Best Places for Bird Watching in Ecuador

Best Places for Bird Watching in Ecuador

Ecuador is one of the best places in the world for bird-watching. With approximately 1,660 species, counting resident species and migrants, the country has a greater diversity of birds than China or India, and nearly twice as many bird species as the United States. Though the neighboring nations of Colombia and Peru may boast more species, no nation in the world has as great a diversity of birdlife in as small an area as Ecuador. The country holds approximately one-sixth of the world's bird species in an area about the size of Colorado, and gives birders the possibility of spotting more different species in a week or two than they would have just about anywhere else.

Ecuador's varied feathered creatures are scattered across its main geographical regions: the Sierra, Oriente, Pacific coast and lowlands, and Galápagos Islands. For birding purposes, the Andes could be further broken down into the highlands, Pacific cloud forest, and Amazon cloud forest. The Andean condor may be the Sierra's avian king, but the highlands' smaller species are also quite impressive, and much easier to see, especially the varied tanagers and hummingbirds. Birdlife in the Andes varies depending on the altitude, with some species found only around the peaks and high-altitude paramo, and others found only in the Sierra's valleys. There is also a good bit of difference between the birdlife of the northern highlands and that of the country's southern mountains.

The cloud forests of Ecuador's Andes are considered one of the planet's biodiversity "hot spots," with a greater diversity of birds than just about anywhere else in the world.

The Oriente, or Amazon basin, is home to some amazing birds, including colorful toucans, macaws, and jacamars, as well as the unusual hoatzin. Whereas the Oriente is relatively homogenous, the country's Pacific lowlands have a greater variety of habitats, which translates into more bird species, with the Chocó rainforest to the north giving way to tropical dry forest in the southwest, which is home to such species as the Pacific parrolet and the Ecuadorean trogon. The Galápagos Islands are often a birder's top spot in Ecuador, with a mix of endemic species, such as Darwin's famous finches, and such common species as the blue-footed booby and the red-billed tropicbird.

If you're serious about birding, you'll definitely want pick up a copy of the Birds of Ecuador Field Guide, by Robert Ridgely, Paul Greenfield, and Frank Gill, as well as a pair of gas-sealed binoculars. While the field guide is helpful, you'll get much more out of your time in the woods if you are accompanied by a naturalist guide, and fortunately Ecuador's best tour operators and nature lodges have some very experienced, dedicated birding guides. The following specialty tour operators tend to use designated lodges, several of which organize their own tours.

Taken From: 
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/ecuador/0811020109.html

Mindo Birdwatching Lodges

Mindo Birdwatching Lodges

Here is a List of some Birdwatching Lodges
in Mindo.-

El Monte Lodge - El Monte is the best overall lodge in Mindo in our opinion. The setting is beautiful and peaceful, the birdlife abundant and the cabin-rooms are simple but stylish, clean and very spacious. Each guest has their own individual thatched cabin. The staff are very friendly and communal areas such as the restaurant are excellent. The lodges only drawback is that it only serves vegetarian organic food (no meat).

Maquipucuna Cloud Forest Lodge - this is a great lodge for those who are slightly more adventurous. Maquipucuna is more off the beaten track than the other lodges in Mindo, but one is rewarded with some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities. Rooms are basic but clean and characterful, and the remote setting is very beautiful. This is the only lodge in Mindo that can genuinely claim to be an "ecolodge" as it practices various ecotourism practices. There are ongoing conservation and local community development projects associated with the ecolodge, which is clearly run with conservation in mind. There are also various volunteering opportunities available at Maquipucuna Lodge. Practice responsible tourism in Ecuador and visit this lodge - it's great.

Sachatamia Lodge - Sachatamia is probably the most comfortable of the lodges inspected. Rooms are spacious and clean, but the place has a feel of a hotel rather than a rainforest lodge. The location next to the main road leading into Mindo town means that there is no feeling of remoteness at the lodge. Sachatamia is the only lodge in Mindo that has a zipline through the forest canopy. The 200 hectares of grounds are home to 29 species of hummingbirds, and hikes through the nearby cloudforest can be made. There is also an indoor swimming pool. Overall, the lodge is a good option for those who seek a 

taster of Mindo cloudforest but are not particularly adventurous.

Bellavista Cloudforest Lodge: Bellavista is probably the best lodge in Mindo for those who are avid birdwatchers. The lodge has some of the best birdwatching guides in Ecuador and is an excellent location for birding tours. If you are not a birdwatcher, Bellavista provides with an excellent array of trails into the unique cloudforest, which great for hikers and nature and adventure lovers.

Septimo Paraiso - Septimo Paraiso hotel's decor is antique-like style and characterful. The lodge is very comfortable - almost on a par with Sachatamia. Communal areas are particularly attractive. There is also a pool and jacuzzi, but most visitors come for the birding and nearby primary cloudforest.

Mindo Gardens - the location near Mindo town means that Mindo Gardens would suit those that might want to eat out in the evenings and don't want to be too far away from civilisation. The communal areas are very pleasant, though the rooms were not particularly clean when we inspected.

Tandayapa Lodge - clean and comfortable rooms, but the hotel has few endearing features and somehow feels like a hospital.

Arasha Resort - we couldn't get over quite how tacky Arasha Lodge is. Having inspected many wonderful, small, characterful other lodges in the Mindo area, Arasha's tackiness really hit home. Arasha is not a lodge - it's a large resort built in the rainforest. It would suit families who normally go on package style holidays, and no-one else. There's a swimming pool, karoake room, cinema (who goes to the rainforest to watch TV?) and host of organised activities. All tours are done as a group, and many of the guides speak no English. Arasha is clearly aimed at Ecuadorean tourists, not savvy travellers.

