Click on a field trip leader’s name to contact them via email.

Bio to come.

2024-25 Field Trips

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park Birding: Sunday, October 20, 2024, Saturday, April 19, 2025

Hailing from bird-rich Colombia, Eliana Ardila Kramer was destined to be a birder and nature lover. Her biological endeavors have taken her to the far corners of the world, where she immerses herself in nature with a warmth and excitement for all life.

 A Miami resident since 1995, she joined the Tropical Audubon Society Board in 2021. She’s rarely ever spotted without a camera hanging around her neck; she is a committed and spirited photographer with a keen eye for composition and technique. She’s also a field biologist, ceramicist, gardener, vegan chef, avid environmentalist ... you name it. 

Formally, Eliana is the executive director and lead veterinary technician for Project PetSnip, where she has spayed and neutered tens of thousands of pets and stray animals since 2013.

 Her passion for Florida native plants is expressed in her own backyard, where she maintains a naturally landscaped space that is frequented by birds, butterflies and other native wildlife. With her outgoing personality and contagious enthusiasm, she is a captivating speaker, too. Together with her veterinarian husband, Marc Kramer, they are the “Birding by Bus” couple with an active social media presence and a birding tour business of the same name. Inspired by her 1978 Volkswagen Bus, she has nurtured her unique ecotourism company through which she leads birding and nature tours worldwide, specializing in Latin America, as well as tours designed specifically for women.

2024-25 Field Trips

Crandon Park Birding: Saturday, September 14, 2024

Jose Francisco Barros, DDS, is a Miami-area Endodontist. He has practiced in South Florida for 25 years and joined Tropical Audubon Society shortly after arriving in Miami in 1987. He joined the TAS Board in 1992 and became its president in 2002.

Born in Spain after his family returned to their homeland escaping the revolution in Cuba, Joe and his family immigrated to United States and settled in Jacksonville Florida in 1962. Joe grew up on the North Florida beaches and along the St. Johns River where he came to appreciate the natural environment that made Florida so unique. As a young boy exploring the great outdoors, he learned to identify local fish, snakes and birds. As a boy scout, Joe furthered his knowledge of the environment by hiking and camping in area forests. Primed by his outdoor education, Joe attended University of Florida where he received a B.S. in Zoology. He then attended Emory University where he received his dental degree in 1987; a certificate in Endodontics was earned in 1999 from Nova Southeastern University.

Joe’s family had since resettled in South Florida and he followed suit, balancing his private dental practice with his love of Nature. In the 25+ years since joining TAS, Joe has run Native Plant Sales, lead bird and plant walks locally and internationally, and has represented Tropical Audubon Society at numerous events. During his tenure as its president, TAS has been instrumental in defeating plans for the airport at the Homestead Air Reserve Base, protecting Biscayne Bay, holding the Urban Development Line, and supporting the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP).

Joe is also an adjunct professor at the Nova Southeastern University School of Dentistry, teaching clinical and didactic courses there. He recently participated in the international endodontic surgical externships, traveling with the endodontic residents to Peru and Colombia.

Joe is married to Helen Torres. Together they enjoy music, traveling and birding, and take great pleasure in the camaraderie of the extended TAS family.

2024-25 Field Trips

Matheson Hammock Birding: Saturday, October 12, 2024

Key Largo Hammocks State Botanical Site: Birds, Butterflies and Native Plants: TBA

Andrea Diamond is a native Miamian and grew up in South Miami. She has always loved wildlife and birds and camped in the Everglades with her family from the age of 10. She always had birdfeeders in her yard but didn't become a "birder" until 2017.

Andrea’s first bird walk with Tropical Audubon Society was at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park and she immediately liked it. Everyone was so nice and helpful and tried to make sure she saw all the tiny birds. She always knew the Florida waders and backyard birds, but she had never paid attention to the little birds. Many current friendships have been made from birding. It's such a nice community.

Being a scuba diver, Andrea found that birding was similar, looking for a certain bird or fish and identifying all that you see, though with birding, you didn't have to worry about breathing with a tank underwater. She started keeping an eBird list during Covid and that was when she really became committed to birding and keeping track of what she saw. She now has almost 1000 species seen and recorded in eBird.

