Andrew Griswold, Director of EcoTravel
35 Pratt Street, Suite 201
Essex 06426
860-767-0660
Fax: 860-767-9988
E-Mail Us Anytime!

Copyright 2006 All Rights Reserved to Connecticut Audubon Society

The EcoTravel Team

Miley Bull

Dave Tripp                                            

                                                                                      Jay Hand

Andrew Griswold is the Director of EcoTravel for Connecticut Audubon Society and the original concept creator and scientific consultant for a cable television series on bird watching called All Bird TV that aired on Discovery’s Animal Planet. Andy graduated as an honor student in biology from Hartwick College, where he spent two winters working at their biological research station in the Bahamas studying avian ecology. He is the original concept creator of the award winning Connecticut River Eagle Festival (the largest birding festival in the Americas) hosted each year in the town of Essex, Connecticut. He leads trips for Connecticut Audubon to Churchill (Manitoba), Texas, Arizona, South Florida, Nova Scotia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Cuba, Minnesota, North Dakota and more. Andy lives in Essex, Connecticut with Marilou, his wife, and Sam, his young son. He is known for his attention to traveler’s needs, fine birding skills, and infectious sense of humor.

Priscilla Wood is CAS EcoTravel Sales & Marketing Manager who comes to us from around the corner at the Connecticut River Museum. While at the Museum she had the opportunity to explore the beauty of nature and wildlife of the lower river valley.  As the museum’s Business Manager Priscilla also spent seven years behind the scenes of the Eagle Festival, working in cooperation with CAS, creating museum programs and facilitating numerous details as the “host site” of the Eagle Festival. Priscilla attended the University of Massachusetts and spent over 20 years as a Special Education Behavioral Consultant before changing careers. Priscilla will be managing the day trip portion of EcoTravel and also covering the sales and marketing aspect of Eco Travel programs. Priscilla lives with Terry her husband and Melaney her daughter in Old Saybrook.

Charles Avenengo is our offshore guy. He first lead a pelagic trip for Connecticut Audubon EcoTravel in 1992. Since then, in addition to the many inshore and offshore trips with EcoTravel, Charles has been to Italy and Brazil with us. Since sailing from his homeport of Newport, Rhode Island in 1982, he has logged 150,000-global miles in his oceanic and land wanderings in his pursuit of seeing wildlife. This quest has found him on all three major oceans, four continents, and over 40-countries and island groups. He has lived for extensive periods in Europe, Micronesia, Asia, Central America, and the Caribbean. As a wildlife guide, Charles has lead over 750 trips on various nature related marine voyages in southern New England and the Caribbean. These trips have focused on marine mammals, fish, and pelagic birds. Blessed with an uncanny sense of good timing and a nose for sniffing out an adventure from even the mundane, passengers have always enjoyed his thoughtful insights and cheery humor. Charles currently lives in Newport, Rhode Island with his 9-year old son Hugo.

Joe Bear has been actively birding for over 20 years. A University of Florida graduate, and now Senior VP of Treasury at RBS Greenwich Capital, he entered into his passion for birds by signing up for as many CT Audubon trips as his weekends would allow. After not too long, his abilities and wanting to give back to the birding community had him leading trips for CT Audubon to Cape May and the Florida Everglades. A 3 year overseas work assignment in London interrupted this, but led Joe into a whole new world of birds. With a world list now exceeding 2,200 species, he has traveled extensively throughout Europe, Asia, and Africa and takes great pleasure in helping people find and identify our avian friends; his enthusiastic and friendly personality compliment his overall leadership abilities. His upcoming trips for CT Audubon include Block Island, Monhegan Island, Dominican Republic, and Scotland. Joe believes that each time we pick up our bins - both beginners and experts alike - we learn something new about birds. He now resides in Wilton, CT with Barbara, his wife, and twins Cameron and Jemma.