Other lodges that were not inspected but might be of interest to travellers include Shishink Ecological Lodge and El Carmelo de Mindo (more of a resort style hotel).

Tinalandia - While I didn't inspect this ecolodge, it does look good, and is found in a slightly different location. Rather than being in Mindo itself, this birdwatching ecolodge is in the cloudforest near Santo Domingo - so if you're travelling from either Guayaquil or Ecuador's coast up to Quito, it makes an ideal stop off point.

What is biodiversity?

What is biodiversity?

Biological diversity - or biodiversity - is a term we use to describe the variety of life on Earth. It refers to the wide variety of ecosystems and living organisms: animals, plants, their habitats and their genes.

Biodiversity is the foundation of life on Earth. It is crucial for the functioning of ecosystems which provide us with products and services without which we couldn’t live. Oxygen, food, fresh water, fertile soil, medicines, shelter, protection from storms and floods, stable climate and recreation - all have their source in nature and healthy ecosystems. But biodiversity gives us much more than this. We depend on it for our security and health; it strongly affects our social relations and gives us freedom and choice.

Biodiversity is extremely complex, dynamic and varied like no other feature of the Earth. Its innumerable plants, animals and microbes physically and chemically unite the atmosphere (the mixture of gases around the Earth), geosphere (the solid part of the Earth), and hydrosphere (the Earth's water, ice and water vapour) into one environmental system which makes it possible for millions of species, including people, to exist.

At the same time, no other feature of the Earth has been so dramatically influenced by man’s activities. By changing biodiversity, we strongly affect human well-being and the well-being of every other living creature.

Taken From: http://iucn.org

Birding Mindo Ecuador!

Birding Mindo Ecuador!

Mindo is a town, a river and an area… actually the area is quite large and El Monte is located pretty much in the central part of this area, about 3 kilometers from the town of Mindo on the Rio Mindo and all three are located on the western slope of the Andes, we’re the wintering home of many temperate species. Also, at 1,300 meters above sea level we are at the mid-point elevation between the highland Quito area and the coast. Therefore we have birds that occasionally visit from the Coastal and the Sierra region. For these reasons (and others) over 400 species of birds have been seen just in the immediate area. Including areas that can be visited in day trips from the town of Mindo, there are an estimated 550 bird species. Birds that can be seen in the Mindo area include Cock-of-the-Rock, Chestnut-Mandibled Toucan, Toucan Barbet, Giant Antpitta, Scaled Fruiteater, Club-Winged Manakin and Torrent Duck, among others.
Mindo Bird Highlights...
2000 Mindo is named an “Important Area for Birds” by an international bird organization. This was due to the high diversity and threatened nature of many of the birds that are found here. It is the first area so-named in South America.
Mindo is also home to the greatest number of endemic montane birds of any place in the world (Birds of Ecuador, Ridgley and Greenfield).
2000-2005 Christmas Bird Count (CBC) – sponsored by the Audubon Society. Mindo has been among the top 3 highest bird counts in the world for the last 6 years. This is with over 2,000 locations participating. Each location is a 25 kilometer radius, and the count lasts for 24 hours. Mindo had the highest count in 2000 with 350 bird species recorded, and in past years has exceeded the 400 bird species mark.Around El Monte there are many places that are excellent for birding or nature observation…
House Birding. This may seem pretty tame but some excellent birds have been seen just from the main house. Birds, such as, Olivaceous Piculet, Red Headed Barbet, Tiny Hawk, Golden Headed Quetzal...
Flat Loop Trail. This trail follows the Rio Mindo, just in front of the Cabanas and winds back to the Main House. Along the river it is possible to see White-Capped Dipper, Torrent Torranulet, Sunbittern and in the forest mixed Tanager flocks, flycatchers, woodcreepers, foliage gleaners and woodpeckers are always a possibility.
Rio Mindo Dirt Road. The dirt road that is on the other side of the Rio Mindo from El Monte can also be excellent for various sorts of birds.
Trail and Dirt Road along the Cordillera San Lorenzo. This path/road brings you from 1,300 meters up to about 1,600 meters. There is a possibility of various bird species not generally found at El Monte, such as Plate-Billed Mountain Toucan, Olivaceous Piha, Crested Quetzal… with luck Club-Winged Manakins are a possibility at a lek in this area.
Trail and Dirt Road loop along the Cordillera San Lorenzo. This trail loops back to El Monte and offers an excellent opportunity to see many forest and secondary forest species.There are many areas inside of Mindo or just outside that are best accessed by car. Transport can be arranged to the following areas...
“Y” of Mindo. This area is about 20 minutes from El Monte and is a great spot to locate various foraging birds that come to feed on moths at a streetlight. Toucan Barbets, Masked Trogan and the Rufous Bellied Nighthawk are among the many possibilities.
Milpe. This area is about a 30 minute drive from El Monte, and is home to a Club-Winged Manakin lek. The altitude is about 1,000 meters so many Foothill and Coastal species are found here.
Tandayapa/Santa Rosa. About a 40 minute drive, this affords an opportunity to view birds above 2,000 meters.
Pedro Vicente Maldonado. About a 1 hour drive from El Monte and at 800 meters many lowland species are visible in this area.