Kevin Burke’s lifelong passion for nature began in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, where he grew up exploring the forests and rivers of Shenandoah National Park. Known in childhood as the “Hellgrammite Kid” for his curiosity about the creatures beneath river rocks, Kevin developed an early fascination with the natural world. Summers spent in Rhode Island with his grandmother—who taught him to identify feeder birds—sparked a love for birding that never faded.

Kevin studied Ecotourism and Conservation Ecology at the University of Idaho, where he built on his early experience and formalized his path in conservation and guiding. For nearly 20 years, he has led birding trips across the United States, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic, and has birded in many other countries including Portugal, Colombia, The Bahamas, and Canada. His tours reflect not only expertise but also an infectious enthusiasm that connects people to nature.

Now based in Hendersonville, North Carolina, Kevin enjoys kayaking, hiking, and birding with his wife and two children in the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains—often paddling the French Broad River together near their home.