Tour Leaders

Emiliano García Loyola ( 39 )

Emiliano was born and raised in a small town in the middle of the central hills of Córdoba, Argentina. A life in the mountains sparked his interest for nature as a child where birds were, naturally, something impossible to ignore. Currently he is pursuing a degree in biology and, as part of his formation as a researcher, he is conducting bird surveys using mist nets to study the avifauna of the Chaco woodlands. While applying this knowledge in conservation projects conducted by local NGOs, he also serves as a teacher in his homeland area. Emiliano is also an expert climber and mountaineer in the mighty Andes range, which he traveled extensively all along Argentina and some other South American countries. All these experiences interacting with nature and people had taken him to become a great company in the field and a superb birding guide.

Julian Vidoz Bielsa ( 39 )

Born in Central Argentina as the son of a National Parks ranger, Julian was inspired to watch and paint wildlife from his very early years. As a child he moved with his family to Patagonia where he spent his adolescence learning about wildlife and carrying bird inventories. In 2004 he moved to Bolivia for joining an international team to study the migration of Fork-tailed Flycatcher and other species on the genus Tyrannus. Julian spent the next 10 years in Bolivia alternating his research work with guiding naturalists and birders. He has published several research papers on the natural history, distribution, and migration of birds in Bolivia and is co-author and illustrator of the recently published "Birds of Bolivia" book. His expertise on the birds of Bolivia and Argentina makes him one of the most experienced guides on our team.

Diego Monteleone ( 44 )

Diego joined one of our first field trips with Aves Argentinas/BirdLife, when he was only twelve years old. He has since joined us in many trips throughout Argentina and the southern cone of South America, eventualy becoming a great birding guide. Diego has developed an amazing perception in identifying bird songs and his bird list for Argentina has over 850 species. He received a Msc in Biology in Buenos Aires, and spends much of his spare time birding and travelling to make field recordings of bird voices. He has a friendly and outgoing personality, characteristics which match his great experience in the field.

Hector Slongo ( 39 )

was born in northern Italy and early on moved to Córdoba province, Argentina, where he currently lives. He was raised in the countryside, directly in contact with the natural world and from an early age developed a great passion for nature. His specific interest in birds started when he was eight and nowadays he is a keen birder and an avid sound recordist. He has a vast experience throughout most of Argentina and Bolivia, and has been also birding in Brazil, Britain and of course, Italy. Héctor is fluent in Spanish, English and Italian. His birding skills and friendly personality make of him a great guide and a perfect travel companion.

Juan Klavins ( 46 )

lives with an intense passion for birds that has stayed with him since his childhood in the city of Buenos Aires. At the age of 15, he moved to La Cumbre (Cordoba) where that devotion for nature turned into a professional career. Initially he participated in a biodiversity survey in the Argentinean western Chaco conducted by the National Park Administration, followed by successive avian investigation campaigns with Aves Argentinas/BirdLife International and other non-profit institutions. In 2001 he moved to Paraguay where he worked three years for Guyra Paraguay/BirdLife as a consulting biologist with both migratory and resident species. He then worked for the Vermont Center for Ecostudies (Vermont, USA) as a field biologist and data manager. His knowledge of nature extends beyond birds: he worked on botanical investigations in some South American countries as well as butterfly research in North America. Traveling and working form Argentina to Ecuador, the Caribbean island Hispaniola and from east to west of the USA has given him very extensive experience with the New World avifauna. Juan currently lives in in Misiones, Argentina doing what he knows best: bird research and guiding.

Duncan Hogg ( 38 )

Duncan was born into a Scottish family of naturalists in the province of Córdoba, Argentina. Since his earliest days, the green lands of the country side put him in close contact with wildlife and mountaineering was his first approach to exploring the natural world. Soon after he finished the primary school a deep friendship with an eminent birdwatcher brought him into the world of birding, complementing it with the study of medicinal plants. His growing passion for nature took him throughout Argentina and other countries. At present time he is studying prehospital and emergency life support at the National University of Medicine while working as a province mountain guide in several nature reserves and as a member of a wildness search and rescue patrol.

