Photographs by Linda Ergonis
Hummingbirds from Ecuador photographed and identified by Linda Ergonis.
I became interested in ornithology 13 years ago when I began volunteering at a bird banding station located at the Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary in McKinney, Texas. We mist net birds I never dreamed I would ever see, let alone, actually hold in my hand! It was love at first sight!
With my Nikon 50 camera and a 70-210 zoom lens, I began to photograph the birds being banded and soon became obsessed with photographing birds as a hobby. Looking through the lens and concentrating on the bird’s movements, waiting for the perfect pose, I developed a familiarity with each bird... learning about each species behavior, field marks and physiology. It is a challenge to capture it all in a photo.
I may never be a Phoebe Snetsinger with a world life list of 8,500 plus, however, I do enjoy an extended trip or two a year trying to get a photo of every bird I see. When I return home, I edit the photos and record salient information about each species. Photography is a great memory tool for me as I never forget a bird I have captured on film. I think the vast diversity that the class of Aves has evolved into is amazing!
Last year I visited Ecuador with friends and saw 602 species and returned home with 3000 photos of them. At the equator the hummingbird family has evolved to the most numerous of its species, 132 species of them found in Ecuador alone. We saw 56 on the trip. The range of size, of bill length and shape and, of color is incredibly impressive, and I hope you are as entranced as I by these little gems.
Two years ago I went digital with a Nikon D70s and an 80-400mm 1:4.5 VR Nikon lens. I like the light weight of this equipment for long hikes... as I enjoy these addicting hobbies...bird watching and photography!