock is a nature photographer, writer and tour leader living in SE Arizona. He has led birding and nature tours for nearly 30 years, primarily in North and Latin America. He has compiled Christmas Bird Counts in Mexico and participated in biological surveys including the development of birding and wildlife trails in several different states. As a full-time tour leader, he birded throughout the U.S., many countries in Latin America, and in the Old World. Besides taping and photographing birds in many countries, butterfly and dragonfly photography have taken him to all corners of the U.S. and several parts of Mexico. Bob has authored or co-authored nearly 50 popular and scientific papers concerning fishes, birds, dragonflies, and butterflies in the U.S. and Latin America, and prepared several of the family accounts for The Sibley Guide to Bird Life & Behavior. His bird and insect photos appear in books, newspapers, and magazines including: Audubon, Smithsonian, Birding, WildBird, American Butterflies, and the Handbook of Birds of the World. He is a co-author of Birdlife of Houston, Galveston, and the Upper Texas Coastand Finding Birds on the Great Texas Coastal Birding Trail and has just finished an introductory guide to Southwestern dragonflies. Bob enjoys birding with tour participants of all skill levels and is equally happy pointing his spotting scope at other creatures. naturewideimages.com
Photo credit: Karen LeMay
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Dodie Logue is an artist, a horse trainer and an avid birder. Her interest in birds has taken her all over the United States including Alaska, as well as Central and South America. She is a certified bird bander and has done surveys and banding in the U.S. and Ecuador. Dodie splits her time between the southwest and the midwest, where she has worked to turn her 120 acre farm back into a native landscape including wetlands and 50 acres of tall grass prairie. She has been involved with numerous citizen scientist projects and is a member of PAN (Project Art for nature), a group of midwest artists who make art about critical habitat and educate the public about it. She loves nothing better than spending all day out in the field hiking and observing.
Photo credit: Chris Benesh
All Trips With Dodie Logue, Guide Emeritus ⌄
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Michael has been an avid birder since childhood in England but decided, for reasons that now escape him, on a career in law. Meeting Donna Knox on a birding trip, however, changed all that and, in 1996, he gave up his work as solicitor general to the Cayman Islands Government to start a new venture as a birding guide. Michael and Donna initially moved to Cayman House in Rockport, then to the San Pedro River Inn and the Paton Birders’ Haven in S.E. Arizona, and are now happily back in Texas: this time in San Benito, an ideal base for Michael’s interest in the wildlife and history of South Texas. As well as regular tours in the U.S./Mexico borderlands, Michael has guided birding trips to Belize, Costa Rica, and Panama and has travelled extensively in Europe and the Americas. He met Peg Abbott being very gracious to Naturalist Journeys groups along Arizona’s San Pedro River. He now shares his guiding skills with us in Texas and beyond.
All Trips With Michael Marsden — Guide Emeritus ⌄
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Bob Meinke started birding in earnest while an undergraduate in plant science at Humboldt State University in northern California. After graduate school he went on to join the botany faculty at Oregon State University (OSU), where he’s led the state’s Native Plant Conservation Biology Program (in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture) for over 25 years. Bob and his graduate students conducted research on the conservation and recovery of threatened and endangered plants in the western U.S., focusing on life history and re-introduction studies, and have also discovered and named a number of plant species new to science. When not botanizing, Bob enjoys travel with his wife Kelly (also a botanist)—never having lost their early interest in birding, Bob and Kelly have traveled extensively over the years, searching for birds and other wildlife in areas as diverse as Papua New Guinea, southern India, Fiji and Tonga, Australia, Iceland, Brazil, and southwest Africa. They share a particular interest in the avifauna of Central America, and reside with their cats in an historic neighborhood in Corvallis, Oregon, a few blocks from the OSU campus.
Photo credit: Courtesy Bob Meinke
All Trips With Bob Meinke, Guide Emeritus ⌄
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The Pembletons have led field trips for 30+ years. Ed worked for the National Audubon Society and as director of the Leopold Education Project, promoting Aldo Leopold's land ethics philosophy. Ed's photos appear in books and national magazines. Seliesa has written children's wildlife books, worked at the Smithsonian Institution, and was director of environmental studies at Hard Bargain Farm. She has taught "American Style" environmental education in Japan. The couple enjoys birding, hiking, gardening, and canoeing.
