The initiator of the Fellowship was PP Dick Tafel of North Bay, Ontario, Canada. In June of 2002 he was superseded as president by Mike Lakin of Botswana, Africa. The third President was PDG Steve Leonard of Indiana USA who served in that role for six years up until June 2013 when he was succeeded by PDG Julie West from District 6630 in Northeast Ohio, USA. For several years now, PDG Fred Dijkers (District 1610) has been the chairman.

The tradition commenced of holding field trips during the convention to seek out local birds. Over the years these trips have taken place the day immediately after the international convention in order not to interfere with any of the scheduled events of the convention. With the aid of local leaders, such trips customarily locate about fifty local species. A small group of Rotarians and partners usually take part in these events.

The first lengthier trip occurred after the Singapore convention in 1999 and travelled through much of central Malaysia, for seven days. In May of 2001, a fifteen-day trip was organized through Southern Africa, including Kruger National Park and much of Swaziland and Botswana. Much of the transportation and accommodation in Africa was through the assistance of local Rotarians. Then there were no longer field trips until 2024.