We offer a variety of tour types to accommodate a wide range of interests.
Expedition cruises with the experience and expertise you trust from a VENT leader.
The “original VENT tour.” Includes a comprehensive survey of its birds and animals.
Designed for people who are interested in birds and nature, as well as culture and history.
Same birding focus with a slower pace and lighter physical activity.
Summer Birding Camps for birders between the ages of 14 and 18.
Brian Gibbons grew up in suburban Dallas where he began exploring the wild world in local creeks and parks. Chasing butterflies and any animal that was unfortunate enough to cross paths with the Gibbons boys occupied his childhood. A wooden bird feeder kit sparked a flame that was stoked by a gift of the Golden Guide and family camping trips to Texas state parks. Thirty years ago Brian attended two VENT camps for young birders. Birds are now his primary interest, but all things wild continue to captivate him. After college, Brian undertook a variety of field biology research jobs that have taken him to the Caribbean, the Bering Sea, and the land of the midnight sun, arctic Alaska. He enjoys working with kids, hoping to spark environmental awareness through birds. For many years Brian’s field research has involved bird banding. His most amazing recoveries were a female Wilson’s Warbler that had been banded in Alaska and was captured by Brian in Colorado, and a Sooty Tern that perished after a hurricane on the Texas coast; it had plied the Gulf of Mexico and the oceans of the world for 24 years. Brian’s recreational bird-seeking has taken him to Machu Picchu in Peru, the Great Wall in China, the plains of East Africa, and the Himalayas in Nepal. Brian leads birding trips in the United States, Central America, the Caribbean, South Africa, and Europe. As well as being a fanatical birder, he loves capturing birds with photography. He lives in Tucson, Arizona with his wife, Lacrecia Johnson, and their son, Grayson.
This is the reason I use VENT: superb tour leaders, who excel at people “management,” communications, and knowledge of birds and nature generally. This was my second tour with Brian and my first with Barry. In the future, I would seek out their tours for participation, if they were leading tours in the locations I wished to visit.
Best of Belize: Crooked Tree & Chan Chich Lodge | March 10 - 18, 2024
This trip was perfect! Both Brian and Erik were amazing at getting everyone on the birds. Even though the pace was fast, we loved every aspect of this trip! We’ve been on 12 VENT trips, and this one was by far the best. Loved Erik’s enthusiasm and the ability of both guides to quickly find birds. I would do this trip again in a heartbeat!
Colorado Grouse | April 1 - 11, 2022
The blend of birds and culture was excellent. Rafael and Attila’s knowledge of people, area, customs, and habitats was deep and apparent. The chanting, meals (supras), and geographic diversity made each day a delight and an adventure. The tour truly combined culture and birds in an enjoyable and educational way.
Caucasus Georgia | September 23 - October 9, 2021
Love these guys! Barry and Brennan are a wonderful team—good natured, even when asked the same thing over and over! We pick trips that they are guiding intentionally!
Autumn Grand Manan | August 27 - September 2, 2018
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