How do you turn a passion for birds into a career? In this interview, professional bird guide Donna Belder shares her journey from ecology student and conservation researcher to leading birding tours across the globe. Along the way, she offers valuable advice for anyone interested in birding for beginners, birdwatching equipment, bird identification, and finding a welcoming birding community. Donna also discusses women in birding, conservation, and why observing nature can transform the way we see the world.
1. Your career has taken you from researcher and ringer to leading birding tours across the globe. What inspired you to take this path, and what has the experience been like as a young woman in such a visible leadership role?
I have two great passions in life: birding and travelling. Given this, it was probably inevitable that I would fall into leading bird tours sooner or later. I was approached by Ornis Birding Expeditions, which is co-owned by a good friend of mine, to lead tours and jumped at the opportunity. My colleagues at Ornis are incredibly supportive and encouraging, which has really helped me grow as a leader and birder. I’m very fortunate to be part of a team of strong allies who are fully aware of the additional challenges that I sometimes must navigate as a female leader and are always ready to help if needed. Without this, I think it would have been a lot more difficult to become established as a young female guide.
2. How can women get started with birding? Your birding for beginners guide and advice for newcomers.
Buy a field guide for your local area, and if you can afford them, a good pair of binoculars or a camera with a zoom lens. Spend time reading the field guide and see if you can pick out all the common birds in your area, and pay attention to their size, shape, behaviour, sounds, and the different habitats they live in when you see them in the wild. From there, you’ll start to gain confidence to observe and identify trickier species, and this is where going on outings with a local birding club and/or connecting with likeminded people online will really help you to refine your skills and become a better birder. There are several very welcoming women-only birding groups on Facebook.
Looking for a Birding Community?
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3. What does birding mean to you beyond observing birds?
Connecting with nature, being part of it, melting into the background to observe birds in their natural habitat. Seeing new places, many of which might be only a short drive from home but which I might never visit otherwise. And sometimes being lucky enough to see some of the remotest corners of my region, and the world, is truly special.
4. What does SEE THE UNSEEN mean to you?
To me, SEE THE UNSEEN means observing those special interactions in nature which could easily go unnoticed without careful observation, be that travelling to remote areas to find a range-restricted species, or understanding the specific ecology of a bird to know what steps are needed to see it. It also means appreciating and enjoying the birds and their unique features and behaviour, seeing what makes each of them special in their own way.
5. Why are binoculars essential for birding and birdwatching beginners? What would you say to someone who has never picked up a pair of binoculars before?
Do it. Premium birding binoculars are a complete gamechanger! The feather detail on some species is only possible to appreciate with good magnification, and you can enjoy things from a distance without getting too close and scaring the birds or other animals that you are observing. If you want to get even closer, try a spotting scope for birdwatching.
6. Have you ever felt underestimated because of your age or gender? If so, what did those experiences teach you?
Yes, absolutely. Just recently, I was going for Natewa Silktail in Fiji with my husband, and I overheard our local guide saying to him, “If she gets tired, we can carry her, it’s no problem”. To which my husband replied, “She leads multi-day birding tours around the world, she’ll be fine”. It’s not uncommon on tours for people to assume I am a client rather than the group leader. It is also not uncommon for my voice to simply go unheard when I call out an ID. The same ID will then be called out moments later by a man who is automatically heard by everyone. These experiences have reinforced to me that we still have a lot of ground to cover in terms of gender equality. We need to continue making space for women as leaders in this industry and in birding more generally.
7. What would your message to the next generation of nature enthusiasts be?
Go out there, keep your eyes open, and let nature surprise you. Every time you go outside, whether it is exploring without purpose or in search of a specific species, you are building a relationship with the planet – something that is of growing importance with every generation that passes. Try not to be disheartened by the state in which the previous generations have left the world for you. Do what you can to protect and restore it, and marvel at the wonders that have evolved alongside humanity.
Donna Belder
Professional Bird Guide, Conservation Biologist and Birding Expert
At a time when birding, birdwatching tourism, and nature travel are becoming increasingly diverse, Donna Belder is helping shape the next generation of birding leaders. As an ecologist, conservation biologist, and professional bird guide, she has combined scientific expertise with a passion for wildlife observation and bird conservation.
By the age of 30, Donna had recorded more than 700 Australian bird species, becoming the youngest woman ever to achieve this milestone. Today, she leads international birding tours across Australia, New Guinea, the Himalayas, and other biodiversity hotspots.
As one of the youngest female lead guides in the global birding industry, Donna is an inspiring voice for women in birding, encouraging more people to discover birdwatching, conservation, and the natural world.
