Más fotos

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I'm back in Quito for a day and half. Nothing much exciting is happening. Here are some more pictures!

A few people have asked about the butterfly farm, so I have included some more photos from there. They raise the butterflies (maybe 20 - 30 species) from egg to caterpillar to butterfly. There are separate areas for the different stages. They keep about half of the adult butterflies in a net-enclosed garden and release the other half into the forest. Uncle David - I'm not sure about your question, because most of the butterflies that I saw that were dying looked really ragged (like the Owl Eye on the right in the photo with the banana). I'm sure it's possible that they could have collected enough good-looking ones, though.

I hope you enjoy the pictures. I'm heading out tomorrow, I'm not sure where yet, but I'll let you know when I get there!

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Photos

at the butterfly farm
This is the case in which the pupae hatch.

at the butterfly farm
Owl Eye butterflies eating an overly-ripe banana. You can see why they call them "owl eyes", but if you look hard, you can also see a snake's face on the top of the wing.

at the butterfly farm
a butterfly on an orchid

at the butterfly farm
me holding an Owl Eye butterfly.

at the butterfly farm
A butterfly hatches in the pupae case.

at the orchid garden
I don't think this is an orchid, but it is a pretty plant.

at the orchid garden
The orchid garden was squished into a pretty small area, and chunks of moss with orchids growing in them were just laying around everywhere.

Roadside Hawk
A common buteo. Both of the bird pictures were taken with my camera by Marcelo, the guide.

Birding
Me on the birding trail the first morning with the town of Mindo behind me (and way down in the valley).

Cock of the Rock
A fuzzy picture of one of the most impressive birds that we saw the first morning. Google it (with quotes!) if you want to see a better picture of it.

My first nest in Ecuador!
This is a nest that I found the second day of birding in Mindo. It was being built by a Red-faced Foliage Gleaner. Can you see it? It's really messy-looking.

Mindo
The main drag in Mindo.

Mindo
The view from the second story porch of Rubby Hostel.

Mindo
The family of Rubby Hostel (minus Rubby) Norma, me, Isaac, and Marcelo.

Mindo
And just for fun - this crazy little creature, an "amarillo" (Spanish for yellow). He was in the street outside the house before birding one morning. I don't know the English name, but it seems like it's probably related to porcupines.

Comments

[Mom]

Great Pictures
Great Pictures Becca! I like the pics of the wildlife, but I also really like the pictures from your window or balcony, and the pics with the people you've met. The pictures remind me of "The Mortorcycle Diaries". You need to pick up some native garb, and you'll fit right in. XOX MOM