Chris Balchin

Chris has been interested in birds since Primary School, graduating from patch birder to British twitcher and in 1981 world birder.

Chris has travelled widely around the planet, preferring to see special birds than compile big lists and seeing a species for first time, especially if self-found, is a big event for him. The one list Chris does keep is his house list and he has even gone up on his roof to add a new species.

In 1994 Chris was part of the launch committee for the Neotropical Bird Club and he is still the organisations Secretary though the name has changed to Neotropical Birding and Conservation

Chris now lives on the edge of a nature reserve in NE Essex where he has become involved with various conservation initiatives. Chris is an all-round naturalist though birds are his primary passion. He enjoys live events such as plays, music and comedy.

Countries birded outside Europe are Thailand Winter 1981/82, Kenya Winter 1982/83, Venezuela Winter 1983/84, Thailand Winter 1984/85, Costa Rica & Panama Winter 1985/86, South Africa Winter 1986/87, Ivory Coast 1987/88, Ivory Coast 1988/89, Ecuador  winter 89/90, Ecuador 1990/91, Venezuela 1992, Morocco 1993, Brazil Winter 1993/94, Ecuador Winter 1994/95, Guatemala 1995/96, Argentina 1996, Dominica Republic 1998, Venezuela 2002, Peru 2017, Oman 2018, Peru 2018, Panama & Costa Rica 2019, Costa Rica 2022, Vietnam 2022, China SE & Sichuan 2023.