Scott Baker - Bird Guide, Birder
Q: How did you first get into birds?
A: Around age 10 or 11. I saw an Eastern Spinebill feeding in flowers and thought it was a hummingbird — it blew my mind. I went home, found it in a bird book, and I was hooked. Around the same time, I learned they were planning a freeway through Mullum Mullum Creek near my home. I started doing bird surveys to raise awareness. In the end, they built a tunnel instead of destroying the valley — and that lit the fuse for me.
Q: What was your career path at school and after?
A: I went full maths and science in high school, planning to work in nature. I started a degree in Environmental Assessment, but it was heavy on physics, chemistry, and data — not the immersion in nature I imagined. I found myself drawing birds in lectures, so I switched to art school, majoring in sculpture. From there I ran a business making installations and theatre props, then moved into teaching art. But the birds never left — they were always ticking along in the background.
Q: How did you get into bird guiding?
A: At first, I just put the word out. I picked up some tours with Sicklebill Safaris, then more recently joined Victor Emanuel Nature Tours (VENT) in the U.S. That’s been really exciting. I met Victor before he passed — I spent a day at his house in Texas, where he read me poetry and showed me his bird art collection. He was a remarkable man.
Q: Was there a period when things weren’t clear?
A: Absolutely. After my first business eventually folded, I spent 10–15 years just piecing things together — teaching, creative projects, bits and pieces — but not fully embracing one direction. It was a tough, drifting period.
Q: Do you feel you’re past that now?
A: I think so. I’ve got stability: a home in Kensington, a great company to work with, and a career that should see me through the next 10–15 years. And guiding is something you can do into your 70s if you look after yourself.
Q: How do you find leading groups?
A: I enjoy it once I’ve connected with people, though the first introductions can be nerve-wracking. Most clients are great, but occasionally someone difficult can throw you. You can’t say what you think — you have to be diplomatic, which doesn’t always come naturally to me. But you also have to protect the group dynamic. My last trip to Borneo was perfect — great people, great wildlife, smooth logistics. It doesn’t always go that way, but when it does, it’s magic.
Q: Any regrets looking back?
A: Plenty — but I try not to live with regret. I’d have focused on guiding earlier if I’d known it was a viable career. I see young guides like Josh Bergmark and Max Breckenridge — they’re still in their 20s with a decade of experience already. When I was that age, the idea of a career in bird guiding barely existed. Now, with the growth of birdwatching worldwide, it’s possible.
Q: How do you see the job of a bird guide?
A: It’s the best job in the world for me — but not all glamour. The birding itself is the fun part. The hard yards are logistics, people management, reports, and tour prep. It’s a big job, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.