Eric Hynes has been fascinated by birds and passionate about birding since he first heard the ghostly wailing of a Common Loon at summer camp in Maine more than 30 years ago. Upon completion of his B.S. at the University of Vermont, where he studied environmental studies and wildlife biology, Eric began a serious endeavor as a bird hobo that lasted more than a decade. His travels ranged across the U.S. with a number of trips to Central America as well. During this quest, Eric did everything from monitoring breeding raptors in the Snake River Canyon, to guiding for two summers in Alaska on St. Paul Island in the Pribilofs, to ground squirrel rustling in Montana, to owl banding and hawk counting in Pennsylvania.
Getting married to Christine helped settle Eric into a fulltime position at Maine Audubon but not until after a birding trip to Panama cleverly disguised as their honeymoon. As the staff naturalist and adult education coordinator, Eric taught numerous bird identification workshops and led field trips locally and abroad for Maine Audubon. His positive energy and infectious enthusiasm for all things wild has drawn many a convert to birding and conservation. Eric served several terms on the Maine Bird Records Committee.
Eric and his family now live in Telluride, Colorado where he focuses on tracking down Gunnison Sage-Grouse and rosy-finches as a scout in-residence for the Colorado Grouse tour.
Scroll down to see Eric's current schedule of tours.
Have you checked out our new OutBirding with FieldGuides video series? It features episodes covering not just guided tours of great birds and habitats but also interviews with fascinating bird-folks, field techniques, tools of the trade, field recipes, and much more. This is a long-term venture that will share much of what our guides love about birds and birding, both their own experiences and their tips for enjoyable, enriching field time. Why not subscribe for a modest annual or monthly fee?
Client comment
"The tour couldn't have been better. Humpback Whales breaching, gannets plunging into the ocean, Monhegan Island and the warblers...the Maine coastline and small towns along the way. In the rare event that we run out of birds, guide Eric Hynes talks natural history and greatly enriches the experience. Your tour managers and office staff are first rate." J.P., MAINE IN FALL
Photos by Eric
You might also enjoy seeing more of Eric's photos online:
Eric's Flickr photo site
Eric's Upcoming Tours
Oct 6-16, 2023 ($3850) with Eric Hynes & Jorge Montejo-Diaz
Tour Limit: 10
The amazing spectacle of huge numbers of migrating raptors combined with some highland birding and cultural highlights.
Dec 28, 2023 - Jan 6, 2024 ($5350) with Eric Hynes
Tour Limit: 10
Wonderful introductory birding tour to South America's riches, including bellbirds, toucans, manakins, and motmots.
Mar 2-9, 2024 ($3975) with Eric Hynes & local guide
Tour Limit: 8
A quick adventure in search of Jamaica's 28 endemics and numerous regional specialties while based at Mockingbird Hill.
Apr 12-23, 2024 (Fee TBD / 2023=$4325) with Eric Hynes & Micah Riegner
Tour Limit: 14
An 11-day tour to seek out the state's prairie-chicken and grouse species.
May 12-25, 2024 (Fee TBD / 2023=$7225) with Eric Hynes & local guide
Tour Limit: 11
A superb itinerary from the capital to the Arctic Circle, following the flow of spring migration in search of displaying grouse, nesting owls, lekking Ruffs, and special mammals, including Wolverines.
Jun 7-16, 2024 (Fee TBD / 2023=$6150) with Eric Hynes & Cory Gregory
Tour Limit: 12
Seabird colonies, endemic landbirds, spectacular scenery, and high-latitude natural history.
Sep 8-17, 2024 (Fee TBD / 2023=$5025) with Eric Hynes
Tour Limit: 7
A September itinerary at a beautiful season in Maine for coastal migrants and pelagic birds, with a good chance for skuas.