Mandy Talpas
As a tremendous lover of birds and wildlife Mandy Talpas has dedicated her life to avian conservation. From the time she was a young girl in northeastern Pennsylvania, she collected natural history observations in her backyard, volunteered at a wildlife rehabilitation and education center, and rescued many unwanted pet parrots. Mandy earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Environmental Studies from East Stroudsburg University and began conducting countless environmental education programs as a Naturalist, a Lead Conservation Educator at an AZA accredited zoo, and a Bird Banding and Education Specialist at the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and Hawk Mountain Sanctuary.
She continued to broaden her scientific studies and field skills with the Ornithology Lab at Villanova University. Her passion for parrots led her to the remote forests of Manu, Peru, where she worked to save endangered macaws, as well as studying tropical ecology throughout Latin America. .
Mandy is grateful to have built a new life in Hawaii as a full-time professional bird and nature guide. She has conducted biological assessments on Kauai and Oahu, worked as an avian field technician, assisting endangered forest bird conservation efforts with Oahu Elepaio and continues to volunteer with local non-profits working to save Hawaii’s endangered forest birds and seabirds across the islands. Mandy has led hiking, history, nature, sightseeing, food, nature and birding tours for other companies for years and is thrilled to have started her own business leading birding tours full time in Hawaii with seasonal birding trips abroad. She is eager to share her knowledge and enthusiasm of Hawaii’s culture, history, wildlife, and most especially, its unique and fascinating birds.
Testimonials for Mandy
Mandy Talpas embodies the “Aloha” spirit of Hawaii in every respect. She is one of Hawaii’s greatest assets and the consummate professional. She was an excellent host and went out of her way to insure that our Hawaii experience was first-class in every way. Her choice of first-class beachfront hotels at each destination, choice of first-class restaurants and out of the way local eateries while out in the field, ability to handle emergencies and the inevitable problems that arise with any trip, and fleet of very comfortable luxury vans (with one strategically positioned on each island) made for an exceptionally well-run and well-managed trip experience. Mandy lived up to her reputation as Hawaii’s greatest and most knowledgeable birder as well as the provider of the absolute finest in Hawaii eco-tour experiences.
- Steven G. on Hawaii