Reviews

We had a great Florida Keys birding experience with Jim Collins - and we didn't make it easy on him! We had a very long travel day on Sunday 5/3 so scheduled our guiding day with Jim for Tuesday 5/5. We saw a lot of birds on our own with a slower day on Monday 5/4, but Jim helped us with some of our more challenging target birds while picking up quite a few we had missed the day before. Highlights were great looks at Black-whiskered Vireo and Mangrove Cuckoo. Even though we missed the La Sagra's Flycatcher with him through no lack of time and trying, he put us where we could go back for it the next day and we did have great looks at it then. Jim's amazing eyes and ears and depth and breadth of knowledge helped us get the most out of our short stay in the Keys.

I had the great pleasure of having Jim Collins guide me for two day. Jim went above and beyond what was expected. On the half day he spent much more than a half day taking us to incredible spots. The second whole day was just as good. I saw so many life birds. He even helped me with connecting with ebird. I would highly recommend Jim and Florida Birding Guides. Thanks

"Fantastic personality and while he was never "look at me", a lot of knowledge. Had researched my target birds and planned the perfect itinerary. So easy to talk to and genuinely enjoyed my target birds that he found. He is a wonderful guide!!"

Noah Steinberg was an excellent birding guide. He was extremely knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and totally responsive to our requests. He took extra time in teaching us about Merlin. He was friedly and upbeat. Of the four or five bird guides we have hired over the years, all have been great, but Noah is out number one.

I recently had the pleasure of birding with guide Kenny Miller, and can't say enough good things about the experience! Kenny put together a thoughtful itinerary based on the information I provided to him before our outing, one that got me on a bunch of "lifers" I never would have found without the benefit of his expertise and experience. I really appreciated Kenny's willingness to go at my preferred pace too; I like to spend some time with the birds to watch them and appreciate them, and he designed our day's hotspot tour with that in mind so that we'd have plenty of time for both the "chase" and for simply enjoying whatever Mother Nature offered up in the moment. Kenny was a pleasure to spend the day with - I learned so much from him, and truly enjoyed his company as a guide. Thanks, Kenny!

i was fortunate to have jim collin as my guide. first time i hired a guide for a private tour and couldn't be happier. jim was prompt. he had done some research so we didn't waste a lot of time going from one place to another. he found one of my lifer birds first of all!!! jim is a long time birder. gave me lots of info both on the birds and the area. i also learned about the company and owner felipe. the company was created by bird lovers for bird lovers. jim was patient with me finding some of the birds. i can't believe how many birds he found in the time we had. he had bug spray, water, and sun screen for me. if i am fortunate to go back to naples, i would be glad if i could get jim again. was worth every penny to have a private tour!

I had a great day birding around Sarasota County with John G.! He's an excellent, friendly guide and knowledgeable about many of the plants and insects as well. We saw more species than I expected, and he shared tons of useful knowledge about local spots, especially those that are not well represented in eBird.

Florida Birding Guides are excellent!! We had a great day birding with Jim Collins. It was easy to set up our birding tour even just two days before. We had a list of four "target" birds and we saw all of them. It was a very thorough day from start to finish. Jim explained everything as we went and he pointed out very many birds, some by hearing and some by seeing. He had a scope and a camera and pointed out where the birds are located so it was easy for us to see and hear them. I highly recommend this company!

Kenny Miller was our birding guide extraordinaire for two days in the Everglades and Key Largo. Kenny knew the best places for Florida specialties and our target birds. Not only did he get us quickly on the birds, he has extensive knowledge on bird calls and their behaviors. Kenny also told us a lot about the unique habitats of the Everglades & Keys, especially the “Hammocks” which are a haven for migrating birds. We would highly recommend Kenny as a guide to get the most out of birding in Southern Florida.

We had an excellent couple of days birding around central Florida with Jim Collins. He communicated with us beforehand about our target species and helped us make the best use of our time with him. Jim is an excellent birder, of course, but he also took the time to help me identify the snakes, bugs and plants I happened to see. Highly recommended.

Our small group had a great time birding central Florida with Jim Collins, in search of some special target species. Jim’s knowledge of the area, keen birding skill, and detailed itinerary took us to some excellent birding spots, and we had amazing views of our wishlist birds! Thanks, Jim, for a wonderful time, and all your effort and expertise in passing along details on Florida’s subspecies as well!

John G. was a superb guide. He has encyclopedic knowledge, a great ear, and even better eyes. I greatly enjoyed my time with him. Everything was scheduled smoothly, and he was extremely attentive.

We were connected with John Groskopf, who was an excellent guide. He was very familiar with Southwest Florida hotspots and birds. Planning our full day with him went smoothly. On the day of, he was prompt, friendly, and enthusiastic. With his help, we found the rare red-cockaded woodpecker and brown-headed nuthatch, as well as a breeding pair of Barred Owls! He even gave us great advice for birding on our own. Thanks again, John!

My girlfriend and I visited Florida in January 2025 and booked a birding tour with John G. around the Naples area. John was super friendly and knew so much about the local birds. He took us to a mix of nature parks and more remote spots, so we could enjoy birdwatching without the crowds. He was also really flexible, letting us take our time at each stop, which made the whole experience relaxed and enjoyable. Before the trip, communication was great—we got to customize our itinerary and focus on the birds we wanted to see. John even adjusted the schedule as needed to make sure everything worked out perfectly. I highly recommend Florida Birding Guides. They cover several areas in the state, and our experience with them was fantastic!

