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THE WILDERNESS BIRDING ADVENTURES TEAM

A lively flock of knowledgeable and skilled guides bring their extraordinary talents, vast experience in the backcountry of Alaska, big warmth and humor to Wilderness Birding Adventure trips:

Bob Dittrick, WBA co-owner, began birding during grad school in the late 60s.  While working as a naturalist for Fairfax County Parks in Virginia during the 1970s, he encountered the bird migration at Cape May, New Jersey. He banded birds at Cape May for many years before quitting his job to help launch the Cape May Bird Observatory.  He then headed to Oregon State University where he taught interpretation. He moved to Alaska in 1978 where he became the chief of interpretation and education for Alaska State Parks. In 1986, Bob started Wilderness Birding Adventures to combine his passions of birding, environmental education, and adventuring in the wilderness. When not out guiding, running a business or banding raptors from a ridgetop camp during Alaska’s fall hawk migration, Bob is probably ski-joring to our remote cabin, checking and maintaining nearly 100 owl nest boxes, or discovering international travel. (He got his first passport for his 50th birthday!)

Lisa Moorehead, WBA co-owner, came to Alaska in 1978 with an MA in anthropology and a hunger for the Alaska wilderness. She had guided whitewater raft trips in California for ECHO, led their Alaska trips, and then met Bob, who wanted to start a wilderness guiding company. Bob got Lisa started as a birder when he invited her on a 51-day “date” to conduct the peregrine falcon survey on the Colville River in 1983. She worked as a cultural anthropologist full-time for 13 years, traveling to over 35 rural Alaskan and Canadian communities on subsistence and related research projects, and continues to do occasional work in that field.  Lisa runs the WBA home office year-round, and manages to get out into the field to guide a few trips each summer. She’s also a student and teacher of yoga, a wildflower enthusiast, ski-jorer and a homebrewer.

Bob and Lisa, I have to tell you that I cannot imagine anyone doing a better job than you did. You make a great team and are outstanding teachers. I learned a lot from both of you. I am still amazed at how quickly you turned a group of strangers into a compatible, well-functioning unit. Thank you for an outstanding trip.

- D.P., Alderson, WV

Aaron Lang majored in environmental education and interpretation as well as biology and then headed straight for Cordova, Alaska after graduation to put those skills to work at the Prince William Sound Science Center.  Since leaving PWSSC in 2002, Aaron has guided for WBA each summer, as well as working for WBA in the off-season. In the winters he has worked in the Brazilian Amazon as a bird guide and for the International Crane Foundation in Tibet, developing an environmental education curriculum centered around the Black-necked Crane. An avid birder since age 11, Aaron combines his excellent birding skills with his natural history interpretation background, wilderness travel skills, tireless energy and wacky sense of humor to share Alaska’s flora and fauna with our participants. Did we mention he went to the University of Wisconsin on a tuba scholarship?

“I want to compliment (and thank!) you for all your hard work in setting up such fabulous trips  - and for the incredible guides you have. Aaron and Nan are incredible people and I learned a lot from both of them – and had another unspeakably fabulous time this summer!” 

- N.H., Speedway, IN

Nan Eagleson is a wildlife biologist who graduated from Colorado State University.  She lived and worked in the Yukon and Northwest Territories of Canada as a biologist and naturalist guide for seven years and has continued that work throughout her 20-plus years in Alaska.  She resides in the Denali National Park area year round with her family, which includes a team of sled dogs.  Nan works as the head naturalist and instructor for the Denali Education Center when she is not off birding, hiking, canoeing, dog sledding or conducting botanical surveys in the wilderness of Alaska.  She has led WBA trips since 2002 with her remarkable breadth of knowledge, unbounded enthusiasm, and what seems like several lifetimes of experience.

“Nan was sensational. She is a treasure.  We loved her and the whole adventure.”  E.P., Ann Arbor, MI

James Huntington has been co-leading WBA’s Gambell trips since 2002.  Having been a mainstay on the Attu birding tours for 14 years (six as a leader), he has considerable experience with Asiatics as well as the regular migrants in western Alaska’s spring and fall migrations.  If you went to Attu (or have “chased” just about anywhere in the Lower 48), you’ve probably bumped into James. You’ll recognize him as the Mailman from Iowa, birding incessantly in his blue wool postal worker pants.  Yes, he’s from Iowa. James is a worthy exception to our All-Alaskan guides policy. He’s our honorary Alaskan. On top of being a superb birder, he’s about the nicest, funniest, friendliest person you could ever go birding with. (Just don’t try to get his share of the pesto or the truffle cake.)

“And James:  A real gem.  I simply cannot say enough good things about how well he treated all of us, how supportive he was, let alone how good a birder he was.  He's a real keeper!” 

N.B., Durham, NC

Dave Porter considers himself a life-long birder.  His interest in birding started as a Boy Scout and led him on to majoring in Wildlife Biology at Colorado State University. He completed his MS there where he was involved in passerine research on the Pawnee National Grasslands.   He moved to Alaska in 1973 with his wife Sondra, landing in the upper Susitna Valley where they built a log house and cleared fields for farming.  Farming faded when their two sons began skiing, so he became the cross-country ski coach at the local high school, Arctic Winter Games and junior national competitions.  His day job was as an Alaska State Park Ranger, mostly in Denali State Park. He is author of the Denali State Park and Trapper Creek sections of “Birder’s Guide to Alaska.”  Now that he is retired, he is a full-time birder who is not above chasing odd species anywhere his wife will let him fly. Dave has been guiding WBA trips since 2007.

Dave was excellent in every way – knowledgeable, but gave the right amount of info – not too much or little. And such a pleasant, low key personality who could get along with anyone.

D.T.
Anchorage, AK

Scott Hauser is a wilderness adventurer and birder who finds any excuse to get out when he’s not teaching high school science. Scott has been guiding for WBA since 2006, bringing his uniquely nutty brand of playfulness and enthusiasm to our trips. Despite what you may have heard about his exploding omelets, his technical competence in all aspects of backcountry travel runs deep.

Scott was invaluable and definitely opened new doors for us. He was so prepared. You can tell he really enjoys teaching and his enthusiasm for the birds makes it all the more fun!

S.W.
Chickaloon, AK

Aaron and Scott are a superb team – unflappable and professional as well as excellent company and good cooks.

B.K.
Boston, MA

Other wonderful guides occasionally work our trips as well, bringing their special skills and enthusiasm to make our trips safe, memorable, tasty and fun.

Find out more about our upcoming trips in Alaska!