This program highlights Martin’s fifth trip to Ecuador, where he visited the Northwest Choco region, the Esmeraldas and eastern slopes of the Andes near Quito. The trip was the brainchild of Martin and his long-time friend John Shipley who contracted Roger Ahlman, Swedish-born, free-lance bird guide living in Quito to put together all the details. In 14 days the trip covered the northwestern corner of Ecuador from Antisana to Yanacocha, to Bellavista and the Mindo Area, Refugio Paz de las Aves, to Rio Silanche to Las Penas, both the Awa and Chical Roads, to Papallacta and San Isidro and Guango Lodges. It was an intensive itinerary filled with lots of avian rewards.

DVOC member Martin Selzer began birding back in first and second grade when his aunt first took him to the bird banding demonstrations at Washington’s Crossing State Park and to the Spring and Fall New Jersey Audubon Cape May Weekends. This was back when the mornings started with coffee, juice and donuts before everyone set out birding around Lily Lake and the Point. Besides these trips, my early birding adventures were on many local Wyncote Audubon and Academy of Natural Sciences field trips.

Meeting in Commons