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| Every Picture Has a Story |
| Ecuador Hummingbirds |
| My image of the month column showcases some of the new
photos I've taken during recent travels, as well as some unique situations
that I have captured throughout the years. At times I may include a short
story which I feel may be of some interest. Enjoy!
Ecuador Hummingbirds Ecuador is a beautiful country, with very friendly people and plenty of incredible birds, more than 1500 species. The weather variations between the mountain ranges and elevations were nothing like I've ever experienced. Sometimes within an hours drive the temperature and humidity would change drastically from very dry to extremely wet conditions. Ecuador is special because it contains more species of animals and plants than other countries in South America that are 30 times its size. I flew into the capital city of Quito which is also a stopping point to get to the Galapagos Islands. Quito sits at an elevation of 9000 feet and during my voyage to the lodge I also drove over a magnificent mountain pass at an elevation of 13,000 feet. It's not surprising that some of the people I met at the lodges had a slight touch of elevation sickness. The view as you drive through the countryside here is lush and very picturesque. The sad part is that they are losing their forests to quick profit logging companies, agriculture, and grazing with no thought of conservation which will have a devastating affect for all of us in the future. I made this trip to photograph hummingbirds and stayed at three different lodges in order to view the different species that live in these diverse areas of elevation and wet and dry conditions. The only problem I had was that I never got into the dry conditions; being a resident of the desert in Arizona my blood was too thin to take the cold and damp conditions during February. The only thing I really missed was heat in the rooms. None of the lodges had heat and one morning I awoke to a temperature of 38 degrees with rain. It wasn't fun getting out of bed to take a shower and then getting into cold wet clothes. But hey, I was there for hummingbird photography and I captured some great shots of many species. The next time I visit I will make sure it's at a warmer time of the year. Besides the hummers, I photographed the elusive Antpittas and an owl called the Mystery Owl that may be a new bird species never before recorded. About two weeks before I arrived in Ecuador the researchers caught one of the owls to take a blood sample that is being genetically tested as of this writing. I am eagerly awaiting the results! A Quick Update: The March 30th Fund Raiser to save Madera Canyon has been atremendous success. The event was well-attended; as we managed to raise over $16,000 (to date) and received mention in the area newspapers. I would like to personally thank all of the people who have donated their time, money, and passion to this worthy cause. Although the battle is not yet over, it is encouraging to see how many people are willing to fight to preserve one of our natural treasures. Thank You. Join me on a Botswana Photo Tour in 2007. I will be leading an African photo tour through Distinctive Journeys to Botswana and the Okavango Delta from November 30 to December 11, 2007, with an extension to Jack's Camp, another exciting location located deep in the Kalahari Desert, from December 11 to December 14, 2007. We changed the date by one day and changed one of the camps we will visit. We added some important highlights to this trip as well, so if you are interested, please read Botswana Photo Tour in 2007. Join me on a Galapagos Photo Tour in 2008. In July 2008 I will be leading a Galapagos photo tour through Distinctive Journeys to the Galapagos Islands from July 23rd to August 2nd. We will be traveling aboard the Beluga, a 110 foot yacht, that is fully air-conditioned and extremely comfortable with each stateroom having it's own private bath and shower. We will visit various locations across 8 islands photographing many species of birds and reptiles. For more information, please read Galapagos Photo Tour in 2008. My new book Wings of Spring wins an award!
Here's what they had to say: Wings of Spring represents some of the finest photography of birds ever published: A Great Egret tossing a stream of brightly-lit water droplets, a Wilson's Snipe standing on one leg forlorn in June snowfall, a Western Screech-Owl dangling a lizard from it's beak. One is amazed at the days and countless hours photographer Tom Vezo spent patiently waiting for these moments that he has so elegantly captured. Complimenting Vezo's photography is a comfortable and inviting design, and just the right amount of text to make the book useful as a bird guide as well as a work of artistry. How to order a signed copy of my books: WINGS OF SPRING - $40.00 S & H are included in the prices. Checks should be made out to "Tom Vezo" and sent to: Tom Vezo Be sure to include your name and shipping address and who you would like the book signed to, as it will make a great gift. How to order screensavers of my pictures: Second Nature Software has compiled has just compiled a new screensaver called Colorful Songbirds, which you can purchase online at www.secondnature.com. On this site, you can also view my three other screensavers: Backyard Birds, Birds of Prey, and Wings in the Wild. Second Nature Software is a proud supporter of nonprofit environmental organizations, including The Nature Conservancy, and through their sales has contributed more than $2.5 million dollars to help preserve the world's natural wonders and wildlife. Visit my exhibits at the following galleries! Galleria Tubac The Nashville Gallery |
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Wings
of Spring: Courtship, Nesting, and Fledging Photographs by Tom Vezo,
Text by Chuck Hagner, Stackpole Books, Mechanicsburg, PA is the winner of
the 2006 National Outdoor Book Awards in the category of Design and
Artistic Merit.