Meet Your Guides: Chip & Sam Darmstadt

Hi, we’re Chip and Sam Darmstadt! We are your guides, storytellers, and fellow bird nerds behind FlyAway Birding. For us, birding isn’t just a hobby. It’s a lifelong adventure, one that’s taken us from Vermont’s quiet forests to remote islands in the North Pacific, and we can’t wait to share it with you.

Chip’s Story: A Lifelong Love of Birds

Chip first realized he was a birder during a college geology camp in Wyoming, when he spent more time looking up at a Calliope Hummingbird than down at the rocks he was supposed to be measuring. From there, birds became the throughline of his life.

After graduating, Chip worked in Costa Rica and Venezuela, where his passion deepened among neotropical wonders like cotingas and antpittas. While on a quest to find a Harpy Eagle nest, he stumbled upon a lek of Capuchinbirds in the Guyanan Shield - an unforgettable, formative moment.

Back in Vermont, Chip became the longtime director of the North Branch Nature Center, where he spent 26 years building community, mentoring young birders, and leading workshops. He launched his first international birding trips in 1996, and in 2022 stepped into his dream role as the Center’s first-ever “birding ambassador.” When FlyAway Birding officially took flight in 2024, Chip bought decades of guiding experience (and a lifetime of stories) to every adventure.

Sam’s Story: The Seabird Enthusiast

“Seabird Sam” grew up in Vermont, where his love for wildlife started early at summer camps and Christmas Bird Counts at the North Branch Nature Center. After earning his degree from Brandeis University, he spent years as an avian field technician, studying birds in some of the most remote and wild corners of North America: the boreal forests of Ontario, the Alaskan interior, California’s High Sierras, and several rugged islands in the North Pacific, including Middleton, Southeast Farallon, and Saint Paul.

Sam thrives anywhere near the poles, but his heart belongs to seabirds and shorebirds. One unforgettable moment? Standing on a boat off the California coast, watching Sooty Shearwaters, Sabine’s Gulls, Black-footed Albatross, and a Long-tailed Jaeger spiral around the remnants of an orca hunt — a raw, awe-inspiring reminder of the wildness of our planet.

Now, Sam channels his passion for wildlife and guiding into FlyAway Birding, helping travelers connect with incredible destinations and unforgettable species.

Why We Guide Together

We’re not just a team, we’re family. As a father-and-son duo, we bring two generations of birding experience and a shared love for exploration to every trip we lead. Whether it’s spotting rare species, swapping field stories, or sharing laughs over a checklist at the end of the day, guiding together is what makes FlyAway Birding unique.

Ready to Bird Boldly?

Join us on one of our upcoming trips or start planning a custom group birding adventure built just for you and your friends.