Germán D. PugnaIi ( 56 )

was born in Buenos Aires, where he entered the world of nature watching in 1985 thanks to Costanera Sur Nature Reserve and Aves Argentinas / BirdLife International. While completing his studies for an BC in Biology, he worked as organiser of the association`s field trips. As a biologist, he took part of field studies on penguins, waterfowl, shorebirds and blackbirds, publishing several articles in scientific journals and birding magazines. At the age of 24, he started leading international birding and wildlife watching groups professionally, which took him to every corner in the country, many countries in Latin America and Africa. Nowadays he lives in Japan, travelling often to South America.

Hernán Rodríguez Goñi ( 51 )

started his career as a naturalist joining the Asociación Ornitológica del Plata (Aves Argentinas / BirdLife International partner) at the age of 13. Since 1986 he worked as a birding guide and tour leader of this field trips, eventualy becaming its organizer for a period that lasted over 14 years. Hernan visited every corner of Argentina, most countries of South America, and a big part of Africa, India, Australia and South-East Asia. He dictates lectures on several courses of eco-tourism for training local guides as naturalists. He is a professional wildlife photographer, and his work has been published in several local and international magazines. His photographic art is now illustrating most of our travel catalogue and this web site. Hernán is always seeking new areas and hotspots to visit and show around to those who share his passion.

Ignacio Roesler ( 42 )

Ignacio is a biologist specialized in Zoology from Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Argentina. He was born and raised in General Villegas, a little town in the middle of Pampas of Argentina. This meant that he always had direct contact with the wilderness. By the early age of 11, a strong interest in birds took him to join us in many of our tours for local birders at Aves Argentinas (BirdLife). Since then he has traveled to every corner of the country and adjacent countries like Uruguay, Chile, Brazil, Bolivia, and Paraguay. He is particularly fond of northern Argentina and Brazil, especially the Yungas forests, the Chaco area, and the Atlantic Forest. To date, he has published some papers and articles, of note being that about the Chaco Pipit, a species formerly considered Near-threatened, but still one of the least known pipits. At the age of 17, he started a collection of bird sound recordings, holding vocalizations of several rare species.

Martin Vazquez-Edward ( 42 )

was born and raised in Cordoba, central Argentina, where from an early age he developed an interest in his natural surroundings and in particular the native forest, during stays in the countryside where he now resides. His passion for birds arose from the English side of his family, all fervent naturalists. He has worked alongside conservationist groups of his area in the declaration, defense and management of a local reserve. This has led him to become a forest firefighter, a �Wilderness First Rescuer� and an eco-tourism guide through courses given by the Administration of National Parks (APN) and the Province of Cordoba. He is also a masseur therapist. An enthusiastic wildlife photographer he is now working identifying the presence of endangered species in the area of the Sierras Chicas of Cordoba using trap cameras. He shares his knowledge and photography locally giving talks and walks for schools and at events. Martin has lived in England for several years and has a wide travelling experience in Argentina and neighbouring countries. A fluent English and Spanish speaker he is an attentive guide sensitive to the needs of the group he is travelling with.

James Lowen ( 53 )

is a British wildlife writer, photographer and guide. Living in Argentina for three years, he criss-crossed the country to see more than 800 bird species. James`s books include Antarctic wildlife: a visitor`s guide, Pantanal wildlife, 52 wildlife weekends: a year of British wildlife-watching breaks and the forthcoming A summer of British wildlife: 100 great days out. Now resident in Britain, James writes regularly for magazines including BBC Wildlife and Bird Watching. Smitten with the birds of South and Central America, James edited the magazine Neotropical Birding from 2006-2010. James`s photographs have been published in more than 50 books and numerous magazines; his images are represented by the agency FLPA. An accomplished lecturer, James enthralls audiences with his talks at the British Birdwatching Fair each year. See http://jameslowen.com for more.

