BP-1

1960s to PRESENT
PROLOGUE TO MY TRIP OF A LIFETIME

For as long as I can remember, the natural world has been my compass. As a child growing up in the 60s, I was given a set of Golden Nature Guide books—small, colorful volumes that opened entire universes to me. Each one focused on a different realm: insects, birds, mammals, stars, weather. I devoured them cover to cover, again and again, the budding scientist in me awakening with every page. Soon it was rocks and
minerals, and then the landscapes themselves—the Mojave Desert, the Florida Everglades, and eventually the far‑off places that stirred my imagination the most: the towering Andes Mountains and the vast, mysterious Amazon Rainforest.

As the years passed, opportunities arose to explore pieces of these worlds, each adventure deepening my curiosity. Eventually, it became clear that it was time to turn my focus toward South America. I had already traveled with Eagle‑Eye Nature Tours and found their trips deeply rewarding. One day, while daydreaming about my next journey, I found myself browsing their offerings and stumbled upon a tour titled Ecuador Bird Photography. I clicked, I read—and I was hooked.

What followed was a deep dive into everything I could learn. I pored over past trip reports, studied eBird hotspots for each location, and imagined myself standing in those forests, camera
in hand. The trip seemed tailor‑made for my two great passions: birdwatching and photography. After getting the green light from my wife, I placed my deposit. At the time, two departures were available—the first in October 2025, already full, and another in May 2026. I grabbed a spot on the May trip but let Catrina, our trip coordinator, know that if a space opened on the October departure, I was ready to switch.

Less than a week later, the email arrived: a spot had opened. I didn’t hesitate. I jumped at the chance.

The next three months became a joyful immersion. I watched countless YouTube videos, read trip reports, studied checklists, and flipped through field guides until the pages felt familiar. I wasn’t interested in simply checking species off a list—I wanted to know them. I even bought a quiz app and made my own hummingbird flashcards, determined to recognize each glittering jewel before I ever set foot in Ecuador. 

Time dragged, as it always does before a long‑awaited adventure, but eventually the day arrived. After a smooth flight from LAX to Houston—and a tense lightning‑storm delay there—I finally touched down in Quito just after midnight. Dragging my suitcase behind me, backpack slung over my shoulder, I stepped out into the cool damp Andean night air.