Life & Work with Ryan Dibala

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Dibala. 

Hi Ryan, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Thanks for having me! Over the past two decades, I have devoted much of my time to academia and research in conservation. After completing an undergraduate degree in Natural Resources, I moved to California where I studied a population of bald eagles that were restored to the Channel Islands. My Master’s work took me to southern Indiana where I looked at the population demography of Cerulean Warblers. And for my Ph.D., I examined the ecology of silvopasture systems in both Panama and Missouri. Through all of this research, I aimed to provide valuable information that could influence greater change through policy and management.

Throughout my career, I’ve had jobs monitoring songbirds in Connecticut and conducting bird surveys in Costa Rica. I spent two years as a Peace Corps volunteer living in an indiginous community in Ecuador, where I began to think more about the complicated relationships between humans and nature. As a result, environmental education quickly became a core career focus of mine. I had the privilege of guiding several conservation-related trips to Chilean Patagonia and South Africa and helped design curriculum for Biology programs overseas. A common topic in many of my lectures was birds. Like the canary in the coal mine, birds are an indicator that can warn us of future environmental catastrophes. They can also inform us whether a particular habitat is thriving.

From a young age, birdwatching has been a favorite pastime of mine. When I started work as a professional tour guide here in Colorado four years ago, I wanted to find more ways to incorporate birding into my tours. More importantly, I wanted to raise awareness about overall bird population declines and be able to donate more of my money towards bird and nature conservation efforts. This is when Birding Man Adventures was born.

At Birding Man Adventures, we commit to donating 5% of our proceeds to wildlife conservation initiatives. By purchasing Duck and Habitat Stamps, donating money to local nonprofits, contributing to land purchases, and directly supporting habitat improvement projects, Birding Man Adventures aims to become a leader in the conservation tourism industry.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting a company with one person comes with many challenges. Getting the word out and promoting the business is one of the biggest hurdles. A friend of mine told me that “without customers, you have no business.” As obvious as this sounds, it’s easy to get caught up in designing a website and tour packages without thinking about the marketing component.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am an interpretive naturalist guide. My goal is to transform your experience in nature, allowing you to experience it in brand new ways. It is easy to forget the name of a wildflower pointed out to you along a mountain trail, but if the name is presented in a story that captures the imagination, the name and the experience can be remembered for a lifetime.

From my beginnings as a summer Naturalist at the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies, I have spent years honing a craft as an interpretive naturalist. Birds and other charismatic species are nature’s gateway, so introducing them to people often gets them asking other questions about nature that greatly enhances their relationship to the outdoor world.

My target clientele are birders looking for their next “life lister” birds, but I also hope to attract individuals who may have never gone birdwatching a day in their lives. My extensive experience with wildcrafting (harvesting medicinal and edible plants) along with backpacking and camping are other skills that make a trip with Birding Man Adventures worthwhile.

What do you think about luck?
They say that success is just preparation coupled with opportunity or good luck. Even though I am just in the nascent stages of growing my business, I feel like I have been quite lucky with the opportunities presented to me thus far. I choose to focus on the small wins and forget about any strokes of bad luck. I think focusing on the positive things is likely to bring more small wins and good luck my way.

Contact Info:

• Email: ryan@gobirdingman.com
• Website: https://www.gobirdingman.com/
• Instagram: @gobirdingman
• Facebook: @gobirdingman