Ray Belding has been birding for seriously for nearly 40 years. His serious birding began when he took a course in ornithology at the U. of New Hampshire. A lazy student, it proved to be the only “A” during his undergraduate studies. After receiving a Master of Social Work from Florida State University in 1968, Ray, his Spanish teacher wife, Susan, and son, Scott, moved to Popayan, Colombia, where Susan could fine-tune her Spanish speaking ability and their daughter, Alison, would be born. Ray fell in love with tropical birding where teaching English at the University of Cauca, gave him ample time to roam the Andes in search of life birds. On one occasion, while birding Puracé National Park, he encountered a Crescent-faced Antpitta. It turned out to be the first time it had ever been seen in Colombia and the first time seen in forty years. Ray has a footnote in “A Field Guide to the Birds of Colombia.” During a 29-year career as school social worker, Ray began leading tours during his vacation time and summers. Since 1976, he has led multiple tours to Costa Rica , Belize, Guatemala, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, Jamaica, Arizona, and Texas. In addition, he has birded in Bolivia, Guyana, Argentina, Brazil, Australia, Africa, Spain, Great Britain, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Most recently, Ray spent a month birding in India and Nepal.

Nick Bonomo has been birding New England since the age of 16. He recently graduated from Stonehill College with a degree in Biology in May of 2006. In autumn 2007, he will be attending Yale University where he will pursue a career as a Physician Assistant. Despite being a full-time student, Nick has escaped to bird such locations as Nova Scotia, Florida, Texas, Costa Rica, eastern Australia, and New Zealand. He currently lives in Orange, Connecticut and can often be found birding the New Haven County coast in his spare time. His interest in bird identification, status, and distribution makes him a skillful leader, and his youthful enthusiasm is matched by few.

Milan Bull is Senior Director of Research and Science for Connecticut Audubon  Society and is a long-time expedition leader for Connecticut Audubon including destinations throughout the Americas, Australia, Antarctica, and Africa. Miley has acquired a strong following that comment frequently about his wide ranging knowledge of natural history and birds. You will appreciate his enthusiastic willingness to share that knowledge and his unequalled passion for the natural world. His leadership and sense of humor will add immeasurably to your experience. Miley has a BS degree in Wildlife Management from the University of Connecticut and a MS degree in biology from the University of Bridgeport. He currently is a member of the Long Island Sound Advisory Committee, the Citizens Advisory Council to Connecticut's Department of Environmental Protection and was a founding director of the Connecticut Ornithological Association. He has also published numerous articles and speaks statewide on topics relating to ornithology and the environment. Milan and his wife, Cathy, reside with their two children in Fairfield. 

Buzz Devine has studied the birds of Connecticut for the past 20 years. He is a member of the Connecticut Ornithological Association's Board of Directors, the Avian Records Committee of Connecticut, and Connecticut's Endangered Species Advisory Committee for Birds. Buzz has published numerous scientific articles related to bird behavior and ecology and is the co-author of the bird finding guide titled Connecticut Birding Guide. He works for the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection in the Hazardous Waste Enforcement Section. His unfailing good humor and enthusiasm will make any trip with him a pleasure.

Michael DiGiorgio is a nationally recognized artist who is currently living in Madison, CT. Mike's painting and drawings have appeared in a variety of nature books and journals, such as: Breeding Bird Atlas of CT, Master's Guide to Birding, Audubon Field Guide to Birds/ Eastern and Western Region, Bird Watcher's Digest, Sanctuary (Massachusetts Audubon Magazine), Audubon Magazine, and Audubon Nature Yearbook. On the advice of his friend and mentor, Don Eckelberry, Mike has been painting and sketching birds from life from early on in his career. He has traveled throughout the West Indies, and South America, sketching and painting bird and plant life. His numerous trips out west have provided Mike with the opportunity to record a full range of American birdlife. In addition to painting, Mike is actively involved in teaching nature painting and art courses at Wesleyan University. Mike helped create a illustration degree program for Middlesex Technical Community College in Middletown, CT. 

