Orlando Garrido

Orlando Garrido

retired and former curator of birds at the National Museum of Natural History in Havana

Orlando Garrido is Cuba’s greatest living naturalist, with more than 60 years of service and contribution to the continued development of the study of the natural sciences in Cuba. Senor Garrido is a retired and venerable former curator of birds at the National Museum of Natural History in Havana, is senior author of the Field Guide to the Birds of Cuba, contributing author to A Guide to the Birds of the West Indies, and hundreds of scientific publications. Orlando holds degrees from the University of Miami and University of Havana. Although he officially retired in 2003, Orlando has continued with both independent and collaborative research, focusing on ornithology, invertebrate biology, herpetology, and ichthyology. Orlando is a former field leader for our bird surveys, and currently serves as a program adviser. All of our programs for the last several years have included a visit to Orlando’s home and private ornithological collection. This experience is often cited as a trip highlight, no doubt due to Orlando’s scientific insight, historical perspective and engaging personality.

Orlando is also a former tennis champion, having played in the Davis Cup and at Wimbeldon.