Tour Leader Emeritus

Kim Eckert, the founder of MBWbirds, decided that his 40th season (2025/26) would be the last year he would offer organized trips. For some of us, this is viewed as a significant loss for the birding community. We asked Kim if it would be okay to continue the weekends if we organized, planned, and led all the trips. He would be welcome to join at any time as Tour Leader Emeritus. He agreed, provided we kept the core values of MBW the same. We agreed. Our 2026/27 season honors Kim as “Tour Leader Emeritus”, the history of MBW, and the wandering spirit of any good birder. 

Craig Mandel has provided leadership, expert bird identification (as well as many other flora and fauna fun facts) while working with Kim on MBW’s over the past twenty-five years. He has also guided MRVAC and international birding trips for many years. He will be our Subject Matter Expert (aka Proper Adult Supervision) on all our trips.

John Quinn began birding as a teenager. Learning waterfowl and upland game birds as a hunter provided the early interest in correct identification. Only recently has he become a “group” birder, as semi-retirement from business ownership required something else to occupy his relentless acquisitiveness. MBWs were the answer. Hired (and fired) multiple times by Kim in his short career as JTL (Junior Tour Leader), he nevertheless persevered. John (and Frank) will support Craig with trip planning, trip leadership – including timekeeping and restroom locations – while continuing to deny he is a county lister.

Frank Forsberg is an avid birder who enjoys meeting new people and helping others find birds. He has good bird-spotting skills, even if occasionally his bird identification is “It is drop-dead gorgeous.” Frank found “his people” a few years ago on an MRVAC trip before being introduced to MBWs. He’s also a Master Naturalist.  His organizational skills and extensive non-profit consulting experience will provide solid behind-the-scenes coordination as he oversees MBW administration.