Eliot VanOtteren has called Glynn County on the Georgia coast home for nearly 20 years. Situated near the center of the state’s 100-mile coastline, it has served as the perfect base for exploring the region—whether wading through tidal salt marshes, carrying a scope along the beach, or paddling through dense river swamps. Drawn to the diversity and constant change of coastal environments, Eliot is fueled by exploration, discovery, and sharing those experiences with anyone who joins him in the field.
With an enthusiastic and hyperlocal approach to birding, Eliot thrives on targeting specific species, building a patch list, and uncovering even the most obscure coastal hotspots. Whether surveying nocturnal flight calls, listening to the dawn chorus, or waiting patiently for the perfect photograph, he embraces every aspect of the chase. He organizes annual spring and fall Glynn County big days and holds the Georgia record for the highest county year total—285 species in Glynn County in 2023.
Eliot serves on the board of Coastal Georgia Audubon and is an eBird reviewer for five coastal counties. He actively volunteers with The Nature Conservancy, the Center for Coastal Conservation, and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, including during the Georgia Youth Birding Competition. He also leads field trips for the Georgia Ornithological Society and contributes to numerous coastal surveys each year.
