Ecuador in the Middle of the World.

My first visit to Ecuador was in November/December 2008, and it certainly will not be the last one. Ecuador is a small country with an excellent infrastructure and all places can be easily accessed. It contains various habitats for birders as you can find the Pacific Coast beaches, the Andes Mountains, and a portion of the world's largest rainforest, so called Amazonia. With over 1500 bird-species recorded, Ecuador offers more bird-diversity than any other country in the world, thanks to a great diversity in habitats. During my first visit I stayed in the subtropical zones on the lower slopes of the Andes. These zones are almost as species rich as the lowland zones, and some bird groups - hummingbirds and tanagers for example - reach their maximum diversity here. The western subtropical zone is an easy zone to bird, with good forest remaining alongside the roads. The eastern subtropics are less well-known but even more biodiverse than the subtropics of the west. The eastern sub-tropics feature amazing tanagers and hummingbirds. The eastern subtropics are also a good place to see the Crested Quetzal and Torrent Duck. The temperate faunal zone with its cloud forests, covered in mosses and bromeliads are extraordinarily beautiful, and have their share of exciting birds. Above the forested slopes of the Andes lies a rolling grassland called "paramo." Here the birds are refreshingly easy to see and quite distinct from those of other zones. This is the place to search the sky for Andean Condor ,the Andean Snipe and Tawny Antpitta.

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My first trip.

I started my trip to The western subtropical zone. This zone is highly seasonal, with a distinct dry season in July and August, especially in the south. Some particularly ornate birds live here, the Toucan Barbet, Plate-billed Mountain-toucan, Long-wattled Umbrellabird, Violet-tailed Sylph, not to mention all the jeweled tanagers.  I have visited the Septimo Paraiso Cloud Forest Reserve. This is a private protected area born in 2001, with the goal of saving and preserving the forest and diverse ecosystems that immerse in it. It is managed by the Green Mindo Foundation, which is in charge of the conservation and the study of its 420 hectares of premountain and mountain cloud forest. The Reserve has one of the largest bird counts of the north-western area of Pichincha, with 328 species of birds and several species of mammals. Also an incredible amount of reptile and amphibian species had been found, plus an overwhelming number of plant species. The drastic altitude changes from 950 mts. to 1650 mts. above the sea level in addition to the isolation of the region that has created one of the most delicate, but rich and complex ecosystems known in the Mindo region. It is absolutely worthwhile to stay in this region for a couple of days.

Quito is also very well situated for daytours. Within short distance you can visit some great places as the Pasochoa Reserve (Altitude 2800 m). a small Reserve of Andean Forest only 45 minutes drive from Quito. The Reserve has nice trails and a lot of open grass-land. But also to go into the mountains. Above the forested slopes of the Andes lies a rolling grassland called "paramo." Here the birds are refreshingly easy to see and quite distinct from those of other zones. This is the place to search the sky for Andean Condor, and watch the ground for the Andean Snipe and Tawny Antpitta. The Antisana Reserve (altitude 4000 m) is one of the best places to find the Andean Condor, perhaps the most famous bird of the Andes Mountains. These immense birds make their home on the steep cliffs found along the Andean chain where they gracefully soar while they look for a carrion meal. In this place with beautiful scenery we will find also several other Paramo specialities like Black-faced Ibis, Carunculated Caracara, Silvery Grebe, Aplomado Falcon, Anden Gull, Paramo Ground Tyrant and Paramo Pipit.
Be prepared for any kind of weather,warm sunny days can turn bitter cold and cloudy in minutes. I've been in sun, rain, hail, lightning, and snow in a single day at Cotopaxi National Park. (Don't forget sunscreen!)

The last part of my trip I went to the Eastern Subtropics. This part is less well-known but even more biodiverse than the subtropics of the west. In this area, June and July are the wettest months, although any time can be wet. The eastern sub-tropics feature amazing tanagers and hummingbirds, many not shared with the western subtropics, such as the beautiful Vermilion Tanager and Orange-eared Tanager, the Yellow-throated Tanager, and the tiny Wire-crested Thorntail. The eastern subtropics are also a good place to see the Crested Quetzal and Torrent Duck.   The trails in the areas I have visited lead through elevational gradients that pass through habitats from 2,400 meters all the way down to 1,850 meters. What this means to birders is an ideal base to observe Andean birds from the lower reaches of the temperate zone down into the heart of the subtropical zone. The majority of the forests here are what most newcomers to the tropics envision: large hardwood trees draped with lush mosses that support a seemingly endless number of orchid and bromeliad species. Orchids and other flamboyant epiphytes reach their peak diversity at these mid-elevation habitats, and the accessibility of these species for photography and admiration are amazing benefits of the vast and rich mountain forest. Other distinct and fascinating habitats to explore include the vast Chusquea (bamboo) stands and riverine edge forests; each supports its own compliment of flora and fauna. Around one corner a brightly colored hummingbird may be sipping nectar from a gaudy red epiphyte bloom; around another, a tanager flock might be gulping fruits at a canopy tree, flashing their gaudy blues, yellows and greens. Along the rushing rivers and streams of the area, you can find Torrent Duck and White-capped Dipper, both are regulars.

In this first visit I only saw a very small part of Ecuador. I cannot wait to go back and see more of this beautiful country.