VICTOR EMANUEL: Legendary birder Victor Emanuel: find 
out how he got his start ... on Passport to Texas.

This is Passport to Texas

Serious birders all know the name Victor Emanuel. More 
than fifty years ago he founded the Freeport Christmas 
Bird Count. 

Since 1976, Emanuel has operated a nature tourism 
company that takes people to birding hotspots around the 
globe. 

And it all started with a desire to make his passion his 
work.

51 -- I've been interested in birds and nature ever since I was a 
little boy. And I always wanted to know how I could find some 
way to make a living doing it. And I met a man named Peter Alton 
who was doing it for the Massachusetts Audubon Society, and 
thought, well maybe I can do that. And then I had a gentleman 
call me and ask me to take he and his sister out birding when I 
lived in Houston. So, I thought there was some market for that in 
society. And then the National Audubon Society had their 
convention in New Orleans in 1975. And they asked me to plan 
some trips for them to Mexico. And, I had met George Plimpton 
through a bird count that I do down in Freeport; he introduced me 
to Peter Matheson. Peter Matheson went on one of my first tours 
as a celebrity leader. I got to know Roger Tory Peterson, who was 
kind of the person who developed bird watching as a hobby in the 
united states by his field guides. And he helped me. So, I had a lot 
of lucky breaks, and a lot of people joining me -- friends of mine -- 
who helped me get started.

Learn more about birding in Texas when you go to the 
Texas Parks and Wildlife website.

That's our show ... For Texas Parks and Wildlife ... I'm 
Cecilia Nasti. 






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