Colorado Birding Adventures focuses on providing a comfortable and enjoyable birding experience for birders of any level. Colorado’s scenery AND bird life are equally spectacular and our friendly, relaxed, and knowledgeable approach to field trips will make your birding adventure productive and memorable. We pride ourselves on our commitment to professionalism, attention to detail, and prompt communications.
Joel Such is the owner and principal guide of Colorado Birding Adventures. Joel grew up in the ponderosa clad foothills above Lyons, CO where his intense passion for the avian world was sparked at a young age. Ever since, Joel has pursued birds with unwavering devotion and has dedicated his life to studying, protecting, and documenting the natural world. With both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in conservation biology, Joel’s commitment to conservation extends to community-based, multicultural projects aimed at garnering support for wildlife and their habitats. For the past seven years, Joel has predominantly lived in Colombia’s Western Andes where he is currently engaged in protecting and reforesting critical cloud forest habitat, documenting the region’s cryptic wildlife with his camera, and leading nature tours through WildVida Expeditions.
Carl Bendorf is the founder of Colorado Birding Adventures. Carl is an experienced birding guide, past president of the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union, former board member for the American Birding Association and is now serving as the ABA’s Director of Development. He has served as a guide for Birdwatcher’s Digest and the Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival. In 2011, Carl founded Iowa Young Birders and served as Executive Director until 2015 and remains a member of the board. Carl shared his passion for encouraging new birders in Iowa Young Birders: Story of a Startup, published by the American Birding Association. Carl and his wife Linda (Director of Blue Sage Writing) live in Longmont, CO.
Bill Schmoker is a leading digital photographer. Since 2001 he has built a collection of photos documenting over 650 species of North American birds. His photography is widely published and, as a published writer, Bill wrote a chapter for Good Birders Don’t Wear White He is also a past Colorado/Wyoming regional editor for North American Birds and has been a member of the Leica Birding Team. Bill is especially fond of his involvement with the ABA’s Institute for Field Ornithology and Young Birder Programs. Bill is a popular birding guide, speaker, and workshop instructor, and teaches middle school science in Boulder, Colorado.
What Our Clients Are Saying…
Carl is an excellent guide. We did a half day with him, starting in the early a.m. (6:30 a.m.) We started at Sheep Lakes and drove the Trail Road to Medicine Bow Curve and back. Carl knows all the great birding areas in RMNP and was able to help us see and photograph many life birds and mammals, such as Marmots and Least Chipmunks. The highlight of our trip was seeing two female Dusky Grouse that crossed Trail Ridge Rd. near the Endovalley turn off. Carl also knows when to instruct about birds and wildlife, and when to be quiet so his clients can just enjoy the beauty of Rocky Mt. National Park on their own. Highly recommended for local knowledge, ability to find birds and wildlife and personable and friendly guiding. Everything was perfect and as we expected.
I loved spending those two days with Carl, especially that very special moment between him, myself, and a Northern Pygmy Owl, which was my highest target bird on my list for the trip. The time with Carl solidified a birding philosophy of mine, that it’s not “just” about the birds, it’s also about the birding friendships developed along the way.
If you’re looking for experienced, expert, and personal birding…I HIGHLY RECOMMEND… Carl Bendorf and Colorado Birding Adventures.”
Some highlights include superb photos of Black-billed Magpie, Steller’s Jay, Canada Jay, Brown-capped Rosy-Finch, Prairie Falcon, American Three-toed Woodpecker, Pygmy Nuthatch, American Dipper, Townsend’s Solitaire, and of course the extremely elusive White-tailed Ptarmigan! The ptarmigan was by far the most exciting. We spent several hours well above 12,000 feet looking and were finally rewarded with amazing and close views. I took more than 10,000 images in our time together and am just now going through them.
On a personal note, Carl is the quintessential gentleman. Not only is he knowledgeable, he has a tremendously amiable personality that no doubt allowed him to thrive in his previous life as a development officer at a major university. It was an absolute pleasure getting to know him in our short time together. I have no doubt I will be taking advantage of his services again in the near future. I cannot recommend him enough for anyone wanting to see the amazing birds of Colorado.”
