You will be satisfied more about your birdwatching tour when you will have qualitative guiding

If you believe, that guide for your birding tour in Latvia should be:

locally based only with deep local knowledge

active birdwatcher with excellent identification skills and their habitat awareness

members of Latvian Ornithological Society (LOB)

Active participant or developer of conservation projects in Latvia

Speaking in English and/or German, Russian and Latvian

“Motacilla” can offer that

Dr. Māris Strazds (1960)

Born in Riga.
Studied in the University of Latvia, The Faculty of Biology. Now working at the University of Latvia, scientific work mainly devoted to studies of Black Stork. Member of LOB since the moment of its foundation. Experience in guiding birdwatchers since 1989. With birdwatching also being a hobby, the total number of bird species seen is just approaching 1000. Fond of drawing birds (in ink or pastel) and bird photography. Fluent in English, German and Russian.

Born in Launkalne, Valka district.

Has got a higher education at the University of Latvia, the Faculty of Geography and Earth Sciences - Natural sciences MA in Geography. Since September 2007 studies at the University of Latvia doctoral programme, has done the field-work at the University of Trier, Germany. The author of several scientific researches and publications. Has got publications in the journal "Birds in Nature".

Member of LOB since 1992. Has taken part in different programmes and has guided birdwatching excursions. He himself is an active birdwatcher. Takes part in birdwatching competition "Battle of Towers" organized by LOB. Since 1999 his working place is the biggest Latvian tourism company "Impro travels", where he has worked both as a travel consultant and a group guide. Currently works as a lecturer in Vidzeme University College, the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management, director of the study programme "Tour guide". Has got all the abilities of a leader and an experience in guiding of groups of large amount of people. He is kind, warm-hearted, with a good sense of humour and easy finds solution to every difficult situation. Fluent in English, German and Russian.

Member of LOB since 1995. Currently is a member of LOB council.

Work in the administration of Ķemeri National Park, where he has very well got to know this on bird fauna score outstanding place and helped lots of birdwatchers to find new species for their „life list" - mainly different woodpeckers and owls. Good knowledge in Latvian birds (especially forest birds' fauna) and the best birdwatching places in Latvia. Birdwatching groups he is guiding since 2003. Up to the year 2009 has collaborated mainly with Swedish and British birdwatchers, guided also a large number of shorter excursions for birdwatchers from different European countries. In collaboration with foreign tourism operators actively popularises Latvia as an excellent destination point for birdwatching.

Regularly guides birdwatching excursions both in the interests of administration of Ķemeri National Park and LOB. Since 2005 organizes in Latvia birdwatching competition "Battle of Towers", thus promoting growth of birdwatching popularity in Latvia. Guides excursions in Latvian and English.

Ruslans Matrozis (1975)
Finished the Faculty of Law of the University of Latvia. Though, his interest in nature and birds made him join LOB in 1990, and tied many of his activities with it ever since.

Having specialized in waterfowl studies, Ruslans has been doing research on ecology and migration of Mute Swan for many years. Knows about everything on bird fauna of Riga and its surroundings as well as of all Latvian seacoast. Participated as expert in LIFE project „Marine Protected Areas of the Eastern Baltic Sea” (2006-2008) as well as in several other projects.

Guiding LOB birdwatching excursions since 2001. An active birdwatcher himself, he has got 270 bird species on his list.

Has got profound knowledge of Latvian ornithological history, keen on gathering historical data. Author of many articles on this theme for the magazine „Bird in Nature”. Another hobby – nature photography. Fluent in Latvian, Russian and English.

Kārlis Millers (1977)

Born and grown-up in Riga, last four years (2005-2009) lives in Liepāja. Education - Master of Biology, the degree obtained in the year 2004 at the University of Latvia, the Faculty of Biology. Now a student of doctoral programme at the University of Latvia. Works at the University of Latvia, Institute of Biology, Laboratory of Ornithology. Scientific activities mainly connected with sparrow-hawk migration phenology and problems created by cormorant.

Interested in birds and nature since childhood. Since 1998 regularly makes visual follow-ups of autumn migratory birds at Pape ornithological station. There obtained very fundamental experience in bird ringing, as well as had luck naming and measuring species stated in Latvia only countable times. One of the leading birdwatchers in Latvia, has discovered and documented many rare bird species in Latvia.

He is the author of many publications and pictures of rare birds in LOB journal "Birds in Nature" as well as foreign issues. Hobbies - birdwatching, birdwatching and one more time birdwatching (25 hours per day with birds). Scholarly, outgoing and with utter abilities of a leader. Fluent in English and Russian. Communicates also in German.

Andris Avotiņš (1966)

Born in Pļaviņas, Aizkraukle district. Obtained MA degree at the University of Latvia, the Faculty of Biology, now a student of doctoral programme there. Since 1987 works at Teiči Nature Reserve, currently as a senior official - ornithologist. LOB member since its foundation. Involved in different research projects, but basically interested in owls and bog birds. Organizes owl monitoring in Latvia, since the beginning of 90-ties gathers and educates owl studies enthusiasts.

Author of the brochure „Pūču uzskaites" (Registration of Owls, 1999) and the book "Putni Teiču rezervātā" (Birds at Teči Nature Reserve, 2005). Author of many scientific publications and articles in the journal "Birds in Nature". Each spring and autumn during bird migration period organizes many activities of environmental education in the region, including birdwatching excursions. Fluent in English and Russian.

Gaidis Grandāns (1987)
Born in Plavinas, Aizkraukle District.
Interested in birds and exploring their world since early childhood. Obtained BA degree at the University of Latvia, the Faculty of Biology, now a student of MA studies there. Member of LOB since 1996 and active participant of different bird monitoring programs. Gaidis was the leader of LOB regional group in Aizkraukle, and has given educational lectures on birds in schools. Experience in guiding birdwatching excursions since 2005, during World Birdwatch activities in Kemeri and Gauja National Parks and Teici Nature Reserve. Has been organizing owl watching activities for LOB members for two years. Mostly interested in studies of owls and bird migration, as well as in birdwatching.

Edgars Dzenis (1984)

Was born in Riga. Interested in nature and birds since early childhood, so BA studies at the University of Latvia, the Faculty of Biology was an obvious choice. Edgars is now working on his MA paper devoted to studies of Dipper.

He is the administrator of internet site on this species in Latvia www.freeriderz.lv/strazdi

Member of LOB since 1999, participated in different research projects, as well as in collecting data for the second Latvian Breeding Bird Atlas and monitoring of Natura 2000 territories. Edgars has guided several birdwatching excursions on Dipper for LOB members. Active, interested in extreme sports.