Andrea is married with three children, graduated from Tufts University dental school and has practiced dentistry in Miami since 1984. Andrea’s daughter followed in her footsteps and graduated from the University of Florida dental school in 2023 and now practices with her. As a coincidence, their practice is in the same building as TAS President Joe Barros. She plans to retire soon.

2024-25 Field Trips

Kendale Lakes Park Birding: Saturday, November 9, 2024

Nancy Freedman participated in her first TAS bird trip in September 1999, a walk led by Todd and Ellen Snow at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park. She has taken almost every weekly TAS walk since. From that beginning birder back in 1999, she went on to become a board member of Tropical Audubon for six years and a TAS trip leader for the last ten. Her walks take us to Wakodahatchee and Green Cay Wetlands, Peaceful Waters Sanctuary and other birding locales in Palm Beach County.

Nancy has been an Earthwatch volunteer since 1988, when she participated in a Human Origins in Africa study in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo). She's worked with sea turtles in Mexico (1989), St. Croix (1992) and Costa Rica (1999). She also participated in a wildlife dynamics study in Zimbabwe (1990) and returned to that country to work with endangered black rhinos (1996). In Kenya, she's studied African elephants (2000) and Grevy's zebras (2004). Her most recent Earthwatch assignment was a Conserving an Ecosystem project in Brazil’s Pantanal (2005). She has also participated in birding trips to Cuba, Uganda, Panama, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Trinidad, Mexico, Ecuador, Australia, Malaysia, Kenya, Colombia and throughout the US with TAS and Wings.

Nancy is a graduate of Florida International University and has worked as a legal assistant for 34 years.

2024-25 Field Trips

Southern Palm Beach Birding: Saturday, January 25, 2025; Saturday, March 8, 2025

Miami-based Luis Gonzalez has volunteered as a TAS birding guide since 2019, leading monthly South Florida bird walks and sometimes serving as a guide on international adventures.

 Born and raised in Cuba, Luis has been an avid naturalist (with complementary passions for birds and dinosaurs) from a young age. After moving to the U.S., he attended Doral Academy High School, where he excelled in the Sciences and also took up birding. He has been looking up ever since.

Luis’s early fascination for herons, egrets and other South Florida wading birds soon blossomed to include keen interests in New World warblers, woodpeckers and ducks. He only regrets that he didn’t start birding sooner, but he intends to make up for lost opportunities by birding all seven continents.

Also an avid eBirder, Luis keeps detailed records of his sightings, photographs as many species as possible, and encourages others to do the same. If you encounter him in the field, he may want to join you because Luis believes the birding is always better with an extra pair of binoculars!

In addition to leading TAS field trips, Luis has also lent his considerable Information Technology talents to TAS, helping launch a new TAS website in 2021. The professional Information Technology specialist is currently pursuing his IT Master’s degree at Florida International University.

2024-25 Field Trips

Everglades Agricultural Area Birding: Saturday, September 7, 2024

A.D. Barnes Park Birding: Sunday, September 15, 2024; Saturday, October 26, 2024

Flamingo Area Birding: Saturday, November 16, 2024

Lucky Hammock Birding: Saturday, January 11, 2025

Miami Exotics Tour: Saturday, February 22, 2025

Fortymile Bend Birding: Saturday, April 5, 2025

Birds and Marsupials of Northern Australia -Darwin, Cairns and Brisbane: Sunday, August 3 to Saturday, August 16, 2025

Kirsten Hines is a Coconut Grove-based author, wildlife photographer, and conservationist with a master’s degree in biology and background as an environmental educator. Her writing and photography have appeared in several publications, including six of her own books on Florida’s nature and history, starting with the wildlife gardening reference Attracting Birds to South Florida Gardens published by the University Press of Florida in 2014 and most recently, the pictorial history Everglades National Park published by Arcadia Publishing in 2021. Kirsten’s upcoming books include the photographic coffee-table book Wild Florida: The Animals of the Sunshine State (University Press of Florida, 2023), and a pictorial guide to the Birds of Florida (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2023).

With over 20 years of experience leading nature and photography programs and trips for both children and adults, Kirsten’s goal is to inspire enthusiasm for the natural world among diverse audiences. She is a founding member of Phoebes Birding, a woman’s group designed to connect women through nature, a Conservation Associate of the Institute for Regional Conservation, a member of the IUCN Iguana Specialist Group, a member of the North American Nature Photography Association, and serves on the board of both Tropical Audubon Society and Audubon Florida. Learn more about Kirsten and her work at www.KirstenHines.com.

