Adrian Binns
Senior Leader
Adrian, a naturalist and field ornithologist, grew up in Morocco and England where his birding experiences paved the way for a career in the birding community. A former tennis professional, Adrian also worked as an ecological landscape designer, combining a lifelong interest in wildlife with expertise in crafting native-plant landscapes, particularly wetlands and water gardens, to attract birds, butterflies and other critters.
A professional tour guide since the 1990’s, Adrian has led birding and eco-tours across five continents, for a variety of organizations and tour companies. He joined Wildside Nature Tours in 2007, leading trips to Africa, India, Brazil, Colorado, Florida and other favorite destinations. As an educator Adrian has written articles and lectured on “Landscaping for Wildlife” as well as being a regular contributor to Pond Magazines. He co-authored "Big City Birding: Philadelphia,” for the May 2001 issue of Wild Bird magazine, and produced an educational program, “Eastern Owls,” for the National Audubon Society. Adrian has attended birding festivals all across North America and abroad, serving as keynote speaker, workshop presenter, and field trip leader.
Adrian is a past president of the Delaware Valley Ornithological Club (DVOC) in Philadelphia, one of the oldest bird clubs in the country. He competed in the World Series of Birding as a member of the Nikon/DVOC team (1997-2006), placing 1st five times including a record number of 231 species found in 24hrs in New Jersey in 2003. Adrian is currently a member of Zeiss Birding and very fond of his 8x42 Victory SF bins and Conquest 85mm scope, the latest in high definition optics.
An accomplished avian illustrator and photographer, Adrian's images regularly appear in major birding magazines and media formats. In a 2006 issue, Wild Bird magazine named Adrian one the ‘upcoming leaders to watch’! Adrian collaborated with Birding Adventures TV on several episodes including Hawk Mountain and Botswana. You may find Adrian featured on the local Philadelphia non-profit TV station, MiND TV, hosting a handful of short birding programs.