Toll Free: 800.328.8368
Phone: 512.328.5221
We offer a variety of tour types to accommodate a wide range of interests.
Expedition cruises with the experience and expertise you trust from a VENT leader.
The “original VENT tour.” Includes a comprehensive survey of its birds and animals.
Designed for people who are interested in birds and nature, as well as culture and history.
Same birding focus with a slower pace and lighter physical activity.
Summer Birding Camps for birders between the ages of 14 and 18.
Barry Zimmer has been birding since the age of eight. His main areas of expertise lie in North and Central America, but his travels have taken him throughout much of the world, including such exotic locales as Japan, Russia, Madagascar, Africa, and New Zealand. Barry is a longtime member of the New Mexico Bird Records Committee, and served on the Texas Bird Records Committee for 12 years. He has co-authored three books: Birds of the Trans-Pecos, A Birder's Guide to the Rio Grande Valley, and Birds and Birdfinding in the El Paso Area. Barry has a keen interest in nature photography, having captured over 1,600 species of birds on film. His other interests include sports (a diehard Red Sox fan), cooking, and movies. He received his degree in psychology at the University of Texas in El Paso. Barry resides in El Paso with his wife, Yvonne, and their daughter, Alexandra.
A lovely tour. Kevin and Brian were great! Helpful and kind. A pleasure to travel with.
Spring in the Washington Cascades | June 1 - 7, 2025
Barry is the bomb. A true naturalist who never lost his sense of wonder. He enthusiastically shares experiences that few among us could conjure. His people skills are also top notch. Our group was made to feel like a family. Max is an excellent birder and has a pleasing personality.
Best of Belize: Crooked Tree & Chan Chich Lodge | March 10 - 18, 2025
I’ve been on birding tours with 3-4 other organizations, and this is the best dining I’ve had. Couldn’t ask for better leaders – so experienced and organized and able to change logistics when needed, as when a special bird shows up. Impressive. I’m looking forward to seeing what other tours VENT offers in the future.
Winter Southern Arizona | January 21 - 27, 2025
I had a memorable, exhilarating—and, indeed, an "enchanting"—experience.
Southern Peru: Birding the Enchanting Manu Road | October 1 - 11, 2024
This tour is worth every penny. From the wildlife to the flowers, scenery, hotels, and food, I could not have asked for a better experience.
South Africa: The Southwestern Cape & Kruger | September 19 - October 4, 2024
This tour was wonderful. Everything gelled . . . good field meals, great tour leader, excellent dinners at night. If there were a value higher than “excellent” for a leader evaluation, I would have used it.
Minnesota's Northwoods | May 30 - June 4, 2024
Fantastic, well-run, and highly successful tour from start to finish. This was my first VENT trip, but I would happily go on others and recommend the company to friends.
Best of Finland & Arctic Norway | May 13 - 29, 2024
This is the reason I use VENT: superb tour leaders, who excel at people “management,” communications, and knowledge of birds and nature generally. This was my second tour with Brian and my first with Barry. In the future, I would seek out their tours for participation, if they were leading tours in the locations I wished to visit.
Best of Belize: Crooked Tree & Chan Chich Lodge | March 10 - 18, 2024
This trip was perfect! Both Brian and Erik were amazing at getting everyone on the birds. Even though the pace was fast, we loved every aspect of this trip! We’ve been on 12 VENT trips, and this one was by far the best. Loved Erik’s enthusiasm and the ability of both guides to quickly find birds. I would do this trip again in a heartbeat!
Colorado Grouse | April 1 - 11, 2022
The blend of birds and culture was excellent. Rafael and Attila’s knowledge of people, area, customs, and habitats was deep and apparent. The chanting, meals (supras), and geographic diversity made each day a delight and an adventure. The tour truly combined culture and birds in an enjoyable and educational way.
Caucasus Georgia | September 23 - October 9, 2021
Love these guys! Barry and Brennan are a wonderful team—good natured, even when asked the same thing over and over! We pick trips that they are guiding intentionally!
Autumn Grand Manan | August 27 - September 2, 2018
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