John Hutchison has been an avid birder since age 7. In his teens he had the pleasure of birding with Roger Tory Peterson. After graduating from the University of Massachusetts with a bachelor's degree in wildlife biology, he spent four years as a medical service corps officer in the US Army. Following his service John continued his education with advanced degrees from the University of Southern California and from Western New England College. For over forty years John has been a bird trip leader for numerous organizations and is past president and lifetime honorary member of the Allen Bird Club of Springfield MA. For the last twenty five years John has served on the board of directors of the Fannie Mae Stebbins Refuge, a private 175 acre preserve.

John is married to Jim Barnes, his partner of 34 years. They both play musical instruments, enjoy concerts and theater as well as art, cooking, nature and birding.

From rattling off the names of every dinosaur at the age of 2, Marc Kramer’s beginnings as a birder began in the early 1990s as a student at Cornell University. Mesmerized by the work of his ornithology professors, he embraced the opportunity to conduct avian field work on a remote seabird island in Alaska, in the neotropical rainforests of Panama, and on a wetland refuge for shorebirds in Northern California. Those formative days set into motion an unrelenting enthusiasm for birds. A plethora of “life birds” later, he steered his professional career toward birds — albeit with a unique twist: Marc became a veterinarian specializing in the medical care of birds, wildlife and unusual pets. He joined the Tropical Audubon Society Board in 2021.

After completing his veterinary training at Cornell and a wildlife medicine internship in Canada, Marc moved to Miami in 2000 for his first job at an avian and exotic animal veterinary hospital. In addition to working with non-traditional pets, he has worked tirelessly in the animal shelter medicine field, with a focus on providing high-volume spay and neuter services for dogs, cats and rabbits. He is licensed as a veterinarian in seven states. In addition to providing services throughout South Florida, he often travels outside his home state to deliver much-needed veterinary care to remote and low-income communities domestically and abroad.

Over the past 30 years, Marc has made birds his life’s passion, both professionally and recreationally, traveling across the globe in a perpetual birding quest. Together with his wife, Eliana, who shares the same obsession — they embarked on a North American birding “Big Year” in 2018, tracking down birds on an epic road trip from Florida to Alaska in their 1978 Volkswagen Bus! From that memorable adventure, their ecotourism company “Birding by Bus” was hatched, enabling them to lead birding and nature excursions worldwide.

2024-25 Field Trips

Crandon Park Birding: Saturday, September 14, 2024

Larry was born in Miami and has been interested in birding since he was about 6 years old, when his mother gave him his very first book on birds. He's had a life list since about 8 years old. Having lived in South Florida for more than 30 years. He's familiar with the locations of the South Florida specialties as well as the rest of Florida.

Many birders might remember his name for the Western Spindalis that showed up in his yard between January 3rd and February 26, 1992. More than 400 people came to see that amazing vagrant. Realizing the number of people that share his interest, He decided to start guiding professionally.

He has birded most of the birding hotspots of North America (Attu Island Alaska, Southern Arizona, South Texas, California, etc...) as well as most of the Caribbean Islands (The Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Montserrat, Martinique, Grenada, St. Vincent, Guadeloupe, Barbados's, Antigua and Barbuda). On a trip to the Dominican Republic with P.William Smith, they discovered a bird not previously seen on Hispaniola, possibly a new species (see the accompanying article. He's familiar with all North American birds, not just Florida specialties, as well as with Caribbean strays.

Over the years, He's also gained knowledge of the local flora and fauna. Many birdwatchers enjoy being able to look for Alligators, Crocodiles, Manatees, Deer, Butterflies, etc....

He contributed to the book titled “A Birder’s Guide To Florida” by Bill Pranty. He wrote the chapter on Homestead and helped with the sections on Miami, the Florida Keys, and Everglades National Park. He co-authored "A Birder's Guide To Metropolitan Areas of North America" by Paul Lehman and sold by American Birding Association.

In 1997, he married his wife Christine, who is originally from France. In their first year birding together, she saw more than 300 species of birds, most of them observed in Florida.

2024-25 Field Trips

L31-W Canal Birding: February 1, 2025

Bio to come.

2024-25 Field Trips

Kendall Indian Hammocks Park Birding: Saturday, October 19, 2024

Bruce Pickholtz is a retired investment company executive, Florida Master Naturalist, orchid grower, and one of Broward County's top birders. Bruce leads bird and nature trips for Broward County Parks as well as area Audubon societies.

