Southern Ecuador: In Search of Rare, Local, and New Species
Please note that this meeting will be online.
This meeting has already occurred, but you can watch the recording of the presentation
Presenter: Vayun Tiwari
Exploring the most biodiverse country in the world in search of rarities and local birds takes us to Southern Ecuador. From the dry Tumbesian woods, to the cloud forest, to the high Andean paramo, and finally Amazonian foothills. In this talk, Vayun will share experiences from his first hardcore birding trip to Ecuador, showing highlights such as the Jocotoco Antpitta (whose discovery started a new habitat conversation effort in Ecuador), Blue-throated Hillstar (a striking hummingbird discovered only in 2018 on a high Andean ridge!), Orange-throated Tanager (localized to the border region with Peru in the shadow of the remote Cordillera del Condor), Spot-winged Parrotlet (perhaps the first photographs from Ecuador), El Oro Parakeet (discovered in 1988 and already Endangered), the amazing Long-wattled Umbrellabird and more! The talk will also cover some time spent around Mindo, in the cloud forests west of Quito, photographing iconic species such as Toucan Barbet, Plate-billed Mountain Toucan and an array of colorful hummingbirds and tanagers.
Vayun is a sophomore at Harker High School. Besides bird photography, his other interests are skiing and playing the trumpet in his high school Jazz Band. While Vayun has been birding with his dad, Vivek Tiwari, for a few years, and has participated in birdathons with the Fledglings, the Santa Clara youth team, he started bird photography when he was 8 years old, during a family trip to the Florida Everglades. Since then he has also photographed in California, Panama, Peru, Belize, Hawaii, Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, and on his most recent trip to Ecuador. Vayun is currently working on analyzing 40 years of bird population data from his home region, connecting bird population trends to climate change, and setting up a wildlife photography club in his school. Vayun won 1st place in the youth category in the 2020 Audubon Photography Contest. Vayun uses his photographs to help raise funds for conservation, including for habitat protection of the Blue-throated Hillstar.
