“Immensely enjoyed birding with Sean in Gorongosa National Park. He knows not only names but also a lot of natural history. Sean is also appreciative of questions but provides thoughtful answers. Highly recommended. ”
“My wife, a friend, and I spent an enjoyable and educational half-day in the field with Sean at Gorongosa NP in Mozambique. Sean is conducting doctoral research there on Southern Ground-Hornbill behavior, and allowed us to join him. Without question, he is a first-rate birder: able to identify birds by sight, sound, and jizz. But a day with Sean was not just about a bird list. He freely, easily, and genuinely shared what he knows (and that is a considerable amount) regarding the biology and ecology, as well as the history and sociology, of Gorongosa National Park and surrounding lands. Moreover, Sean was articulate, thought provoking, good humored, and simply a pleasure to be around. We hope we are able to spend more days in the field with him in the future.”
Young male oribi in Gorongosa National Park, Mozambique
“Sean is a superb guide to the diverse and rich habitats of California. He showed us the birds, but also helped us to understand and appreciate them and the landscapes they inhabit. Sean has great ears, so we found a lot of invisible birds. He is also a boatload of fun and seemed to enjoy the birds as much as we did. Great experience! Highly recommended!!
The moment the three adult condors appeared and Sean confirmed them was the peak but there were so many lovely moments. As a visiting Midwesterner, I am now fully committed to learning the birds of California—a spectacular abundance of avifauna that will keep me bust for the rest of my life. ”
“The scrub jays, ruby-crowned kinglet, and yellow-rumped warbler were so cute and it was awesome to be able to notice tiny details when Sean pointed them out to us. I now see and hear a lot more when noticing the birds in the area. Would bird walk again!!”
“Sean is a great guide, both knowledgeable and enthusiastic, able to describe and explain which bird species we were seeing, and to track and locate specific birds even in dense vegetation. He is patient with newbies such as myself, and open to changes in plan to ensure that we saw the birds I’d most wanted to see. A friendly, well-planned excursion!
It was a superb introduction to a regional park, and to the behavior of different bird species there, and I’m sure we will go back.”
Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge, California
“The bird walk totally altered my daily experience of seeing birds in my neighborhood. Whenever I go for a walk I am much more aware of the different birdcalls and who is flying around me. It’s incredible how much we learned on our short walk—I feel changed!
It was amazing being around someone so knowledgeable about birds. I loved the spontaneity of the experience—how all the different species of birds that showed up on our walk guided the conversation and the things we learned. I felt like we were being led on a tour by the birds. It was a particularly magical time to be looking out at the water with the low winter sun and the giant pelicans grooming themselves like cats. Jack loved all the activity of the small birds—the bushtits weaving in and out of shrubs and trees, and the hummingbird performing its fishhook dive over and over. We couldn’t have asked for more!”
“Despite frequently conducting bird surveys professionally, I learn something new every single time I join a bird walk with Sean. Whether it’s a new trick for tracking birds through binoculars or clarifying a subtle difference between similar species, I am always astounded by Sean’s breadth of knowledge and ability to engage each birding level present on a walk. My birding skill level has definitely been raised after this trip with Sean. Sean’s talk at Chirp following our walks also illuminated the numerous ways I can support the local bird species inhabiting my community. I’m looking forward to upping my backyard birding game and being a more hospitable host to both resident and migrating birds in my neighborhood.”
“As a plant ecologist, I really appreciated being able to visit the different ecosystem types on one trip and learn more about the plant-animal interactions in different vegetation communities. I’m excited to now identify more of the bird species that interact with some of the plants I study. This was my first birding trip and I can’t imagine a better or more informative experience!”
Cap Sauer Holdings Forest Preserve, Illinois
“I signed up with no idea what to expect, but the entire birding adventure—a full-day trip to Big Bear—was a delight from start to finish, and not just because of the birds! The day was perfectly paced—Sean was attentive to everyone’s energy and recalibrated as we went along, so that it ended up feeling both relaxed and satisfyingly full. Sean himself is easy and fun to be around, but also a fount of knowledge about bird lifestyles and habits, which he shared with enthusiasm, but without being overbearing. His sharp ears and eyes mean that even a stop in a layby by a busy road was rewarded with birdsong and new bird sightings, and his ability to teach (without being annoyingly didactic) gave me a whole new set of skills and tools to open my eyes and ears to the birdscape all around me, and even new ways to enjoy it and engage with it in the future. From spotting a bald eagle to watching a pair of mountain chickadees feed their young to discussing a particular songbird’s curious habit of impaling its prey on thorns for later, our entire day of birding was magical, fun, and thoroughly enjoyable. I can’t wait to go bird walking with Sean again.”