Brian Rapoza was, until his retirement in 2018, an environmental science teacher, outreach specialist and internship coordinator at MAST Academy, Maritime & Science Technology High School in Miami. During his tenure with the Miami-Dade County Public School system, dating to 1988, he has led thousands of school children on bird-watching expeditions through Everglades National Park and other area birding destinations. In 2006, he was named MAST Teacher of the Year. He has served as Tropical Audubon Society Field Trip Coordinator since joining the society’s board in 2001. In this role, he leads birding field trips throughout Florida, the U.S. and the Neotropics. Since 2001, he has also served as the Christmas Bird Count compiler for both Miami and Coot Bay/Everglades National Park.

Brian is the author of Birding Florida, a bird-finding guide to more than 200 locations throughout the state. He is also an eBird reviewer for Monroe County. He is a returned Peace Corps Volunteer, having served in the Philippines from 1983 to 1985, and is past president of the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of South Florida. Brian is originally from New Bedford, Massachusetts, attended the University of Massachusetts and graduated in 1980 with a B.S. in Marine Biology.

2024-25 Field Trips

Everglades Agricultural Area Birding: Saturday, September 7, 2024

Greynolds Park Birding: Sunday, September 22, 2024

Islamorada Area Birding: Saturday, September 28, 2024

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary Birding: Saturday, October 5, 2024

Everglades National Park Birding: Saturday, November 2, 2024; Saturday, January 4, 2025; Saturday, March 1, 2025

Larry and Penny Thompson Park Birding: Saturday, November 23, 2024

Western Tamiami Trail Birding: Saturday, December 7, 2024

North Florida Birding: Friday, January 17 to Monday, January 20, 2025

Black Point Area Birding: Saturday, February 8, 2025

Miami Exotics Tour: Saturday, February 22, 2025

Martin and Northern Palm Beach County Birding: Sunday, March 22, 2025

Spain - Extremadura, Doñana and Sierra de Gredos: Monday, April 28 to Monday, May 12, 2025

Guatemala - Highlands and Lake Atitlan: Wednesday, November 5 to Saturday, November 15, 2025

In Memoriam

Paul Bithorn was a Miami native who led birding field trips for Tropical Audubon Society and many other environmental and civic groups for over 30 years. He served for many years as a TAS board member as well as a board member of Curtiss Mansion, Inc., an organization dedicated to the restoration and operation of the home of Glenn Curtiss, an aviation pioneer and “Father of Naval Aviation.” This beautiful mansion, originally constructed in 1925 and a classic example of Pueblo Revival style architecture, is at 500 Deer Run in Miami Springs. Paul also served as Mayor of his hometown, the Village of Virginia Gardens, for nine years and encouraged residents to xeriscape by planting native species of plants and shrubs to attract birds and butterflies.

Paul contributed to several bird-finding guides, including the ABA’s A Birders Guide to Florida (4th edition) and A Birders Guide to the Bahama Islands, the Birding Florida Falcon Guide, Parrots of South Florida and The Crossley Guide; Eastern Birds. His documentation of parrot species in Miami was featured in the June/July 2008 issue of the National Wildlife Federation magazine and the November 1st, 2008 issue of Birders World (now Birdwatching).

Paul passed away on March 26, 2021 after a brief illness.

Trey Mitchell began taking photos and birdwatching at the age of eight. Just two years later, he built his own darkroom to process photos in the garage with his dad. He and his neighborhood friends enjoyed spending time exploring natural areas in Houston Texas, the Bayou City. Trey would get up before sunrise and head out looking for wildlife; he spent much of the time sitting in trees hoping to get closer to birds.

Trey received artistic training at the Houston High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. He lived in Miami since 1992 and for the last 10 years, spent much of his spare time birding and taking nature photos in Miami-Dade County. Birder first, photographer second, or sometimes the other way around. Trey loved sharing what he has learned over the years out in the field with anyone willing to listen.

Trey was a software developer and created the website BirdADay.net, where birders from all over the world could post and share their observations as they attempt to see a bird a day, one day at a time.

Trey passed away unexpectedly on November 8, 2017. He will be greatly missed.

Banner photo: Burrowing Owl by Luis A. Gonzalez