I recently spent a day with Brian Cammarano in Escambia and Okaloosa counties in W FL. I highly recommend Brian whether you are a beginning birder or chasing specific birds. Brian is exceptionally knowledgeable and worked hard both in the trip planning and the day of birding. His passion for birding is contagious and it made for a really fun day.

Excellent knowledgeable guide, despite being a very built up region, John knew where to go for the best birding opportunities.

I have been birding with Kenny for the past ten years and I have learned a lot from birding with him. He’s passionate about birding and is always ready for a bird chase. He is intelligent and never gives up. I’d recommend his birding services to anyone who’s looking for a great adventure while getting your target birds.

We have known Jim Collins for many years and always he has been a great guide to find and id birds in swour county and in other areas as well. He is very knowledgable and helpful! He is great guide and we highly recommend him!

Kenny Miller and Kyle Matera are world class birders who are excellent guides. They have also helped me with many identification questions. They have also donated their time and expertise leading many field trips for Audubon Everglades in Palm Beach County, Florida. It’s always a wonderful experience birding with them.

I was talking with Jim Collins a few weeks before this bird outing to give him time on the itinerary. Jim Collins my bird guide down in Florida was amazing. Not sure what to expect down in the Miami area. I was staying in Marco Island and he drove down from up North and we hooked up in Naples. He also drove which was new for me I always drive so it was a change. So we started super early and headed to Pam Springs for some parrots on a golf course. As the sun rises the birds flew to the known spot. Now I’ve been birding in Florida a few times before this at my leisure. Which I do go crazy. But this was different me not driving one and he had this excursion all planned out ready to go and work back to Naples area where we met. So after getting a few lifers there on to FT Lauderdale to find the infamous spot breasted oriole. He knew exactly where they would be. Great pictures on all these species that were lifers as well. After that we headed to South Miami area for the least grebe and some other goodies parrots and parakeets. It was like every bird I needed I got and it was quick and on to the next stop. So after that it was to a rural area for the mynas ✅. Red whiskered bulbul next get out of car there’s 2 in the brush. Someone did there homework research and a little luck I would say. I did miss 2 different macaws but with him showing me where they have been I went back by myself 2 days later and got all the rest. All in all Jim was a great leader and showed me how to bird Florida for the exotics. Thanks Jim for a lifetime experience.

Jim Collins has taken us to see many birds throughout Florida.He is a great guide and very helpful.

In April 2024, I had the pleasure of birding with Jim Collins. Before the trip, we had a conversation and several text exchanges about my birding interests. What impressed me from the start was his attention to detail. He did a lot of background research before our trip, planning how to find my target species. The two days we spent birding were amazingly productive, exceeding my expectations. He knew about my interest in bird photography, and factored in timing such that the sun direction was optimal at the sites we visited. I was also very impressed by his birding skills, and thanks to Jim, I was able to get some great life birds. Jim is an extraordinary birder, and a wonderful person. I recommend him very highly!

This team of FL birding guides is top notch!

Kenny Miller and Kyle Matera are world class birders. Both have gotten me on a lot of lifers! In addition, they have given me a lot of helpful advice on how to identify species. They find the birds. I highly recommend this company for all of your birding guide needs!

Experienced, knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Knows the birds and where to find them!

Kenny was a great guide! Super knowledgeable on the area. Our group is somewhat new to this and we learned a lot and felt very comfortable asking all the questions we had! 5 stars!!!

So knowledgeable, amazing experience!! Highly highly recommend!!!!

I have been on several birding adventures with John. He is incredibly knowledgeable about all things bird and that passion is evident while leading trips. If you want to chase Seabirds, sort through hundreds of Gulls and Shorebirds looking for outliers or scan the tree tops looking for migrating Warblers, you want John standing right there with you. I highly recommend !!

I recently had the pleasure of joining a birding expedition led by John, and I can confidently say that the experience exceeded all my expectations. What sets John apart is his meticulous attention to detail. Whether it’s pointing out subtle field marks that distinguish similar species or explaining the intricacies of bird calls, he ensures that every participant, regardless of skill level, gains a richer understanding of birding. His keen eye and ear are complemented by an equally impressive dedication to teaching. One of the most remarkable qualities of John is his kindness and patience with beginners. As someone relatively new to birding, I felt immediately at ease thanks to his welcoming and encouraging demeanor. He took the time to answer all my questions, no matter how basic, and provided tips that greatly improved my birding skills. John’s genuine enthusiasm for birding is infectious, and his dedication to fostering a love for nature in others is truly inspiring.

I have been on many pelagic trips with John Groskopf. He is an avid birder and would be a wonderful guide on land or sea.

I went on another great pelagic trip with John G. In the Gulf of Mexico. His knowledge of birds is extensive. He’s able to spot birds of interest at a great distance which leads to productive trips. I often go to John G. as a resource when I have questions on my bird photos or general bird questions about IDs and he’s very responsive in sharing his bird knowledge. I consider John G. one of the top birders in the state of FL and it’s uncanny how he’s often the first to spot the rarities.

This was an experience of a lifetime! Kenny was so knowledgable and took his time finding us such interesting and different species of birds. I highly recommend this group!!