“Sean is not only highly knowledgeable about birds but also delightful company! He was eager to help us locate and identify birds during our walk and also taught us about technology that will help me while birding on my own.
Sean had a great itinerary planned and was also flexible when we needed breaks to cool off from the summer heat! That was awesome and I’m now DETERMINED to get myself some binoculars! Thanks Sean!”
“Sean is like a human ornithological Google search engine! He has a wealth of knowledge that kept us curious and excited throughout the hike.
The bird walk reignited my appreciation for nature that can easily slip away from me when I’m working my desk job back home. One thing that really stood out to me was how much birding involves Mindfulness. As someone who deals with anxiety, this was an amazing way to practice being present and attentive to all of my senses and the ecology around me. I loved the moments of silence between conversation when all I could hear was multiple bird species singing out of sync and the river rolling nearby.
The other thing that really stood out to me was learning about the different practices and care that Native Americans had before modern urban development and how expansion has changed the natural course of many environments. ”
Big Bear Lake, California
“It made me eager to spend more time birding in LA County! It was a delight to share my love of birding with my daughter and her partner with Sean’s expert help.”
“I would say that I went from ‘yeah birds are pretty ok!’ To ‘wow, birds are really cool! So much to learn!’”
“The bird walk was so fun! Sean was really good about giving me tips for using the binoculars, so I was delighted whenever I was able to find and follow a bird with the binoculars while it was in flight. Watching a red-tailed hawk in flight will be a great memory!
The bird walk felt like an intentional practice of viewing my surroundings from the perspective of wildlife. There was a moment, while we were observing a bird in a tree, when it flew out in alarm as a runner passed by. Because I was focused on the bird, I felt the disruption of human activity that interrupted whatever that bird was trying to do. This particular interruption was probably benign, but outside of birdwatching I wouldn’t have noticed it at all!
I’m admittedly a total birdwatching novice, but I was just really impressed by Sean’s knowledge of all the bird species in the area - his ability to recognize their calls and identify them even from afar! Thanks Sean!”
Alps, Salzburg, Austria
“Every time I get to see birds through binoculars it blows my mind. I can’t believe the level of beauty and spectacular nature-documentary-level natural world we have around us every day.
Sean is just an incredible professional. He really pulls out all the stops for these walks. From the moment you arrive he has thought of everything and is capable of sharing so much detail about the ecology of every single species you see. He knows the sites, knows the species, and treats you like an honored guest in these spaces. We recently did the San Diego zoo safari and paid something like $150 per person. Sean’s nature and bird walks are honestly a higher quality experience. Not because the San Diego zoo safari is low quality, but because Sean’s tours are so incredibly well done.”
“To have seen over 40 species of birds, each with their own personalities, communal structures and mating rituals in such a short amount of time was really an incredible reminder of the biodiversity all around us that we (definitely I) completely take for granted.”
“I feel like walking with Sean I was just learning to READ—it opened up a whole new level of awareness for me. Even after I’m hearing bird calls and song I didn’t hear before. This is something I want to do AGAIN.”
“Every moment of my walk was amazing! There was plant identification, deer spotting, so many bird facts, and much more! Sean is highly knowledgeable and so engaging — you will learn a lot and have a great time!”
“Sean’s enthusiasm for birds (and the ecosystems they inhabit) is contagious. His curiosity is matched by his encyclopedic knowledge of seemingly everything around—detailed scientific information complemented by personal stories, anecdotes, and connections to daily life. He cheerfully invited me into the natural world as seen through his eyes, with the warmth of a teacher and the encouragement of a coach, leaving me in awe of nature and also craving more.”
“This was a wonderful experience, Sean. It’s truly interesting and a joy to learn about something I normally have little interest in.”
