Why Hire Me?
Quite simply, I live here, I work here, I intend to stay here and I know the birds and where to find them.
I’m not looking to grow and I have no international aspirations. This is my job, not a side business.
Because there’s literally a mob of quality tour guides and big name companies here in the desert
southwest to help you find birds, you’re likely looking for a particular reason to hire me, some sort of
distinction to set me apart from the others.
Look, I could expend GB of bandwidth telling you about my birding experience and why you should
hire me. I doubt this will help your decision. I could also provide references, but like most resumes,
people tend to list only those who would provide positive testimony. Again, I doubt this would help
you. Bragging about personal accomplishments or what other people say about me isn't my style.
The reality of service-orientated ventures is that only you can be the judge of whether or not your
money was well spent and the experience was positive or negative. Unfortunately, that can’t happen
until after your trip is over. Lots of variables are at play when deciding whether or not a birding
experience is a lifetime memory or a mistake to be forgotten. Time of year, availability of birds, guide
skills, rarities, cost, timing, air travel, your health, luck, fate, karma and particularly weather, among
other things, all add to or subtract from your experience.
Don’t let the name fool you! Sometimes there are deals to be had in life!
My commitment to you is to provide the highest quality experience at the lowest possible price.
Why Are My Rates So Low?
Because I love to go birding and help people find birds and because this “job” isn’t completely
necessary to put food on the table, I can afford to pass the savings on to you.
In fact, my travel related rate components are designed to barely cover my own expenses for running
this business, not to make money. If you think about a vehicle's purchase price, gasoline, oil
changes, belts, hoses, tires, batteries, normal repairs, unexpected repairs and extraordinary wear
and tear from Arizona's heat and dusty roads, you begin to realize that owning, operating and
maintaining transportation is expensive business here.
I’m not in the field to undercut the competition. There are lots of trip leaders and birding companies
out there that deserve the rates they are charging. My rates are designed to attract all segments of
the birding population including one heretofore largely un-addressed in todays market; those on fixed
or limited incomes and anyone looking for a bargain. I know from personal experience that lots of
people are on tight budgets. I'm trying to help where I can.
This is what I've always wanted to do for a living. Thanks to my twenty-five (25) years of professional
employment (and counting), my wife's workplace achievements and support and a most unlikely set
of recent events, I now have the opportunity to pursue this dream.
My financial goals for this business are modest. I hope to provide the highest quality experience for
the rates charged, to cover all travel-related expenses, pay for my son's before and after school
programs and to cache some funds for his future college education. Everything else is gravy, and to
the extent I can, I’ll use any profits to hold down future rates.
Likewise, fame is not a goal of mine. I’m not looking to set any daily or annual records in the state of
Arizona. You won’t find my name in any publication beside a species or state or annual total. My
aspirations are small and local. I’m not training for a larger position or biding my time until a “real” job
comes along.
Children and Pets
My philosophy here is, hey, they’re yours, do as you please! If you want to bring your children along,
they are at the same rate as adults and some will undoubtedly enjoy the experience. Others may not,
but I leave it up to you to decide.
Likewise, if you have a dog and it’s necessary to bring your pet, it’s up to you. Remember that there
are lots of birding areas that ban pets and in all instances where a leash is required, I will insist that
one be used.
In either case, please be aware that children and pets may impact your birding success in more ways
than either of us can predict!
Smokers
I have no philosophy here except to assert that all no smoking areas in Arizona be adhered to. There
will be no smoking permitted in any of my vehicles if we use them.
Safety
I am committed to providing the safest experience in the field possible. I drive the speed limit and
have never been “at fault” in a car accident. I keep a keen eye on the weather and will occasionally
change the in-day plan due to inclement weather, particularly if it poses a danger (fire, hail, high
winds, dust, flash floods and lightning come to mind).
Using Recordings to Attract Birds
I don't like to use recordings to attract birds, period. If I can't find the birds through sight or sound, I will
occasionally mimic their call or song, or “pish”, if it helps. The only birds I will use MP3's on are an
occasional owl or night bird that I can't mimic.
In general, you won't see me use a tape, CD or MP3 recording to attract a bird. And on the rare
occasion when I do, you'll find I'll use it sparingly at best!
Memberships
I believe it is important to financially support the organizations that provide birders with valuable lands,
information and other resources in pursuit of this hobby.
I am currently a member of the Tucson Audubon Society, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, The
Nature Conservancy, Arizona Field Ornithologists and the American Birding Association.
E¢onomy Birding Servi¢es, Inc., is proud to be a member of the Tucson Audubon Society's Birds and
Business Alliance Program.
Quite simply, I live here, I work here, I intend to stay here and I know the birds and where to find them.
I’m not looking to grow and I have no international aspirations. This is my job, not a side business.
