Diversity

This Summer Tanager, a Central American migrant, was seen in northwest Ohio.

If you asked 20 different people to define ‘diversity’ you would probably receive 20 different answers. No matter if we discuss diversity of habitats, of species, of culture, or of race, diversity is a good thing!

Ecuador and Peru offer incredible diversity of habitat—from the high volcanic mountains of the Andes, to the Pacific coast and Amazon Basin. Ecuador serves up more than 1600 species of birds, and Peru 1800. Colombia adds a second mountain range, plus the Caribbean coast, to create more habitat offering 2000 species of birds!

Diversity of habitat creates diversity of species. However, even in a region like the rainforests of the Amazon Basin, speciation is created through diversity of habitat not as easily distinguished as mountain and coast.

Within the Amazon, there are flooded forests (seasonal rise and fall of river levels) and terra-firma forest, above the flood level. Within these forests, we also find bamboo forests, white-sand forests, and many others that all create amazing diversity of species. Many birds specialize in these micro-habitats and are not found outside this habitat.

Broad-billed Motmots are found in several Central American countries. This one was photographed in Panama.

A couple of great books include “A Neotropical Companion” by John Kricher and “Biodiversity” by E.O. Wilson. I would highly recommend ANY books by these two fantastic biologist/authors!

Further north in Central America lies the tiny country of Belize. Though small, Belize offers over 600 species of birds in multiple habitats of tropical dry forest, broad-leaf rainforest, palm savanna, pine-oak savanna, wetlands and Caribbean Coast. Belize also has a rich history of cultural diversity that includes Mayan, Spanish European and African roots… all of which can be seen in the people of Belize today.

Belize is the size of New Hampshire, and Ecuador the size of Nevada. We compare the size of many countries to that of states within the USA. The United States are huge, and with this size comes a rich diversity of three coasts (Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf of Mexico), expansive prairies, high mountain ranges in the west, not so high ranges in the east, and fantastic forests—including the Tongass Rainforest of Alaska… the largest contiguous temperate rainforest in the Northern Hemisphere.

Birds and wildlife need the many diverse habitats… but so do humans. I have found many books that have inspired me to get outside. “Living on the Wind: Across the Western Hemisphere with Migratory Birds”, by Scott Weidensaul, tells the tale of a plethora of birds that use these diverse habitats while traveling more miles than we can imagine each year. Kenn Kaufman’s “Kingbird Highway” tells of one man’s journey to find all the birds in North America. Years after Kenn, Greg Miller attempted the same feat, recounted in the book (and movie) “The Big Year: A Tale of Man, Nature and Fowl Obsession” by Mark Obmascik. All are great reads!

My parents loved to camp, and visiting all of our National Parks was a wonderful goal for the family. Later, after getting my driver’s license, I hiked and backpacked through many of these parks and even more designated Wilderness Areas. Many of the National Parks offer their own micro-habitats… from a beaver pond in the Tetons to a slick rock canyon in Utah where birds and wildlife specific to these habitats can be seen.

The high desert and canyon lands of Utah, offering color and shape, are a photographer’s dream… as are the wildlife rich vistas of the Grand Tetons. I was fortunate to have visited all of the lower 48 States (and much of Canada) well before I could even drive.

Travel is obviously in my blood, and it never gets old. Exploring new places or visiting old haunts is always exciting. Planet Earth has so much to offer, don’t hesitate to explore. Ask yourself… “if not now… then when?”

—Kevin Loughlin, founder of Wildside Nature Tours