Toucan, Costa Rica

This photograph was made in the tropical canopy near the Macaw Conservation Center in the village of Aranjuez adjacent to the Gulf of Nicoya. Toucans promote forst regeneration by dispersing seeds across rainforest patches. A portion of the proceeds from this image are donated to Ecology Project International’s work in Costa Rica. See www.epi.org. To make this image, I climbed into the forest canopy using ropes and a harness. I was helping community members install nestboxes for endangered Scarlet Macaws. While installing the nestbox, a hard rain swept through the forest. Rather than climb down I chose to take shelter by sitting on a tree branch. After a few minutes the rain stopped, and the sun came out. As I contemplated descending to the forest floor this toucan flew into adjacent tree. I quietly prepared my camera. As I raised the viewfinder to my eye, the toucan took flight and landed on a small branch just below me. I had time to make just this one image. The reflection of the upper canopy branches can be seen in eye of the bird. Sizes: 8x10, 12x18, 17x24, 20x30