Because there’s literally a mob of quality tour guides and big name companies here in the desert
southwest to help you find birds, you’re likely looking for a particular reason to hire me, some sort of
distinction to set me apart from the others.
Look, I could expend GB of bandwidth telling you about my birding experience and why you should
hire me. I doubt this will help your decision. I could also provide references, but like most resumes,
people tend to list only those who would provide positive testimony. Again, I doubt this would help
you. Bragging about personal accomplishments or what other people say about me isn't my style.
The reality of service-orientated ventures is that only you can be the judge of whether or not your
money was well spent and the experience was positive or negative. Unfortunately, that can’t happen
until after your trip is over. Lots of variables are at play when deciding whether or not a birding
experience is a lifetime memory or a mistake to be forgotten. Time of year, availability of birds, guide
skills, rarities, cost, timing, air travel, your health, luck, fate, karma and particularly weather, among
other things, all add to or subtract from your experience.
Don’t let the name fool you! Sometimes there are deals to be had in life!
My commitment to you is to provide the highest quality experience at the lowest possible price.
Why Are My Rates So Low?
Because I love to go birding and help people find birds and because this “job” isn’t completely
necessary to put food on the table, I can afford to pass the savings on to you.
In fact, my travel related rate components are designed to barely cover my own expenses for running
this business, not to make money. If you think about a vehicle's purchase price, gasoline, oil
changes, belts, hoses, tires, batteries, normal repairs, unexpected repairs and extraordinary wear
and tear from Arizona's heat and dusty roads, you begin to realize that owning, operating and
maintaining transportation is expensive business here.
I’m not in the field to undercut the competition. There are lots of trip leaders and birding companies
out there that deserve the rates they are charging. My rates are designed to attract all segments of
the birding population including one heretofore largely un-addressed in todays market; those on fixed
or limited incomes and anyone looking for a bargain. I know from personal experience that lots of
people are on tight budgets. I'm trying to help where I can.
This is what I've always wanted to do for a living. Thanks to my twenty-five (25) years of professional
employment (and counting), my wife's workplace achievements and support and a most unlikely set
of recent events, I now have the opportunity to pursue this dream.
My financial goals for this business are modest. I hope to provide the highest quality experience for
the rates charged, to cover all travel-related expenses, pay for my son's before and after school
programs and to cache some funds for his future college education. Everything else is gravy, and to
the extent I can, I’ll use any profits to hold down future rates.
Likewise, fame is not a goal of mine. I’m not looking to set any daily or annual records in the state of
Arizona. You won’t find my name in any publication beside a species or state or annual total. My
aspirations are small and local. I’m not training for a larger position or biding my time until a “real” job
comes along.
Children and Pets
My philosophy here is, hey, they’re yours, do as you please! If you want to bring your children along,
they are at the same rate as adults and some will undoubtedly enjoy the experience. Others may not,
but I leave it up to you to decide.
Likewise, if you have a dog and it’s necessary to bring your pet, it’s up to you. Remember that there
are lots of birding areas that ban pets and in all instances where a leash is required, I will insist that
one be used.
In either case, please be aware that children and pets may impact your birding success in more ways
than either of us can predict!
Smokers
I have no philosophy here except to assert that all no smoking areas in Arizona be adhered to. There
will be no smoking permitted in any of my vehicles if we use them.
Safety
I am committed to providing the safest experience in the field possible. I drive the speed limit and
have never been “at fault” in a car accident. I keep a keen eye on the weather and will occasionally
change the in-day plan due to inclement weather, particularly if it poses a danger (fire, hail, high
winds, dust, flash floods and lightning come to mind).
Using Recordings to Attract Birds
I don't like to use recordings to attract birds, period. If I can't find the birds through sight or sound, I will
occasionally mimic their call or song, or “pish”, if it helps. The only birds I will use MP3's on are an
occasional owl or night bird that I can't mimic.
In general, you won't see me use a tape, CD or MP3 recording to attract a bird. And on the rare
occasion when I do, you'll find I'll use it sparingly at best!
Memberships
I believe it is important to financially support the organizations that provide birders with valuable lands,
information and other resources in pursuit of this hobby.
I am currently a member of the Tucson Audubon Society, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, The
Nature Conservancy, Arizona Field Ornithologists and the American Birding Association.
E¢onomy Birding Servi¢es, Inc., is proud to be a member of the Tucson Audubon Society's Birds and
Business Alliance Program.
| Lawrence's Goldfinch |
| Lark Bunting |
| California Poppies |
| Antelope Squirrel |
| Northern Parula |
| San Xavier del Bac |
| Anna's Hummingbird |
| Snow on Prickly Pear |
Economy Birding Services, Inc.
| Philosophy |
"Quality Birding With Your Budget in Mind"
