About
Meadowlark Birding Tours was founded in 2022 by Gavin McKinnon. Based out of Calgary, we currently offer private guiding services in southern Alberta and guided multi-day birding tours to various locations in Canada. Meadowlark's goal is to offer unmatched value to our clients while providing a fun and enjoyable birding experience.
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Gavin McKinnon - Founder & GuideFrom 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 Meadowlark Birding Tours 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.
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Guides
Aaron Brisebois
Aaron Brisebois has been a birder and naturalist since he was a child, one of many passions passed down from his father. Pursuing this, he graduated with a BSc. in environmental biology, a specialization in wildlife biology and a minor in field studies from McGill University and his love for adventure and the natural world has flown him to 6 continents so far! Over the last 5 years, while working in the field of biology, outdoor pursuits, and bird guiding, he has developed an equal passion for teaching and sharing with others the wonders of the outdoors. He has most recently worked in Antarctica as an ornithology lecturer and New Zealand as a sea kayak guide, but it all started with mentorship from outdoor educators in the Outaouais region of Quebec and his first ever guiding job at Point Pelee National Park! Aaron does his best to return to Point Pelee every May as it still remains some of the most wonderful birding he has ever experienced. |
Annie Finch
Born and raised in Calgary, Annie grew up exploring Alberta’s unique landscape. Her passion for helping people connect with nature emerged from her early work as a canoe instructor. She became an avid birder in 2020, developing special interests in bird sounds, hawk watching, and how birding relates to the wider world. Annie has birded extensively in Alberta and travelled across western Canada for birds. She looks forward to upcoming adventures both near and far from home. Annie participates in regional citizen science projects, and is an active member of the local birding community. She is also a keen hawk watcher and volunteers as a Principal Observer monitoring Golden Eagle migration with the Rocky Mountain Eagle Research Foundation. She lives in Calgary with her husband and son. |
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Daniel Arndt
Daniel Arndt is a wildlife biologist, birding tour guide, and wildlife photographer born and raised in Calgary, Alberta. A mix of education, work experience, and volunteer opportunities led him to dive head first into birding about 15 years ago, and it's been all downhill ever since. Working on a wide variety of projects throughout western Canada has allowed him to observe birds in some pretty amazing places. He has birded extensively in western Canada and the western United States , southern Mexico, Belize, Cuba, and most recently Panama. When he's not chasing birds, he's at home taking care of his miniature house panther, miniature tiger, and three crested geckos. Liron Gertsman
You may have seen him on CBC’s “The National”, heard his voice on CBC Radio One, or seen his work in publications such Canadian Geographic magazine, The Guardian, GEO magazine, and others. Liron Gertsman has been observing and photographing the natural world continuously since he first got his hands on a borrowed pair of binoculars and a camera at the age of five. His work has been experienced by millions in some of the largest museums across the world, including the Natural History Museum in London and the Smithsonian in Washington DC. As a naturalist and photographer, he feels it is his duty to show people the essence of Earth. Liron’s photographic work has been widely recognized and awarded, sweeping the professional category of the 2022 Audubon Photography Awards and earning a highly commended designation in the prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. Bringing 15 years of experience to his tours, Liron uses his intimate knowledge of bird and wildlife hotspots to craft the best experiences possible. Liron has ornithological training from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Birds Canada, and has a biology degree from the University of British Columbia. |
Josiah Van Egmond
Josiah has been birding for over a decade, starting from a young age and never stopping. Josiah has birded far and wide throughout his home province of Manitoba as well as across Canada and internationally. He has been a part of various citizen science and research programs, including three years of grassland bird fieldwork with the Canadian Wildlife Service. Josiah has extensive experience birding in Mexico, including assisting with a research project part of the Hummingbird Monitoring Network and banding birds in the Chihuahuan Desert. |