All Trips With Ed & Sil Pembleton, Guides Emeritus ⌄
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Dave Ramlal, affectionately known as “D Naturalist,” is an accomplished ornithologist and naturalist with more than 42 years of experience studying and interpreting the wildlife of Trinidad and Tobago. A lifelong birder whose passion began at age nine, Dave has dedicated his career to sharing the region’s remarkable biodiversity with visitors from around the world.
Based at the renowned Asa Wright Nature Centre, Dave has served as a lead guide for more than 30 years, introducing thousands of guests to the birds, mammals, reptiles, insects, and ecosystems of the Caribbean. Known for his extensive field knowledge, engaging guiding style, and commitment to conservation, he remains one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most respected natural history guides.All Trips With Dave Ramlal - Trinidad Expert ⌄
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Lynn Tennefoss is a general naturalist with a strong interest in birds and geology. Lynn helps with Naturalist Journeys’ special projects as well as many of the logistics of our U.S. tours, and has led or co-led trips to Trinidad, Peru, Panama, Costa Rica, Big Bend, Oregon Coast, Minnesota’s Boundary Waters, the American Southwest, and more. When not traveling, Lynn consults with nonprofit organizations, providing strategic planning, organizational assessment, and meeting facilitation services.
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Greg’s career began with over 20 years as an ecologist for California State Parks, where he managed sensitive bird species along the Central Coast. Transitioning into the Park Superintendent series, he worked closely with partners to conserve vital lands for the benefit of birds, people, and natural resources. Though he eventually "retired," his hiatus lasted only three days before he joined Naturalist Journeys. Now nineteen years into this second career, Greg has led over 120 tours for Naturalist Journeys, sharing his lifelong passion for the natural world with travelers across the globe. Having explored all seven continents and holding a Master Bird Banding permit, Greg’s deep expertise makes him an invaluable leader for natural history and birding expeditions. His relaxed approach and vast knowledge ensure his tours are as educational as they are enjoyable, offering guests a profound look at distinctive birds, wildlife, and flora. When he isn’t scouting for rare species, Greg indulges in his love for good food and photography. To see the world through his lens, you can browse his Flickr site http://www.flickr.com/photos/slobirdr, which features a vibrant collection of the sights and species encountered on his journeys.
All Trips With Greg Smith, Guide Emeritus ⌄
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Woody Wheeler is a master birder, a certified interpretive guide and owner of Conservation Catalyst, a birding and natural history firm based in Seattle, Washington. He has worked for The Nature Conservancy, Audubon, Seattle Parks Foundation, as a naturalist and tour leader. He holds degrees in Environmental Education and Geography. Woody is a skilled interpreter and educator with special expertise in birds. To augment field experiences, he is a natural story teller and a former teacher. His approach is inclusive; he enjoys working with diverse groups of people, and likes to combine physical activity with nature study. He inspires people to appreciate nature and to have fun along the way.
All Trips With Woody Wheeler, Emeritus ⌄
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Kelly has worked with Naturalist Journeys since 2011. She assists our lead guides on trips to Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, Death Valley, the Eastern Sierras, California’s Central Coast, Yosemite National Park, Yellowstone and Grand Tetons, Utah’s National Parks, Belize and the Caribbean islands of Trinidad & Tobago. Kelly enjoys the outdoors, travel, nature, wildlife, and working with people. Kelly is a licensed wildlife rehabber and educator for Pacific Wildlife Care in San Luis Obispo county, and is a founding member of the organization. She is also the Owner/Broker of Central Coast Property Sales. She and her husband Art own a ranch in Cayucos on California’s Central Coast, where
they live with their large menagerie of birds and mammals, both wild and domestic. When not traveling, Art and Kelly welcome guests to find peace and quiet on their ranch in their B and B guest house.All Trips With Kelly Vandenheuvel — Guide Emeritus ⌄
Banner photo credit: Gustavo Cañas Valle by Peg Abbott.