Australia: Key Bird Guides
Alan Gillanders, Luke Paterson and Cat Davidson
Alan Gillanders
Alan's a local tableland who grew up on the western Cape York Peninsula. His interest in natural history has been life long.
While earning his living as a teacher Alan led botanical, geological and birding tours for various local, interstate and international interest groups and operators.
Your guide is a member of various professional bodies including Savannah Guides, who has been a national park volunteer since 1994, is active in local conservation organizations and has his skills utilized for training by government and independent bodies. He has worked for many of the well-known international and national documentary makers as a consulting naturalist and appeared in a few television shows.
Alan has a wealth of amusing stories from personal experience to illustrate his points about the plants and animals his guests see. All permits and insurance are covered including a current senior first-aid certificate.
Alan's years of birding and spotlighting can offer you a great wildlife experience because:
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Alan lives on the Tablelands and visits these great birding areas on a regular basis.
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He knows what species are here, what time of year and where to find them.
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He keeps records of what has been seen recently and where.
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Alan continues learning about the area he loves.
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He loves sharing his knowledge but is empathetic enough to remain silent when needed.
More details about Australia Trips:
Luke Paterson
Luke Paterson, finds guests their target species and experiences using 17 years of local guiding expertise in the region. Luke’s attention to detail and amazing ability to spot wildlife has earned him a reputation for having ‘hawk-eyes’. Luke is one of the most well-known bird guides for northern Australia. Luke has built his reputation and industry experience over 17 dedicated years, the majority from guiding exceptional tours in remote outback Northern Territory and Western Australia (Kimberley Region) locations.
Luke’s knowledge of the natural and cultural environments of these areas is immense. His attention to detail and amazing ability to spot wildlife from afar has earned him a reputation for having ‘hawk eyes’. Guests and past employees commend his professionalism, reliability and great company on tour. Having met and worked with so many people, Luke is highly adaptable and pleasantly delivers his work in ways that suit everyone’s needs.
Cat Davidson
Cat Davidson has explored and guided in several parts of the world before making Australia (and specifically Tasmania) her home. Cat has been a professional guide for nearly twenty years, and a professional bird guide for over a decade. She began as a bird and wildlife guide in Canada before moving to Australia in 2013.
Cat has guided mostly in southern Australia (Queensland and Tasmania) and has dedicated the last four years to guiding for birds and wildlife in Tasmania and the Inala Reserve.
Before Inala, Cat worked in Lamington National Park in lush subtropical Queensland as a bird guide and prior to that as a wildlife and bird guide in the remote and windswept Falkland Islands and in parts of Canada.
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Besides birding, Cat loves the mammals and other fauna of Tasmania. Cat has a diverse background in nature guiding. She also has a strong grounding and love for botany, starting early in life in her parent’s gardens.