Ken Elkins is working with several schools and about 50 teachers across the state coordinating Connecticut Audubon Society’s  participation in SNAP, a partnership program with urban schools. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Biology and Environmental Interpretation from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. He spent two and a half years as a naturalist at Westmoor Park in West Hartford and worked as an educator on Connecticut Audubon Society’s Rolling Nature Center. Ken is now Director of Education for CAS and heads their World Series of Birding Team. 

Frank Gallo joined the New Canaan Nature Center as the Director of Public Programs/ Naturalist in 1990 and has taught school and public programs and lead eco-tours for much of his tenure. In 2000, he became the Center's Director of Eco-Travel and Field Studies. For seven years prior to working for NCNC he was a Ranger/Naturalist with the New Haven Parks Department. He was also a resident naturalist and field researcher at the Tambopata Nature Reserve in Peru. In June 2005, Frank became the Director of Coastal Education for the Connecticut Audubon Society and runs their Milford Point Sanctuary. A superb birder, he has led and participated in birding expeditions throughout North America and other parts of the world. Since 1993, Frank's tour leading has taken him as far as New Zealand and South Africa, Peru, Venezuela, Costa Rica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Europe, including two visits to Spain. He is currently a member of the Avian Rare Records Committee of CT, is federally licensed as a master bird bander, and is a past President of the New Haven Bird Club. Frank holds a bachelor's degree in Biology with a specialization in Ornithology from Southern Connecticut State College, is the author of two children's books, Bird Calls and Night Sounds, and is currently working on a bird finding guide to CT and Rhode Island for Pequot Press. Frank is a published freelance photographer and lecturer. In 2003, he received the CT Outdoor Environmental Education Association's Outdoor Environmental Educator of the Year Award. Frank is also a certified Wilderness First Responder and flat-water canoe instructor. 

Carlos "Charlie" Gomez started his birding career working with Gary Stiles, the author of Birds of Costa Rica. He has guided birding and other natural history groups for Costa Rica Expeditions for 19 years. Before that, he was Station Manager at the Organization for Tropical Studies' La Selva Biological Station. When he's not guiding, Charlie works in his garden, making it a haven for birds, and relaxes with his family. He and his wife, Vicky, have three children: Laura (20), Sergio (18) and Silvia (15). "Birding is my number one love – after my family of course. Guiding lets me share my ideas about conservation with other people. Sometimes I think I am a frustrated professor, but my job as a guide is much better than sitting behind a desk, and it’s a great way to meet people and share my knowledge with them." An excellent naturalist and avid birder with a B.S. in biology from the University of Costa Rica, Charlie's tireless enthusiasm on the job makes him the most requested naturalist guide for Costa Rica Expeditions.

Jay Hand is a  veteran of the Connecticut Audubon Society travel program. He has led many tours, each one with rave reviews. Jay has led tours to Texas, Chincoteague, Block Island, Cape May, South Florida, East Africa, Costa Rica, and Arizona, to name just a few! A former Connecticut native, Jay now lives in Tucson, AZ where he has been the voice of the Southeast Arizona Rare Bird Alert. Jay is a graduate of Yale University with a degree in Geology. Jay is known for his competent birding skills, great ear, energy, and commitment to your having a memorable trip.

Judy Harper is a founder and has been Director of the Connecticut Audubon Society Center at Glastonbury since 1993. She supervises the teaching staff and the administration of this regional nature center as well as planning and running the Adult and Family Programs, coordinating and recruiting volunteers, overseeing all special events and fundraisers, and providing all publicity and marketing. Currently Connecticut Audubon Society Center at Glastonbury touches 20,000 people annually with its environmental education activities. Judy received the Environmental Administrator Award from the CT Outdoor Environmental Education Association. Judy joined the Glastonbury Inland Wetlands and Watercourses Agency and Conservation Commission in 1988 and has been Chairman since 1996. Judy serves on the Board of Directors of the American Public Information on the Environment and the Board of Directors of the Connecticut League of Conservation Voters. Judy has lived in Glastonbury all her adult life and has been an active volunteer throughout, serving on the Commission on Aging and the Board of Education.  She received the Governor’s Award for Drug Use Prevention, Glastonbury’s FOGY (Friends of Glastonbury Youth) Award for her volunteer work with the town’s children, and the Thank You Award from the Connecticut Valley Girl Scout Council for years of troop leadership and camp certification workshops.

