Eastern Ontario Birding

We have gone on many birding tours with Jon. It has been a wonderful experience all around. Jon is very knowledgable , friendly and a lot of fun to go birding with. Jon has an extremely deep knowledge of birds and wildlife and nature in general and he is always ready and enthusiastic to impart his vast knowledge. The trips are well organized and exciting. For instance on one occasion Jon lead us to a place with 55 short eared owls and so on. I highly recommend his tours they are a lifer for me.

An experienced birder recommended Jon Ruddy, birding guide, and thankfully he did! As a very new birder, not only has Jon helped me gain over 12 new "life" birds, he has patiently educated me on the various birds we have observed. His open and welcoming demeanour makes for a non-intimidating, enjoyable excursion. Further, more experienced birders join his guided tours because of his exceptional knowledge and experiences. This is a bonus for new birders! His high level of planning, organizational and logistics skills makes for an enjoyable outing for people of all ages and skills. If you take a guided tour with Jon, not only will you be hooked on birding, you will want to join him again and again for new adventures!

Jon - BIRDING-GUIDE EXTRAORDINAIRE!

His attention to detail, sensitivity to his environment, friendly, encouraging, and humble demeanour, make him the optimal choice for those seeking an educational yet fun birding tour!

Highly recommended if you are just starting out (as was the case for me) or have been birding for years!

* Picture - Great Blue Heron sighted by Jon whom guided me in snapping the perfect shot :)

Birding with Jon Ruddy is always an amazing experience, whether the birds are abundant and active or few and far between. Jon is a very patient and considerate guide and caters to every level of birder. He has an encyclopedic memory when it comes to all things birds and he willingly shares this vast knowledge with his clients. His ability to identify a bird from a quick glance or single note is uncanny. In my opinion you will find no better birding guide than Jon Ruddy.

Jon’s field skills are truly impressive. His ability to hear, locate, ID and relay seemingly boundless detail about each species is supernatural, and his enjoyment and enthusiasm shines through. He is professional, generous and kind, supportive of beginners and advanced birders alike.

As a guide, Jon is masterful at reading the dynamic of the group and keeps a keen eye on the individual needs of each participant. He is able to tailor his pace and content to the experience and interest level of the group as a whole, whether it be getting all the "ticks" or an in-depth discussion of behavioural ecology of the subject. He is approachable and friendly on every subject, and ensures that each participant enjoys the sighting or subject. Jon will not only find a bird, but will volunteer incredible amounts of information, enabling participants to learn, retain and apply new knowledge to their own "patch". He doesn't simply point at a bird and keep moving, he is a pro at providing a true study - ID, behaviour, life history, habitat, etc.

He is kind and considerate, ensuring that the physical needs of the group are met, if a washroom or snack break is required, or if anyone is too cold/hot or needs a break. There is often a wide age range on each tour, and he always considers the activity level vs physical capabilities. He is consistently clear about upcoming terrain or risks and communicates this effectively to ensure everyone understands.

An excellent tour awaits you! Don’t hesitate to have Eastern Ontario Birding guide you to the very best birding!