Welcome to the “About Me” section of Eastern Ontario Birding 🙂
Introduction
By way of introduction: my name is Jon Ruddy, and I am the owner and field guide at Eastern Ontario Birding. In addition to the ownership of EOB, I am a voting member of the Ontario Bird Records Committee (OBRC) and the Kingston Bird Records Committee (KFN). I am also a Research Associate at the Canadian Museum of Nature (lichenology).
The year 2026 marks my 12th year as a professional bird guide, and I am still, to this day, a true bird nerd at heart. While in the field, I take every opportunity to share the information I have learned through field experience and literature study. I derive great pleasure seeing clients light up as they observe interesting bird behaviour, observe a particular species for the first time, or admire beautiful plumage details. I also love to simply share in the love of birds, and enjoy the unique habitats in which they are found. Birding tours generally take place in beautiful habitats, and it’s wonderful to call those habitats my “office!”
Before the inception of Eastern Ontario Birding, I worked as a field ornithologist, conducting bird surveys in eastern Ontario, southern Ontario, James Bay, the Okanagan Valley and throughout Manitoba. Throughout that same timeframe, I volunteered as a hike leader for both the Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club (OFNC), Macnamara Field-Naturalists’ Club (MFNC), and Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO).
Birding style and More about Me
My natural field-birding style is, I’d say, intuitive and exploratory; I love to apply what I continue to learn while in the field. Currently, I’m birding at the highest level of my career, where my eyes and ears are (still) holding up, as I continue to gain more and more field experience (a deepening reservoir of lessons and field experience to draw from). In the field, I have been told that I have a laid-back, informative, inviting and inclusive field-guiding style. I pair this approach with 15+ years of field birding experience, and 12 years experience as a full time field guide. In terms of who I am: I define this by way of concentric circles. At the heart of who I am, I am a Christian man, a husband and a father. In my professional life, I am a birdwatcher and full-time field guide. I take my roles in life seriously, and consider them to be a great blessing. My leadership style in the field, and in the home, is that of a Servant Leader. The Servant Leader leads by being steady, aware, present and attentive to the needs of others. Servant Leadership focuses on service, and by the outpouring of one’s abilities, talents, energy, inspiration for the greater good of those around them.
Acknowledgements & Appreciation
I thank my current foundation – my “pit crew!” My wonderful and supportive wife, Samar, and our two girls, Lydia and Grace. I am blessed to do life with Samar. Samar is a level-headed, clear-thinking, supportive, loving and wise woman; an amazing cook, as well! Just as much as I am curious about, and appreciate, Samar’s personality, interests and talents, Samar is curious about, and appreciates, mine. This breeds a culture of togetherness, as well as fulfillment in the area of mutual understanding. Our two young children have filled our hearts with joy – and have given us a new purpose in life; namely, to provide for, and guide, our young family.
I thank my parents for their support as I suddenly changed course in my life, in 2010/11, and began to become interested in pursuing birds professionally. The road was a long and entirely amazing one, filled with many wide-eyed learning moments, in both the field and in the study room. I began reading about birds constantly, and then driving into the field to study them, photograph them and make field notes about them. For parents, this was likely a confusing thing to witness, as birdwatching at least seemed to be something that retirees sit down and do after they fill their backyard bird feeders. However, my parents noticed a spark and an insatiable appetite for learning, and supported me fully. Thanks, Mom and Dad!
I thank my early mentors, Michael Runtz (a gifted and consummate teacher, and naturalist, with an unwavering desire to be in the field), Mark Gawn (“bird every bird” field birding approach, as well as never discounting the possible presence of a rarity), Ron Pittaway (chief of the “field-recognizable forms” – specialization in variation and subspecies), and Michel Gosselin (scientific, technical and thorough approach to field birding, with an emphasis on ID pitfalls and blindspots) for all of their teachings. Michael Runtz and Mark Gawn, in particular, taught me a great deal about field birding techniques. A nod of appreciation to Bruce Di Labio, as well, whose excellence in the field standardized, in my view, the expertise, effort and diligence required of a full-time professional guide in Ontario.
I thank my amazing client base for all of your support over the years. After leading well over 1000 professional field tours, I can say with certainty that Eastern Ontario Birding has almost a family-like atmosphere; and, more and more members continue to join. There’s a unique culture to the whole operation; it’s quite amazing to be a part of it! I’ve seen, countless times, friends form and begin to travel and bird together after meeting on a tour. Beginners and advanced birders, alike, joining tours and coming to know one another. Years and years of in-field companionship have stemmed from tours with clients, building on many shared experiences together. I am unimaginably blessed. This work “project” couldn’t have worked out any better. It’s been a dream.
Testimonials
To read what clients are saying about their experience with Eastern Ontario Birding, please view my Google Reviews.
Good birding and happy trails in 2026,
Jon Ruddy
Owner & Guide
Photo: Eastern Ontario Birding’s logo.
Photo: Family photo during the summer of 2026.
Hours of Operation & Business details
My hours vary, depending on my tour schedule. I usually take Sunday’s and Monday’s off, but that varies, too. For an up-to-date view of my work schedule, please see my Tour Schedule page.
Employees: One employee: Jon Ruddy (guiding, logistics, email and phone correspondence, etc.)
Languages Spoken: English
Best way to contact: Email (eontbird@gmail.com) or phone call; when calling, please leave a voice message, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can. I am often in the field, and unavailable, but will return calls with voicemails.
Years in business: 2015 to present day
Contact Information/Social Media
Jon Ruddy
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
(613) 558-6821
Facebook Eastern Ontario Birding Photography Group
More About Me
Age: 41
Faith: Christian
Interests/Activities: Ornithology, birdsong, Ontario’s Natural History, hiking, fishing, jogging, lichenology, local travel and sightseeing, studying maps, reading.
A good night out: A rare date night, with my lovely wife!
A good night in: Family time with my wife and daughters.
Favourite birding sites in eastern Ontario: Point Petre Wildlife Area, Prince Edward Point N.W.A. and Presqu’ile Provincial Park (i.e., the Big Three!)
Favourite birding areas in southern Ontario: Golden Horseshoe in fall and early winter, Southwestern Ontario in May.
Favourite areas in southern Quebec: Montreal in winter, Eastern Townships area in summer.
Favourite food groups: Lebanese, Greek, Seafood.
Favourite music: Instrumental
Favourite bird: Yellow-throated Vireo.