Ornifolks- the First Decade

Since Mike first posted a request in "Winging It" for international budget birders, our club has grown to become a full fledged anarchy. Beginning as 'Avian Adventures' (a moniker that was usurped in 1996 by a later upstart), Ornifolks has kept afloat on a shoestring budget and a core group of loyal friends. Our trips have become attractive to many birders, who are otherwise unwilling to bird internationally due to the high prices charged by professional companies.

We have managed to keep expenses down by camping, staying in budget hotels and generally avoiding the gourmet meals and "mint on the pillow" scene of some tour groups. Our trips have established many friendships amongst our members, and this, in our opinion, is why our participants prefer to repeat an Ornifolks experience rather than engage a more organized 'pro' tour.

Ornifolks began with the philosophy that our trips would be self-guided, but we soon found that the experience could be greatly enhanced by enlisting the services of knowledgeable international and local birders. In the international arena, we quickly gained some British friends. Paul Salaman, Guy Kirwan, Chris Bradshaw, Guy Eldridge and Rodney Martins eagerly volunteered their experience in Colombia, SE Brazil, Morocco, Africa and Sichuan, respectively.

We have always hoped that members would step forth to organize and lead trips, and  David Russell, Patrick Cardwell, Norm Erthal, Chris Hines, Todd Mark, Dennis Rogers, Larry Rubey, Barry Walker, Ray Ziarno and others have met and exceeded all our expectations. We've made some great connections in Argentina, including Juan Mazar Barnett, Santiago Imberti, Mark Pearman, German Pugnali, and Hernán Casañas.

Ornifolks have birded Russia, China, Turkey, Morocco, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, India, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Madagascar, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela, Ecuador and the Galápagos, Colombia, Peru, Panama, Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatamala, Belize, Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, the Lesser Antilles, and several other sites.

One of the high points of the decade was the big month in Colombia, led by Paul Salaman, when our group totaled 1,026 species, thus raising over $40,000 for BirdLife International.

Ken Cole, Travis MacClendon, Todd Mark, Guy Kirwan, and Louise Augustine  have always been available for special assignments.  Elwonger has edited 24 newsletters and numerous trip reports, field checklists, and tapes, which we have made available to anyone upon request. He has also developed the website, which is scoring several hits a day and is cultivating greater interest in the birding community.

How will Ornifolks evolve over the next decade?  Clearly, the advent of e-mail and the worldwide web will help us minimize the logistical hurdles of organizing a trip and attracting enough participants to make trips go whenever and wherever our members desire.