“Sean’s knowledge of birds is accompanied by an infectious enthusiasm. There was a moment when my four and seven year old kids couldn’t see the bird the rest of the group was seeing. Sean got down on their level, and not only pointed to the branch where the bird was resting, he explained a bit about why the white breasted nuthatch was there and the features that made this bird unique. There was another time when a bird called out, to the group it was just another bird calling in the woods but for Sean it was quite special. In his excitement to see the yellow billed cuckoo, the rest of us got a thrill at looking for this rare bird. Sean’s face told us that this was a special moment. Our kids talked about this walk for many days leading up to it and many days following.”
Chicago Harbor from the lakefront path outside the Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, Illinois
“I’ve loved being a beneficiary of your knowledge and dedication to learning over the years and all the times we’ve been able to spend in nature together. I am excited that others get the opportunity to be affected by your love and care for people as well as nature. ”
“My favorite moment was Sean making bird calls to make the birds flutter around and become more visible to those of us who had less experience bird watching.”
“Sean is a kind, intelligent soul that takes time to meet people where they’re at and share both excitement and knowledge with others at a pace they’re comfortable with. There’s no question that novice and expert outdoor enthusiasts will have a wonderful time walking with him. You’ll feel broadened in ability and understanding during and after the experience!”
“Forest walks with Sean are magical, energizing, and educational. My wife and I have walked dozens of times in the same forest for years, and we always love seeing robins, cardinals, and other “birds.” But when Sean walked with us, he helped us discover twenty-eight different bird species in a short period of time! We learned about their distinctive colors, songs, relationship patterns, and migration routes. We also talked about our favorite poems, movies, and books and how they illuminate our experience of nature.
With Sean, this familiar place became brand new and even more meaningful to us. Every time we walk in this forest now, we talk about Sean and the incredible insights he shared with us. Sean has an extraordinary gift for seamlessly weaving together encyclopedic knowledge, love of nature, and a peaceful presence. Walking with Sean in the forest has literally changed my life. I can’t recommend him highly enough!”
“Sean is super passionate about all-things-birds and is highly interesting to talk with due to all his interests. [I] was blown away by the sheer number of birds we saw. Super interesting to watch Sean actively watch and listen to the birds. Realized how typically unaware I am in really experiencing the outdoors and how much I’m missing. Peppered him with numbers questions ranging from birds to musuems to trees.......greatly enjoyed the conversation. Highly recommend!”
View from the top of Teutonia Peak, Mojave National Preserve, California
“I have been bird watching with Sean twice now and will be booking for spring! Sean is very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about birds! He is great with kids too. We saw so many impressive species. I highly recommend Sean’s tours!”
“What I appreciated most about my walk with Sean is not just that he knew so much on birds, but also that he had so much to offer on nature in general; the plants, animals, the different kinds of habitats, even the skies and waters. He had insights on how we can treat nature better, how to appreciate it more deeply, and just marvel at the richness and beauty of the world we live in. ”
“What a special experience. Our young family loves nature and this was a unique way to learn something new and enjoy the nearby forest preserve. Sean is a one of a kind genuinely nice person who clearly loves to share his passion and knowledge with others. I booked this walk for my birthday and he made it extra special. Sean is great with kids too! When Sean imitated a bird call, and my two small kids joined in on imitating the sound the bird makes! They thought it was so fun! Highly recommend!
Sean was wonderful in preparing our family, was so great with the kids and really was an encyclopedia about birds! He inspired us to build a bird house with our 4 year old son, and house sparrow couple moved in right away!”
“As we came to a close on three early-morning hours seeing approximately 40 species of birds, I most enjoyed watching the Mallards and the native Wood Ducks gliding merrily across the lagoon as a proud Canada goose sat atop her eggs and other Canada geese led their goslings for a morning swim. Not one but Two Black-Crowned Night Heron groomed their stunning plumes across the way and bunches of chimney swifts and various species of swallows circled and zoomed overhead for their breakfast. All this before 10:30 am.
I chose this mid-May morning at Sean’s suggestion as May is prime bird migration time. My husband and I knew very little about our native birds let alone those hearty migrating birds stopping by. Sean lent us his eyes, ears and spectacular love of birds. It was a genuine pleasure trip. ”
View from trail to Echo Mountain, Altadena, California