As part of that process, this is, by way of an introduction—a somewhat redacted summary of my life until now.

My story starts with the Eastern Spinebill—a small, boldly marked, and highly charismatic member of the Honeyeater family. It was a chance encounter with this bird, as a young, curious 11-year-old, that sparked a lifelong passion in the field of ornithology and natural history more generally.

I was fortunate to grow up in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne (Australia) in an area that still retained significant tracts of native vegetation. My local patch was an overgrown bush block at the end of our street that formed part of the Mullum Mullum Creek Valley, a high-quality riparian remnant of surprising diversity and a wonderful introduction to the natural world, and that is where I began.

This was my sanctuary, and where, as a bird-obsessed teenager, I focused my attention and honed my skills. Over a 7–8 month period I had recorded more than 130 bird species including some major stand-out records—resident Powerful Owls, Scarlet Myzomela, White-throated Gerygone, Dollarbird, and, memorably, Red-browed Treecreeper—a first for suburban Melbourne.

Soon enough I had become the local expert, and by the age of 15 I was compiling lists, writing reports, and running regular walks and talks. My persistent advocacy for local environmental issues helped to establish momentum for the Mullum Mullum Linear Park and to preserve significant areas previously slated for development.

I also played a key role in founding the Yarran Dheran Junior Field Naturalists, a group aimed at engaging and educating the younger generation about nature. Supported by the local council, this initiative earned me the Nunawading Young Citizen of the Year award in 1989.

A pivotal moment for me, however, in those early formative years, was joining the Bird Observer Club, and more specifically the semi-notorious youth faction, aka the “Young Members.” Some notable characters including Paul Peake, PS Lansley, Andrew Stafford, and Sean Dooley (author of the cult classic “The Big Twitch”) also part of this crew, served as friends and mentors and helped deepen my connection to the local birding scene.

In some respects it was assumed I would follow a career in science; however, after one year enrolled in an Environmental Assessment and Land-use Policy degree, I had some questions and some unfulfilled ambitions. Eventually, I would in fact pursue studies in Fine Art, majoring in Sculpture. Both birds and art form an important part of my identity, and navigating a course to satisfy these objectives has been a big part of that journey.

My art practice would carry through to my professional life. In the very early days, I ran my own business, “The House of Scott,” providing artwork and installations for theatre productions, venues, festivals, etc. I had some success, and it was a satisfying period creatively, but the physical demands of running a business, employing staff, and producing original work took its toll, and I made some changes.

Subsequently, I have enjoyed an extended period of employment in the state school system. Here, I was teaching in a program designed to re-engage students who were, for whatever reason, struggling in a traditional mainstream environment. My duties were to manage the art and woodwork content, and very occasionally, a science class. I would have to rate this as a very positive experience. Additionally, the 12 weeks of annual paid leave allowed time for me to travel and indulge in my passion for birds and other wildlife.

Over the years my range has expanded, and in the process, I have explored most of the key birding hotspots in Australia and made regular forays abroad, with a particular emphasis on southern Asia. I now include India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Indonesia as part of that expanded territory. Also, my interest is not confined to just birds; in fact, any field trip these days is more likely to target all of the “tetrapod” options—birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.

In 2016, I had the great opportunity to run a birdwatching tour to the Lesser Sundas (Indonesia) with local company Sicklebill Safaris. This was my first professional guiding role. Combining 30+ years of field experience and a decade in the state school system had provided me with an individual skill-set I could readily adapt for this purpose. And that’s where I began. Since that time, I have had the honor to represent some of the top birdwatching tour companies in both Australia and abroad.

And now, I have landed a role with VENT. In that capacity I will (as previously mentioned) be hosting the Grand Australia tour series, followed by my 2025 tour schedule. This includes tour dates for Sri Lanka, Northern India, Borneo, West Papua, and the Lesser Sundas—pretty much some of my favorite destinations, so a very exciting year is ahead. I am grateful to Barry and Victor, and in fact all of the VENT staff and tour leaders I have had the pleasure to meet. It really is an incredible privilege to now be a part of such a loyal and supportive atmosphere, a tribute to how this company operates.