Conservation
Education
Ecotourism
EcoQuest Travel is dedicated to providing the best possible wildlife viewing experiences. Our expertise also allows this to be done in the most ecologically and socially responsible manner. We understand the connection between local communities and the natural world and strive to foster this connection whenever and wherever possible.
To help meet these goals we specialize in small group travel. Each group normally consists of between 8 and 15 participants accompanied by at least one of EcoQuest Travel’s professional guides. Our guides are highly trained scientists and naturalists who provide not only the best handling of trip logistics, but expert knowledge of the wildlife, environment and conservation issues at each of our destinations.
In addition, EcoQuest Travel always utilizes the best local guides who consistently enhance the trip experience with their cultural insight, unique perspectives and intimate knowledge of each locality. We also emphasize fun – it is after all your vacation. We want you to enjoy your trip to the fullest and we treat every trip as though it were a trip of a lifetime.
We are passionate about the world and all its inhabitants and we invite you to journey with us as we explore the richness and beauty of nature. Join an EcoQuest Travel trip and marvel at the world around you, explore it, embrace it, learn about it and help save it!
Meet the Team
Dave Davenport grew up with a love for animals, the outdoors and exploring new places. Travel was important to his parents who likely instilled this passion in Dave. These childhood pursuits stayed with Dave into adulthood and have evolved into a lifetime of conservation, education and travel.
Academically, Dave received a Bachelor of Arts in Biology and Biosocial Science from Coe College before earning and Master of Science in Zoology from North Carolina State University. His professional career includes conducting field research and ecological survey work for the Wildlife Conservation Society in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. He then served as the Curator of Living Collections – Herpetologist for the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Currently, Dave is the owner and president of EcoQuest Travel, Inc. – an ecotourism company that is dedicated to providing responsible ecological and adventure travel worldwide. He has extensive experience leading ecotours to more than 40 countries on all seven continents for both student and adult groups and is an expert in global travel and wildlife conservation.
A journey with Dave is both educational and fun. He is active in a variety of organizations including serving as president of NC State’s Fisheries and Wildlife Alumni Association and Chairman of the Policy, Regulation and Trade Working Group for the North Carolina Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation. When not traveling, he plays and watches sports, reads, writes, dabbles in the kitchen and enjoys spending time with family and friends.
Andrew Durso is a herpetologist and researcher working on the ecology of amphibians and reptiles in the eastern United States. He was born in New York and grew up catching snakes in North Carolina. Andrew took his first trip with EcoQuest when he was 14 years old.
He has traveled extensively throughout his education, earning a B.S. in Ecology from the University of Georgia in 2009, an M.S. in Biology from Eastern Illinois University in 2011, and a Ph.D. in Ecology from Utah State University in 2016. Andrew has visited 26 countries on five continents and seen over 500 species of reptiles & amphibians and almost 1500 species of birds. He wrote and curates a blog about snakes called ‘Life is Short, but Snakes are Long’. When not traveling with EcoQuest, he continues work on snakebite & snake identification begun as a postdoc at the University of Geneva, and teaches and mentors undergraduate and graduate students.
Jessie Birckhead is a wildlife biologist with a passion for conservation, travel, and connecting people to nature.
Professionally, Jessie is a Certified Wildlife Biologist ® with a B.S. in Fisheries and Wildlife Management from NC State University and a M.S. in Wildlife Science from the University of Tennessee Knoxville. She has conducted research on human-wildlife conflict, tropical bird ecology, forest and grassland management, and wildlife management in agricultural landscapes. Jessie has worked for the past 14 years in the public and private sectors for organizations including The Nature Conservancy and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. Currently she is the Executive Director of Conservation Corps North Carolina, a nonprofit that works to train the next generation of youth and young adult conservation leaders for North Carolina.
In her spare time, you can find Jessie, birding, horseback riding, cooking, and enjoying life in Durham with her dog Ella and horse Romeo. To date, Jessie has traveled to 22 countries across five continents studying wildlife, experiencing new cultures, and leading groups through new experiences with the world around them...and seeing over 1,500 species of birds so far. Some of her favorite travel destinations include the Pantanal of Brazil, the deserts of Namibia, the Galapagos Islands, and the National Forests of the American West. Jessie never shies away from a new experience, an interesting conversation, or a craft beer. You can keep up with Jessie’s adventures near and far on Instagram: @jessiebirckhead
