At last I was lucky to get some good shots of the legendary Long-wattled Umbrellabird at 23 de Junio. The early morning yielded some distant looks but just when we were walking back to the village we found a male and female pair that was hanging around closer to us near the school. The close encounter lasted for 15 minutes while the birds foraged and played in the trees showing their best sides.
Our first good look was a female fly-by.
The male followed her displaying a long wattle.
He was not concerned with us.
The bird just posed in many different angles as trying to impress the crowd, and he did!
Renato was born in Quito, Ecuador and quickly flew to the USA to learn all about engineering and climbing company ladders. After getting his engineering degree from the University of Minnesota he worked in the Standard-American-Rat-Race-Company for fifteen years. After climbing the ladder to where he could no longer see the ground, he decided to jump off the ladder and migrate south like all normal birds do. To his surprise home did not look like it did when he left as a young fledgling; the towns were bigger, most of his friends had nests of their own, and the countryside was changed. Shocked by all the change he searched for a new life and a new wife. He stumbled across a vivacious young chick who would accompany him inside a volcanic crater to set up a love nest. So, after eight years of nesting inside the crater a new love for nature and birds has sprung a career in environmental conservation and birding tours. Finally this bird has come home to roost!
I expect views at least this good on my next visit to Ecuador.
Amazing shots, Renato!
wow, that wattle is almost as good as that giant worm! Isn’t nature great!
nice pics Renato!
Crazy!
A very profound creature, thank you for sharing.
Hope you can see it some time. It is amazing!