Take Flight Birding & Nature Adventures — Local services in Santa Fe

My husband and I were in Albuquerque for the first time and wanted to dedicate a day to birding—and we’re so glad we found Chris from Take Flight Birding & Nature Adventures. As first-time visitors to New Mexico, we were excited to explore the region’s unique ecosystems and birdlife, and Chris was the perfect guide to help us do just that.

We were especially eager to track down several life birds, and Chris went above and beyond. Before we even met, he studied our target list and thoughtfully planned an itinerary that took us from the valley’s early morning hotspots up into the Sandia Mountains, stopping at different elevations to experience the full range of habitats, species, and stunning scenery.

Chris’s deep knowledge of birds, plants, and the broader ecosystem added so much richness to the day. He’s not only a sharp birder but also a great storyteller with a fascinating background—and just a joy to spend a day with in the field.

Between the new to us birds (23), the stunning landscapes, and Chris’s thoughtful guidance, this was one of the most rewarding birding days we’ve had. Chris also created an ebird trip report and added photographs he took on our trek which I really appreciated! Can’t wait to get back to New Mexico and hopefully explore Santa Fe with...

I flew to Tucson back in March of 2018 with my niece (13) who was just getting into birding seriously. My cousin, who lives in Tucson, booked an all day excursion with Chris Chappell of Take Flight Birding and Nature Adventures to go birding for me and my niece. It absolutely and truly changed her life. He’s not only incredibly knowledgeable in birding, but habitat, flora, trees, elevation, biology, and every other possible area and how it relates to birds and where and why you’ll find them in a specific location. His childhood and education and how he wound up leading tours are absolutely fascinating. She was so impressed by all of his knowledge, that it directed the kind of birder she wanted to be and what she wanted to study. My niece is now a Junior attending Delaware Valley University on a presidential scholarship for Conservation and Wildlife Management. I truly can’t say enough about Chris Chappell and why you should book with him. He’s absolutely amazing. Since our excursion in 2018, we’ve gone on many, many bird outings, with some of the best in the Philadelphia area and Cape May, NJ, NO ONE compares to our first with Chris. You will not be disappointed, so don’t hesitate to book an...

This was my first visit to New Mexico and I was keen to see some of the local birds in the short time that I had available. I was delighted when Chris agreed to act as my guide and even happier by the end of a very productive morning visiting the Santa Fe Canyon area. Chris was very organized and kept me well informed of arrangements prior to meeting. His ability to identify birds by their calls and then locate them was first class and enabled me to see many species that I would otherwise have missed. He has a wealth of knowledge, and I learned a lot about the birds and ecosystem of the area during the trip. Chris is a great birding companion and the experience was enhanced by very enjoyable discussions and stories. At the end of the morning, he provided an ebird trip report listing the species and numbers seen together with a photograph he took on the trip. It was a memorable experience and I recommend Chris to anyone wanting an expert...