Luciano Bernacchi ( 52 )

travelled and lived in different places as a boy and teenager, including four years in London. His interest in nature and birds started at the early age of 13, when he joined the Asociación Ornitológica del Plata, (Aves Argentina/Birdlife). Birding took him and fellow birder friends to many corners of Argentina, neighboring countries and other continents. He later developed a strong interest in mountaineering and became a certified mountain guide, climbing instructor and ski patroller, as well as an expert on glaciers. For the past 20 years he has been leading expeditions, groups of birders, trekkers, mountaineers, and nature lovers to many destinations, in particular throughout the steppes, glaciers, forests, coasts and peaks of Patagonia. He is now based in the town of El Calafate (Argentine Patagonia) near Los Glaciares National Park, and he can usually found around Patagonia or Antarctica.

Santiago Imberti ( 52 )

was born and raised in southern Patagonia, where the wilderness was only a short step from his front door. A long lasting love for nature was a logical consequence of the years he lived there. He obtained a degree in tourism and ornithology, which allowed him to combine his love for nature and the outdoors with his work as a fly fishing, birdwatching and mountain guide. Avid naturalist, he is keen in spending as much time as possible in nature and is always looking for new places to visit and ways to transmit his love and interest in the small things to others. He has recently published the inventory of the birds of Los Glaciares National Park, and is conducting a continued study of the recently re-discovered Austral Rail. Santiago is a photographer and writes about the many places he visits, and his experiences as a guide. His articles and stories have been published in scientific journals and popular travel magazines.

Diego Gallegos ( 63 )

In 1973, when Diego was 12, W. H. Hudson´s delightful “Far Away and Long Ago” fell into his hands. The birds, the nature and the people in those pristine pampas of 1850 were depicted so vividly that he was forever hooked. Time passed, and in 1984, he got his university degree in Biology in the University of Buenos Aires. He worked many years as the manager of the Aves Argentinas (BirdLife Argentina) and at the same time, was unexpectedly called to guide his first group of birdwatchers. Since then, he led many other groups from abroad. In 2010 he created the Buenos Aires Bird Club with a friend, to promote birding among local birders. Married to a biology teacher, they live with four kids in San Isidro, a northern suburb of Buenos Aires. As a family, they spend much of spare time in the countryside taking every opportunity to travel around Argentina and neighboring countries.

Emilio White ( 47 )

Emilio has been a naturalist from his very early years. At the age of 21 he began working as a field assistant in a project on the ecology of night monkeys in the Argentine Chaco . The National Parks Administration hired him two years later to continue with research on the conservation of yellow anacondas and Bare-faced Curassows, surveying the woodlands and gallery forests of the Chaco . Then he started to work as a field assistant and fixer for wildlife film productions being hired by the BBC, Tigress Productions, and Granada TV/PBS, in Argentina and Latin America. During this time he was lucky enough to be working with people like Sir David Attenborough, filming night monkeys for “The Life of Mammals” series; and with Jeff Corwin, filming capuchins in Costa Rica. His general knowledge and his sense of humour make Emilio a really enjoyable company on natural history trips.

Ezequiel Núñez Bustos ( 50 )

is a field naturalist and entomology is his main interest. For over 15 years he has conducted research on Argentine butterflies, gathering an amazing mass of information. Besides having examined many reference collections of specimens, his sharp eye is capable of identifying many of the 1300 diurnal species that inhabit in Argentina. He is also fond of moths and other insects as well as their food plants. He has conducted many surveys, working for the National Park Administration, Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina (WWF partner), and the Administration of Natural Reserves of Buenos Aires province . He serves as a scientific advisor for the Natureviewing Foundation and is currently working on a field guide to the butterflies of Iguazú, with the cooperation of Neotropical Butterflies. Since 1996 he dictates courses and talks about butterflies for general public, which added to his formation as a technician in tourism and environmental interpreter guide, has him as one of the best guides in the country.

