Conservation Catalyst

Your guide to the natural world.

· Meet Woody ·

Discover the wonders of nature with Woody Wheeler, a seasoned birding guide in the Seattle area. With a passion for connecting people to the environment, Woody has dedicated 40 years to conservation, working with renowned organizations such as The Nature Conservancy, Audubon Washington, and more. As the force behind Conservation Catalyst, his life mission is to make conservation happen, protecting land and species, establishing education centers, and inspiring thousands.

Delve into his expertise as an author with the book ‘Look Up! Birds and Other Natural Wonders Just Outside Your Window.’ Follow his engaging blog, and join him for field experiences where he shares his knowledge with joy, humor, and fun. Let Woody be your guide to the beauty of nature and conservation.

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· Services ·

Tailored Birding Tours

Explore diverse avian wonders with customized itineraries. Your birding adventure, your way.

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Speaking Engagements

Bring the world of birds to your event. Hire for captivating talks on birding, conservation, and nature.

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· Testimonials ·

Woody is a remarkable guide! His natural history guiding is done with deep knowledge and personal commitment. He is an engaging speaker too. The Friends of Ravenna-Cowen were glad that Woody could assist our organization with an engaging interpretive talk about this natural history, plants, birds, and wildlife in Ravenna Park in Seattle. Our tour groups were delighted!

― Lani Johnson, Board Member, Friends of Ravenna-Cowen, Seattle

You are a fabulous bird guide and story teller. We enjoyed the trip this morning.

― Sally Luttrell-Montes, Science Educator

Your trips were a joy to me. You made a difference in my life.

― Craig Zalk, client on three Naturalist Journeys I led

· Latest News ·

Oaxaca: Where Nature & Culture Converge

After 56 years, I finally returned to Oaxaca—this time with Lori and longtime friends Bill and Denise. I first visited […]

Feathered Winter Celebrities

For a birthday mini-adventure, I decided to chase a rare bird. The bird was a Taiga Bean Goose, a potential […]

Thomas Dambo’s Enchanting Trolls

A strangely welcoming wooden figure stood outside of Seattle’s Nordic Museum on a dark, rainy day last year. It was […]

· Woody’s Book ·

You don’t have to travel around the world or spend a ton of money to enjoy the wonders of nature. Look Up! Birds and Other Natural Wonders Just Outside Your Window is a series of well-researched nature essays that will inspire readers to experience the outdoors in an affordable, accessible and joyful way. The essays encourage backyard and local bird watching, native plant landscaping and restoration, practical energy conservation and land conservation. They also explore how we can derive psychological benefits from these activities how nature can help us live happier, more fulfilled and rewarding lives.

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