At Chesapeake Bay Bird Tours, our vision is to transform the way people perceive and engage with Virginia's coastal ecosystems, igniting a passion for the natural world and inspiring a collective commitment to ecological restoration. Our mission is rooted in the belief that by showing people the beauty of our coastal landscapes and encouraging them to take action through native plant landscaping, we can create a brighter, more sustainable future for the Chesapeake Bay region.
Our Team
Evan Ripley
Evan is from Richmond, VA with family roots in Westmoreland County. He has worked for the National Park Service for over a decade - from the Rocky Mountains to the Grand Canyon. Evan currently works at the Richmond National Battlefield Park and is passionate about Virginia native plants. Out in the field, he gets most excited when he sees warblers and kinglets.
Elise McMath
Elise grew up identifying the birds on her family’s backyard feeder. She is from Virginia Beach but considers the creeks and inlets of the bay to be home. She received two bachelors degrees in history and linguistics from the University of Virginia and served in the Peace Corps in Costa Rica. She taught ESL for eight years and speaks Spanish as a result. Elise’s favorite birds are woodpeckers and chickadees.