Marcelo de Cruz ( 59 )

started his career as a naturalist and birdwatcher at the age of 22. After completing his studies of tourism in Buenos Aires, he moved to Tierra del Fuego in 1991. Since then he has explored every corner of this island in search of its unique wildlife, and has developed a special ability to find all bird, including the least common species. He is also familiar with virtually all the flora and fauna of the Magellanic forests, steppes, high mountains and seashores in Tierra del Fuego, and cooperates with the National Parks Administration in developing tourism as a sustainable option for conservation. He lives in Ushuaia with his wife, Paula, and his daughter, María Catalina.

Martina Mc Namara ( 46 )

lived all her life in Patagonia. Her passion for nature and adventure has taken her to pursue several outdoor activities since she was a child. Camping, flyfishing, climbing and trekking were the way to be in contact with the wildlife and to begin to understand its magic. She has a degree as an Engineer in Natural Resources and continued to focus on conservation projects. Nowadays, she is part of a research project on the Rio Gallegos Estuary in which she is developing an education program for the local people. Recently, she completed a volunteer season at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, USA. As a highly motivated person with knowledge on wildlife, specially on birds, and her strong interest on environmental and sustainable education, she brings to the company her field experience gained from working in collaboration with environmental and government institutions. She lectures on nature in schools and public institutions, and makes field surveys on environmental impact studies.

Hector Slongo ( 39 )

was born in northern Italy and early on moved to Córdoba province, Argentina, where he currently lives. He was raised in the countryside, directly in contact with the natural world and from an early age developed a great passion for nature. His specific interest in birds started when he was eight and nowadays he is a keen birder and an avid sound recordist. He has a vast experience throughout most of Argentina and Bolivia, and has been also birding in Brazil, Britain and of course, Italy. Héctor is fluent in Spanish, English and Italian. His birding skills and friendly personality make of him a great guide and a perfect travel companion.

Germán D. PugnaIi ( 56 )

was born in Buenos Aires, where he entered the world of nature watching in 1985 thanks to Costanera Sur Nature Reserve and Aves Argentinas / BirdLife International. While completing his studies for an BC in Biology, he worked as organiser of the association`s field trips. As a biologist, he took part of field studies on penguins, waterfowl, shorebirds and blackbirds, publishing several articles in scientific journals and birding magazines. At the age of 24, he started leading international birding and wildlife watching groups professionally, which took him to every corner in the country, many countries in Latin America and Africa. Nowadays he lives in Japan, travelling often to South America.

Hernán Rodríguez Goñi ( 51 )

started his career as a naturalist joining the Asociación Ornitológica del Plata (Aves Argentinas / BirdLife International partner) at the age of 13. Since 1986 he worked as a birding guide and tour leader of this field trips, eventualy becaming its organizer for a period that lasted over 14 years. Hernan visited every corner of Argentina, most countries of South America, and a big part of Africa, India, Australia and South-East Asia. He dictates lectures on several courses of eco-tourism for training local guides as naturalists. He is a professional wildlife photographer, and his work has been published in several local and international magazines. His photographic art is now illustrating most of our travel catalogue and this web site. Hernán is always seeking new areas and hotspots to visit and show around to those who share his passion.

James Lowen ( 53 )

is a British wildlife writer, photographer and guide. Living in Argentina for three years, he criss-crossed the country to see more than 800 bird species. James`s books include Antarctic wildlife: a visitor`s guide, Pantanal wildlife, 52 wildlife weekends: a year of British wildlife-watching breaks and the forthcoming A summer of British wildlife: 100 great days out. Now resident in Britain, James writes regularly for magazines including BBC Wildlife and Bird Watching. Smitten with the birds of South and Central America, James edited the magazine Neotropical Birding from 2006-2010. James`s photographs have been published in more than 50 books and numerous magazines; his images are represented by the agency FLPA. An accomplished lecturer, James enthralls audiences with his talks at the British Birdwatching Fair each year. See http://jameslowen.com for more.