LOWER LAKE, Calif. – Redbud Audubon’s February meeting will host a talk by guest speaker Gordon Beebe.

The meeting will take place on Thursday, Feb. 16, at the Lower Lake United Methodist Church Social Hall, 16255 Second St.

Refreshments will be available at 7 p.m., with the program starting at 7:15 p.m.

All are welcome to attend this free program.

Beebe’s presentation is titled “Three Short Weeks in the Ecuadorian Andes, from East to West."

Experience the visual beauty and unique songs and calls of the birds of the varied mountain habitats of Ecuador, from Wildsumaco Wildlife Sanctuary on the eastern slopes, to the páramo of Las Cajas National Park high in the Andes, and then over to the western slopes to Maquipucuna Reserve, in the famous Mindo birding area.

Along the way, learn the meaning of derrumbe, a word Beebe and his group encountered frequently on the first days of his exploration.

Ecuador is said to have the highest biodiversity per acre of any country in the world. More than 1,660 species of birds have been recorded in the country; however, many have a very limited range.

Rather than attempting to collect a huge species list in a short period of time, Beebe focused instead on two ecolodges, plus a visit to Cuenca, a World Heritage site, third largest city in Ecuador, and gateway to Las Cajas National Park.

With the help of knowledgeable local guides from Beebe’s travels, revel in the sight and sound of the Toucan Barbets’ nasal honking duet.

Meet more than 80 other species of birds, including hook-billed kite, hummingbirds of every shape and color, singing antpittas, tanagers and more in photos and video.

Several more reclusive species that declined the offer to appear, such as the musician wren and the spotted nightingale-thrush, provide the audio background for the presentation. Not to be outdone, the variety of caterpillars and butterflies encountered rival any bird species seen.

At Maquipucuna, a locally-owned and run ecological preserve, see some of the myriad uses for bamboo, learn how to open a cacao pod, and see coffee production, from flower to bean to drying. A note for prospective travelers: Beebe tells us that by visiting in June, he was able to catch the end of the (very) rainy season on the Amazonian side, then experienced drier, though still showery, weather to the west.

Gordon Beebe is a project coordinator for the Sonoma County Breeding Bird Atlas, the Saturday bird walk leader and Web site editor for Madrone Audubon. He lives with his wife Judy in Santa Rosa.

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