Séjour dans le nord de l’Équateur en septembre 2004

Although being one of te smallest South-American countries, Ecuador contains over 15 % of the worlds bird species with 1,600 bird species recorded to date. This great diversity reflects the diversity of habitats found in Ecuador, from marine environments along the Pacific coast, to lowland rainforests in the upper reaches of the Amazon watershed to high elevation sites 6,000 or more meters up in the Andes Mountains. In addition, the mountain ranges, ridges, and waterways act as natural barriers for non-migratory species along with relatively stable climatic conditions for millions of years has led to significant speciation and creation of many localized populations found only in small areas within the country. The result is a large number of endemic or localized species found only on the west slope of the Andes, only on the east slope of the Andes, only in the upper reaches of the Amazon Basin, or only at very high elevations within the Andes.
Didier Godreau visited the country from the 14th to the 25th of September 2004 with the local birding company Neblina Forest, and he sent us his report.