Birds & Butterflies

Bird watching is quite popular in Ecuador.  If what I read is correct, there are more than 1600 species of birds in Ecuador which is almost twice the number of species in all of North America.  Not bad for a country the size of Nevada.  Bird watching isn't one of my hobbies but no matter, when a few of these show up close by and you have a camera, you just have to take a photo!!

I found a website that has photos of 107 species of hummingbirds in Ecuador.  Here is one of them...no idea what brand though!

Someone has tied a bunch of ripe bananas in a tree as a bird attractant.  It works.

This photo was at an outdoor restaurant where we were having breakfast.  A waiter started laying peeled bananas on stands around the premises and birds came from all over for their morning snack.

Hummingbird nest.

Butterfly species outnumber the birds as there over 4000 species in Ecuador.  We were able to photograph about 1/1000 of the lot. 

If you want to make friends and get an up-close-and-personal visit, smear some overripe banana on 

your finger and they are very accommodating.

Flowers in Ecuador

I am not able to identify all the flowers in this blog entry except the last one and I suppose most anyone looking at these pictures will be able to make a proper identification on their own.

There are over 4000 species (no kidding) of orchids native to Ecuador.  Don't remember the name of the one above but probably referenced a bird as you might suspect by looking closely at the center.

People of Ecuador

A nation's culture resides in the hearts and in the souls of its people. - Mahatma Ghandi

Ecuador (Summer 2016)

It is coming up on a year since our visit to Ecuador.  Maybe I'll do a couple short blogs with a few photos and attempt to get caught up a bit.

Brenda spent about 6 weeks in Ecuador with Kamela last summer.  Karmen, Kyle & Kalynn and myself went for the last week of Brenda's stay and we were all together as a family for the first time in 1.5 years.  We had a wonderful time!

 Arrival at Quito Airport

Hadn't seen Kamela in 1.5 years, my wife in 5 weeks.  

All of us at Rio Mundo 

 On the hiking trail.

This is the crew Brenda & I tried to keep up with!

The Oregon - Trail Connection

This evening I returned home after spending 5 days in Oregon & Washington.  My goal was to visit family I have few opportunities to see.  Cousin Ellen assisted me with itinerary & navigation.  Ten homes, about 1100 miles and memories too numerous to count!

 

Ellen & Scott

Dave & Sandy

Dave, Ellen & Uncle Jerry

Aunt Carole & Uncle Milo

Ellen, myself & Doug

Ellen, Brenda & Doug

Scott, Aunt Phyllis, Larry

Joyce, myself, Karen & Nancy