Birds

Plate-billed Mountain Toucans

March 26, 2011 by Renato 10 Comments

These large-nosed avian pearls live at surprisingly high altitude; I have seen them as high as 2800 meters and as low as 1800 meters.  My first encounter with this bird was very memorable at the edge of the Mindo-Nambillo Reserve near the road that goes from San Tadeo to Bellavista.

The second time I photographed this bird was at Recinto 23 de Junio at the high ridge to the east of the town.  The birds were actively calling and seem unconcerned with all the noise that came out my camera.

The next time I managed some nice photos was at the highest altitude place where I have seen them at the Mountain of Ali which is accessed from the community of Yunguilla.   This mountain is the beginning of one of the most interesting trail that begins at high altitude at 2650 mts (approximate) and drops all the way down to 1600 masl ending at Santa Lucia and Maquipucuna Reserves.


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This post has been submitted to Bird Photography Weekly #135.  Go check it out!

Written by Renato
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!