Susan Myers

Susan Myers has been birding and traveling in Asia for over thirty years now, something she can’t quite believe herself! She is passionate about Asia and its wildlife. She also strongly believes that the combination of incredible and diverse wildlife, ancient and fascinating cultures, and the best food in the world are unique to this amazing continent. For more than 20 years Susan has led tours throughout Asia, including countless trips to the Malay Peninsula, Borneo and Indonesia, over 30 tours to Vietnam, and many tours of India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Japan, Thailand, China, Cambodia, Burma and the Philippines, as well as Madagascar, West Papua, the Pacific islands and, of course, Australia. She is fluent in Japanese as well as Indonesian/Malaysian.
Susan was born in Melbourne to convict ancestry dating back to the establishment of the city, when her shoe-stealing forebearer was released from Port Arthur in Tasmania and came to Melbourne in 1836 to start a new life. She has been a birder and passionate naturalist since early childhood, running around barefoot in the Aussie bush chasing birds, lizards, and (a peculiar childhood interest in) aquatic insects. Her experiences in Asia started at an early age when a short trip to Singapore cast a spell on her, never to be broken. That first sighting of a sunbird in the tropical rainforest led to the purchase of King’s The Birds of South East Asia, which she obsessively memorized. After her university studies in biological sciences, she moved to Japan where she lived for four years, learning the language and studying the natural history and culture, she has traveled there regularly ever since. A few years in Japan and extended travel and birding all over the region further strengthened her deep love of the wildlife and culture of Asia. Susan has also worked as a scuba instructor on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, showing international visitors this marine wonder of the world. She has published many papers and articles on ornithology and general ecology in a variety of respected magazines, scientific journals and books. She is the author of the revised edition Field Guide to the Birds of Borneo, published in 2016, and has recently finished a general guide to the wildlife of South East Asia. Susan’s deep affection for and appreciation of Asia and its wildlife, her language skills, and her understanding of the different cultures of this region ensure an enriching dimension to your tour.
Tours
- Japan in Spring - Endemics and Culture (6-20 May 2021)NEW
- Indonesia: West Papua (5-28 June 2021) Waitlist only
- Peninsular Malaysia (17-30 July 2021)
- Borneo: Sabah - Mount Kinabalu, Kinabatangan River, Tabin Reserve, and the Danum Valley (Jul 31 to Aug 14, 2021) Waitlist only
- Borneo: Sarawak Endemics - Black Oriole, Hose's Broadbill and Dulit Frogmouth (16-24 August 2021) Waitlist only
- Indonesia: Java and Sumatra (Sep 24 to Oct 15, 2021)
- Indonesia: Sulawesi and Halmahera (Oct 17 to Nov 6, 2021)
- Cambodia (Nov 26 to Dec 10, 2021)
- Japan in Winter (13-27 January 2022) Waitlist only
- Japan in Winter (Jan 29 to Feb 12, 2022) Waitlist only
- India: The North - Ranthambhore, Bharatpur, Nainital and Corbett (Feb 27 to Mar 17, 2022)
- Vietnam (Mar 21 to Apr 12, 2022)
- Philippines (Mar 29 to Apr 13, 2022)
- Borneo: Sabah - Mount Kinabalu, Kinabatangan River, Tabin Reserve, and the Danum Valley (14-28 May 2022)
- Borneo: Sarawak Endemics - Black Oriole, Hose's Broadbill and Dulit Frogmouth (May 30 to Jun 7, 2022)
- Peninsular Malaysia (7-20 June 2022)
- Indonesia: West Papua (3-26 July 2022)
- Indonesia: The Moluccas (4-25 September 2022)
- Indonesia: The Lesser Sunda Islands - Sumba, Timor and Flores (9-29 October 2022)
Testimonials
"I thoroughly enjoyed touring with Susan. The mix of birds, wildlife and culture was perfect. I benefited greatly from Susan's knowledge of Japan, its people, wildlife, culture, and history."
- Keith K. on Japan in Winter
"Susan knows the country and the people. Her language fluency helped us to experience Japan in more intimate detail and made it personal."
- Sandra J. on Japan in Winter
"Susan's knowledge of the birds and culture of Indonesia made for a wonderful tour."
- Keith G. on Indonesia: The Lesser Sundas
Updated: June 2020