Ecuador 2008 I write this on the eve of my departure to Ecuador. A place rich in herpetofaunal diversity. My main goal on the trip is to see, observe, learn, and document as much as possible about the the places and creatures I'll be visiting. I hope to add a great many snakes, lizards, frogs, salamanders, birds, mammals, and fish, to my ever growing life list of life.
Photography, GPS, and daily journaling will be my formats of documentation on this trip. Mostly, I'll be recording the specimen and locality remarks for all reptiles and amphibians encountered. Other creatures of interest will be noted also. Currently, I have 12 Gbs of memory; so more than enough to capture everything I observe scurring on the forest floor or sliding along atop us in the limbs of the canopy.
I just purchased a new camera today, the 40D. It's been just shy of 5 years since I obtianed my last camera the 300D or otherwise known as the Digital Rebel (the first one). It was a nice and much needed upgrade. I got the kit that came with the 17-85mm IS lens. I'm looking forward to working with it and new photography subjects in the upcoming journey.
Packing and getting ready has been as stressful this time as any time before a trip. I'll be glad to be gone from all of it for a good long while. Upon my return I'll have two new snakes to care for. They are Bitis caudalis and my favoriate species of snake. I have extremely looking forward to obtaining them.
In just about 28 hours I'll be in Ecuador! I don't know what communication will be like. But I'll update everyone with e-mails when and if I can get access to the internet. I just want to thank Adrain, Peyton, and my room mates for watching over my stuff while I'm out of the states, thanks again.
Nathan Shepard
