Ecuador - Cloud Forest - Hummingbird Capital of South America
If you like hummingbirds then you absolutely must visit the cloud forest of Ecuador. There are over three hundred species of hummingbird in the world and almost half of them are found with the boundaries of the little country on the Equator, Ecuador. In all of Canada there are only about ten species!!
Not all hummingbirds are called hummingbirds though. They in fact have a great variety of names such as emeralds, woodstars, mangos, woodnymphs and fairies. They are a unique group of birds with some amazing characteristics. Did you know that hummingbirds are the only birds in the world that can fly backwards? Or that hummingbirds have the fastest wing beats of any bird? (they can flap their wings at almost 80 beats per second!).
Many eco-lodges in the cloud forests of Ecuador set up hummingbird feeders to attract the different species and I spent hours watching and photographing as many species as I could. It is easier said than done though (they fly so fast!) and I unfortunately didn't capture as many species as I would have liked. I did get some nice photos and I have included a few for your perusal.
Hi Danny
Been trying to send you an email but I think I´ve got the wrong email address.
Can you send me it again?
Thanks
Vanessa
The humming birds are the most beautiful birds and we can watch some of them in summer in the farm, your photos are great, these little birds with lovely colours.
See you Danny,
Verónica
I know how difficult shooting these must be. I have shot dragonflies, which are also a difficult subject. Once you get them in focus, they are off, and they seem to know it, seemingly teasing you!
These shots are beautiful, and like any photographer, we usually get one good one for every, what? 10, 20, 30, 100, we shoot. Good thing your camera shoots 5 shots continuously!
Beautiful work, Danny!
Hey Danny!!.. Did you learn spanish already!?.. hahaha.. I hope you can do it .. when are you going home?..
You really got beautiful pictures, I'm amazed..
Caricia..
Hi Caricia,
Thanks so much for your note... and I hope all is going well for you in Lima and Pucallpa. I am home now.... and all is well. My Spanish is better than it was when I was in Peru... but I still need to learn a lot more! Say hola to your family and keep me posted on how your studies are going.
Gracias, Danny :)
hi danny its olivia again but on a different blog i was wondering if you saw saw any loons in canada.
Hi Olivia,
Thanks very much for your blog post and question. I am back home now which is nice. Yes, I have seen many loons in Canada. We have four species that you can see in British Columbia: Common, Yellow-billed, Pacific and Red-throated. I have had the good fortune of seeing all four species!
Thanks so much for your posts and questions and I hope you are well.
Cheers, Danny :)
Funded by TEK
Danny, it has been a real joy reading about your journeys and of course, seeing all of your beautiful photos - can't wait for the full slide show! Have a safe and fun rest of your trip!
Iain has started an BCIT FWR Alumni group on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com and search for "BCIT FWR Alumni" under Groups) - hope you can spread the word to other Alumni so we can all keep in touch with each other.
Cheers, Christy