[Birdtalk] CBC Ecuador Style

[Ned Hill]

It's sometimes interesting to see what other birders in other parts of the world are doing.  I just received a brief report from Rudy Gelis a friend and bird guide in Quito, Ecuador, who participated in a couple of his local Christmas Bird Counts.

He reported that the CBC centered at the Yanayacu Research Station west of Quito on the slopes of Pichincha Volcano recorded 373 species.

He also participated in the Mindo CBC (lower elevation, also west of Quito) where over 400 species were found for the 8th year in a row.

In November I went with three firends and Rudy Gelis as our guide to these same area and can fully understand how such a variety of species could be found.  Located virtually on the equator, this part of Ecuador has a large differential in elevation (and hence habitat) giving rise to exceptional bio-diversity.

Thought you'd like to know.  Just don't abandon our Utah CBC's next year and head down to Quito.

Ned Hill
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