Bob Kuchta has been involved with outdoor organizations most of his life, whether it be for work or play, including the American Public Gardens Association, Connecticut Horticulture Society, Connecticut Botanical Society and Madison and Guilford Land Trusts. Bob is Madison's Inland Wetland Officer and Tree Warden. He loves traveling, having visited over 500 botanical sites in the past 30 years, to some 30 states and 3 foreign countries. He particularly loves visiting gardens( wild and cultivated) and walking anywhere he is free to explore. Bob and his wife have camped in the wilds of Alaska and traveled by foot, ferry, airplane, canoe, motorhome, van and bicycle. As a landscape designer and ecologist/educator, Bob is always reading the story of the land and loves to share it with any type of audience, large or small. He has guided many Connecticut Audubon groups, over the past 5 years, mostly on daytrips to NY, RI, CT, MA, PA and NJ. With his horticulturist wife and two children, Bob lives within camera shot of an active osprey next on the Neck River in Madison, in a post and beam, solar home that he designed and built.

James Restivo, although only in his mid-twenties, his age belies his skill at bird identification. With travel to such exotic ports as Bangkok, Istanbul, Brazil, and Capetown under his belt, James is an experienced world birder. After graduating from the University of Connecticut with an environmental science degree, he spent a year working with Black-capped Vireos in central Texas and spent lots of time looking for rarities in the Rio Grande Valley. His experience includes bird-related work in Alaska and California. He has traveled throughout North America in search of birds. James is a past CT Audubon Society EcoTravel Assistant based in the Essex, CT office and still enjoys leading tours for CAS. 

Judy Richardson of Easton, CT has been bird watching most of her life, thanks to her Dad who was an avid outdoorsman. She has lived in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand with her husband, Dick and their two children. Judy has lead three trips to New Zealand for Connecticut Audubon EcoTravel. Judy has been Chairman of the board of governors of the CT Audubon Fairfield Region for many years. Judy is the master bander and manages the US Fish and Wildlife licensed bird banding station at CT Audubon Birdcraft Museum. She loves traveling to see birds, and has been to Borneo, Malaysia, Japan, Panama, and several countries in South America. Her favorite country is Costa Rica, where she has been visiting and leading trips since 1992. Two years ago, Judy opened a bird banding station in the San Vito area of Costa Rica, and is partnering with Point Reyes Bird Observatory, The Organization for Tropical Studies of Duke university, and the Ct Audubon Society. Judy and her partners are monitoring the neotropical migrant species of birds in fall and spring.

Luke Tiller, former CAS EcoTravel Assistant and originally from London England, has traveled extensively in Europe and North Africa and has been living in Connecticut for the last three years with his wife Toni. His passion for birds was re-ignited with his move and Luke attributes his rapid development as a birder to a slightly obsessive personality and the friendly support and encouragement of many Connecticut birders. One of the most enjoyable aspects of birding, in his opinion, is sharing the excitement of finding and seeing birds with other people. Luke is also passionate about finding those intriguing little pockets of wilderness that exist even within suburban sprawl.

Dave Tripp is one of Connecticut’s sharp, enthusiastic birders and has traveled the globe in search of avian discoveries. He has been a long-time trip leader for Connecticut Audubon Society and Litchfield Hills Audubon Society, leading tours to Cape May, Boston’s North Shore, and Trinidad. Currently, he is the Field Trips Chairman for the LHAS. He has participated in New Jersey’s World Series of Birding as a member of the CAS team, and is a lifetime member of the Connecticut Ornithological Association, serving as a member of their Avian Records Committee. Dave is employed as a firefighter and lives in Canton, CT with his wife and young son. Dave is known for his incredible birding skills and energy, as well as his kind spirit and friendliness.