Chris Cook

Chris has been interested in natural history, especially birds, since a very young age. Brought up in a small village in rural west Dorset in southwest England, Chris has been associated with Portland Bird Observatory since 1970. He trained as a bird ringer there, and from 1975 he wrote a monthly newspaper column about Dorset birds for the local Dorset Evening Echo. In the late 1970s he was a committee member of Cape Clear Bird Observatory in southwest Ireland.

Since moving to Asia in 1981, Chris has lived in Hong Kong, Seoul, and, for over 20 years, in Tokyo, where he is a news editor, and a former fashion editor, at The Japan Times newspaper. When not working, Chris spends his time birding and mountain hiking, especially in the Japan Alps.

Passionate about the mountains, and in particular his high altitude buddies the Rock Ptarmigan, the mid-level Asiatic Black Bear, and at lower elevations the Copper Pheasant, Chris spends almost every spare day in the field.

For the past decade he has been leading birdwatching tours in Japan and has, on occasion, assisted Mark in the field.

Foreign tour companies he has worked with include: Sarus Bird Tours, Ornitholidays (UK), Eco-Expeditions, American Birding Association and Massachusetts Aububon Society (US), and Liberty Bird Tours (Switzerland). He also assists individuals and couples who prefer a private birdwatching guide.

Last updated: 20150925