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Fabrice Schmitt

Fabrice Schmitt was born in the east of France (Alsace), where he began to bird at the age of 12. After birding intensively and extensively in Europe, North Africa, Middle East, he fell in love with Neotropical birds during his first trip in Peru in 1995. He then spent most of his free time in South and Central America – mostly looking for birds, but studying wildlife in general. In 2002/2003, Fabrice (then a Math teacher) took a sabbatical year to visit birding destinations and look for and study the most localized species of south Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina and south of Brazil. During this time, Fabrice participated in field expeditions in the Peruvian Andes and Amazonian lowlands, gaining knowledge about endangered, rare and even un-described bird species.

Fabrice lived in Chile from 2005 to 2015, and explored this beautiful country in every direction (well, mostly from North to South…). He is involved with Red de Observadores de Aves y Vida Silvestre de Chile (ROC), a non-governmental ornithologist organization, and founded the electronic birding magazine La Chiricoca. He is co-author of the Chilean Breeding Bird Atlas, and part of the team who recently discovered several Markham’s Storm-Petrel colonies in the Atacama Desert. In 2018, after co-leading several tours to Chile with Steve Howell, the two co-authored Birds of Chile: A Photo Guide. Fabrice is also an active eBirder and helped the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in the development of that birding tool in Chile and the rest of South America.

He has been leading birding trips to Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, Guyana and Chile since 2005, and occasionally gives lectures on cruise trips to Antarctica and South American destinations. Since he moved back to France, he he has led tours to Europe and Middle East, including our very popular ‘Birds, Wine and Cheese’ tour to France! Fabrice is fluent in English, Spanish and French.

Upcoming Tours with Fabrice

Testimonials for Fabrice

Fabrice was phenomenal! His knowledge, information he imparted; attention to detail; caring; energy; enthusiasm for everyone to see the different species; all exemplary!

- Mary W. on Colombia: The Santa Marta Mountains

Exceeded expectations! Fabrice is amazing. So talented, tenacious and funny. Tirelessly worked for every bird and wanted everyone to have looks. Great vehicles and drivers! Erin was prompt and helpful. Thank you!

- George W. on Colombia: The Santa Marta Mountains

A very enjoyable tour! The Montezuma "road" was tough for me even walking down - think of the worst steep, rocky, muddy hill road, and double this! Enjoyed the very green country and we were incredibly fortunate to have virtually no rain. The "railway" ride was fun, platforms with benches powered by motorcycles. Good birds...all accommodation was fine and the final Araucana Lodge was excellent. "Bus" and driver also. Fabrice was a most helpful and knowledgeable guide, could not be better.

- Jeff H. on Colombia: The West

A lot of care clearly went into the planning of this tour, which covered key birding areas along the coast and in the Santa Marta mountain range - I really appreciated the attention to habitats and specific species location. The drivers were great and the hotels all very comfortable. 

Fabrice provided the perfect combination of skills, local knowledge, persistence, humor and energy. He also clearly loves Colombia, which further enhanced the trip. 

- Christina B. on Colombia: The Santa Marta Mountains

I enjoyed the tour very much and can’t think of anything that should be changed. Fabrice is an excellent guide; very personable and has a great sense of humor!

- Karen T. on Colombia: The Santa Marta Mountains