|
|
Jeff Babson is the owner, guide and educator of Sky Island Tours.
|
|
Testimonials from our clients:
|
 |
"Jeff was fantastic-very approachable, great sense of humor, pleasant manner, and most important, extremely knowledgeable."
"Jeff gave lots of info on many types of birds. Enthusiasm was contagious."
"Very enthusiastic and knowledgeable instructor. Great sense of humor and energy. Good introduciton to local birds. Good on books and resources. Good science on DNA species differentiation."
|
|
From Jeff...
|
|
| |
|
My interest in natural history started at an
early age. My grandfather gave me a copy
of Golden Press’ Birds of North America,
by Robbins, Bruun, and Zim. I would leaf
through that book for hours, astounded by the avian diversity of North
America. I quickly realized that the forests, marshes, coasts, and lakes of my native New
England were home to many of the birds in my book. That started my journey down a wonderfully
amazing trail that grew to include all of nature.
My thirst for knowledge quickly spread to insects, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, fish, spiders, plants- basically, I was
into everything!
|
|
| |
| |
|
I attended college to study marine biology (I
wanted to study sharks). However, after
a couple of years, I decided that someone interested in natural history did not
need to know organic chemistry and physics to fulfill their passion for real
knowledge and I left school. I ended up in the Bahamas,
working on computers for a government contractor. While on Andros,
I conducted work in the field of community ecology. Specifically, I was interested in the changes
in avian communities within and between habitats over time. This work introduced me to many familiar
birds of my youth, who wintered on Andros, as well as Caribbean specialties,
such as Great Lizard Cuckoo, Bahama Woodstar, and Antillean Bullfinch, to name
a few.
|
|
| |
| |
|
While working on Andros I took an extended vacation to do an internship at the Southwestern Research
Station in the Chiricahuas. There I was
introduced to another natural paradise.
While there I met the acquaintance of Painted Redstarts, Mexican Jays,
Blue-throated Hummingbirds, Javelinas, Black-tailed Rattlesnakes, and many
other species. I realized I had to move
to southern Arizona as
soon as possible. Fortunately, a few
years later the opportunity to move presented itself and my wife and I leapt at it.
|
|
| |
| |
|
I worked at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum (ASDM)
in the Department of Mammalogy and Ornithology. That enabled me to teach courses at
the University of Arizona (U of A) and Pima Community
College. I have led field trips for ASDM, the U of A, the Tucson Audubon Society,
and several other organizations. I have conducted fieldwork in Arizona on
the importance of the saguaro cactus to the avian community. In Mexico, I
assisted on hummingbird migration studies, concentrating on the Rufous Hummingbird.
|
|
| |
| |
|
I have met many other fantastic animals since
then. I feel as though I am living in
the Holy Land of U.S. natural history. Madera Canyon,
the Huachucas, the Chiricahuas, the San Pedro River,
the list goes on. I feel extremely
fortunate to live near places that I had read about for decades. Places renown for the biological wealth that
they harbor. I look forward to sharing
these places, and the treasures they contain, with you.
|
|
| |
| |
|
Now that you know a bit about me, I look forward to meeting all of you!
|
|
|
