Ecuador Birding – Where Every Feather Tells a Story

From October 26, 2025 through November 8, 2025 I joined 5 other adventurers and an outstanding photographer and birding guide (Liron Gertsman) with Eagle-Eye Tours to Ecuador. This blog series highlights the animals (mostly birds), people and locations we encountered over the 14 full days in this beautiful land. *Unless otherwise indicated in the image caption, all photographs (>99%) are mine.

Blog Post #2 “An Airport Welcome and Arrival at Puembo Birding Garden“

A Reflections of the Natural World Blog Post Series by Jim Gain

DAY 1 – MIDNIGHT

I knew that Mercedes, our host at Puembo Birding Gardens, had arranged for someone to pick me up from the airport, but after such a long travel day—and with no familiarity with the Quito airport—I wasn’t entirely sure how the handoff would work. All of that uncertainty evaporated the moment I stepped out of Immigration with my bag in tow. The very first person I saw was holding a large sign that read simply: “Jim Gain.” Just like that, every lingering anxiety dissolved. From here on out, it was all adventure.

My driver, Jorge, was warm and talkative, and despite the late hour I peppered him with questions about the city and especially about Puembo, where the Birding Garden Boutique was located. He told me about one of the neighborhood’s charming quirks: the flowerpot walls—macetas—lining the streets, each one overflowing with color.

In my pre‑trip research I had learned that Puembo Birding Garden sits in the Interandean Valley at nearly 2,500 meters (7,900 feet), a small, nature‑focused lodge designed specifically for birders and naturalists who want a peaceful, bird‑rich base close to the airport. Beautiful as it was, based on my research, I also knew the garden itself wasn’t large enough to occupy my camera for more than an hour or so. A friend familiar with the area had suggested that I consider a side trip for our first free morning before the official tour began that evening. With that in mind, I reached out to the other participants, and Alex Volkoff immediately jumped at the idea of a bonus adventure. Mercedes arranged for a birding guide and driver to take us to Zuro Loma Reserve at dawn.

When Jorge and I first pulled into the lodge, Mercedes’ daughter Kelly greeted us—though she had to shush me almost immediately, as my late‑night enthusiasm wasn’t exactly compatible with the sleeping guests. By the time I settled into my room it was a little after 1 a.m., and I knew I’d be up again in less than four hours.

I fell asleep instantly, only to wake before my alarm, buzzing with anticipation.

NEXT UP: First Light Birding at Puembo Birding Garden

Previous Ecuador Birding blog posts will be linked below.

• 2 – AN AIRPORT WELCOME AND ARRIVAL AT PUEMBO BIRDING GARDEN
• 1 – PROLOGUE TO MY TRIP OF A LIFETIME TO ECUADOR

*This Ecuador Birding blog post was shaped and polished with the assistance of Microsoft Copilot, helping bring clarity and a consistent flow to my field notes and dictated memories.