Patrick Maurice

Patrick grew up in Atlanta, Georgia, where his mother instilled in him a strong appreciation for nature and wildlife— central to his role as a Nat Hab guide in our U.S. national parks. He is an avid birder, and his earliest bird memory is seeing Georgia’s first state record yellow-billed loon when he was 5 years old. Patrick is also an avid bird and nature photographer.

After visiting South Africa in 2012 and meeting professional wildlife guides at game reserves, Patrick decided he wanted to be a guide. In pursuit of that goal, he attended the University of Georgia, where he received a bachelor's degree in wildlife science in 2021. While at UGA, Patrick worked for the Outdoor Recreation Center as a trip leader. He also served on the executive board of the university's Lilly Branch Audubon Society and led field trips for the club. Patrick has been a guide at the Biggest Week in American Birding festival in Ohio every spring since 2019, and he has led an annual trip for Georgia Bird Fest since 2020. He also leads trips for the Georgia Ornithological Society. When Patrick isn't traveling or birding, you can find him back in his college hometown of Athens, Georgia, enjoying a good sour beer or playing and watching soccer.

Praise from Nat Hab travelers:

M. Noel
“Patrick is an excellent birder! We truly loved having him as our Expedition Leader.”

J. Bates
“Patrick is  knowledgeable, gentle, patient, kind and enthusiastic. His love for nature was evident at all times, and he has a great eye for spotting wildlife. He always took pains to ensure that his guests had a good time.”

H. Ralston
“Patrick is an excellent leader. He was helpful at all times and went out of his way to help with the identification of birds and mammals, as well as offering advice about photography.”

C. Stried
“Patrick was very knowledgeable, especially about birds. One night he said, 'Let’s go find a badger for the Wisconsin folks,' and we did! He was amazing at spotting all varieties of animals—we saw so many things because he saw them first. He was personable, kind and flexible, and he demonstrated a good sense of humor, often with a twinkle in his eye. Our trip was greatly enhanced because he was one of our guides.”

R. Puntillo
"Patrick's comprehension of wildlife behavior makes him an incredible spotter. He is a good listener, a delightful storyteller, and generous with helpful photography tips and tricks."

B. Stollar
"Patrick always treated everyone with patience and kindness and our group had a great time with him! I am amazed at his extensive knowledge of birds. At one point in the trip I was having trouble with my camera and he kindly explained the problem and helped me fix it."

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