Hi,

I am Maurice, owner and guide at Six Seasons Birding. As an avid naturalist, photographer, and traveller, I have always longed for adventures in the great outdoors, seeking the thrill of new experiences and the serenity of nature’s beauty. Countless journeys to ‘wild’ places in Australia, Africa, and Asia, have fed me with a passion for exotic destinations, diverse cultures, and the mesmerizing wildlife that inhabits them. Ever since I made Western Australia my home, I find the same inspiration in the rich biodiversity of this unique and fascinating part of the world, where every day presents an opportunity to witness the remarkable flora and fauna that call this place home, as well as to share this wonder with fellow nature enthusiasts who embark on birding adventures with me.

Altough I am interested in many aspects of the natural world, I am particularly facinated by the birds that are unique to the south-west corner of Western Australia, so it might not come as a surprise that the National Parks and reserves where populations of endemic species occur take centre stage in my explorations and tours. These areas offer a glimpse into rich ecosystems that have developed in isolation over millennia, and therefore are teeming not only with unique birds, but also with many endemic plants and animals. I find it particularly enthralling to observe the intricate behaviors and features of these species in their natural habitats, from the vibrant, iridescent feathers of the native parrots to the movements of the elusive numbat. Each visit to these parks reveals new wonders that enhance the experience of studying and appreciating the biodiversity that thrives in this unique region. 

I am a fully qualified and wilderness first-aid trained nature guide who has been working in some of Australia’s most iconic and remote national parks, where I have had the privilege of sharing my passion for birds with diverse groups and guests. My work has taken me to the UNESCO World Heritage listed sites of Kakadu, Uluru-Katja Tjuta, Ningaloo coast, and Shark Bay, where I have lead tours with itineraries that not only highlight the flora and fauna of these places but also emphasize their cultural significance and natural beauty. On top of the numerous years I already spent exploring the Australian bush, I’ve honed my guiding skills by studying as a safari guide with the Field Guides Association of Southern Africa (FGASA) in the famous Greater Kruger Conservation Area in South Africa and succesfully completed courses in ornithology and animal behaviour through respectively Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Oxford University. But most important, I have lived and played in Western Australia for a long time, know where to find the best locations for the birds that can only be found in our unique corner of the world, all in a fun and relaxed way!  

Accreditations:

• Licensed Commercial Tour Operator of Western Australia
• Registered Australian Business ABN: 99 118 895 531
• Licence to drive paying passengers
• $20 Million Public Liability Insurance
• Western Australian Parks & Wildlife Service Accredited Tour Operator Permits
• Kakadu Knowledge for Tour Guides Accreditation
• Uluru-Kata Tjuta Knowledge for Tour Guides Accreditation
• Field Guide Association of Southern Africa Apprentice Field Guide NQF 2
• Cornell Lab of Ornithology Comprehensive Bird Biology
• Animal Behaviour, Oxford University
• Birdlife Australia membership

My tools of the trade include:

• Swarovski EL 8.5×42 Binoculars
• Canon 5D Mark III, EF 70-200 f/2.8 IS III USM, EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6 L IS