The Heavy Oil Pipeline OCP - Birding Oleoducto de Crudos Pesados

The OCP was the latest heavy oil pipeline that cut our country from the Amazon to the port of Esmeraldas.  This very large oil pipe (20" diameter or 80 cm) was designed to follow a straight route from east to west cutting through many forest reserves on its way.  This pipe cuts through the Cayambe Coca Reserve, the Antisana Reserve, the Cuenca Alta del Guayllabamba, and one of the most Important Bird Areas IBA the Mindo-Nambillo reserve.  The danger of oil spillage is constant due to high sismic risk and land slides due to excessive deforestation.  For this reason there must be access roads and well maitained trails that provide access to the pipeline and this provides for easy access to interesting areas inside the forest where we can find wonderful birds. 

Here are some pictures at a private reserve managed by Mindo Cloud Forest which is cut by this pipeline; it is found on the EcoRuta about 15 minutes from the San Tadeo entrance. 

The Black-billed Mountain Toucan
























The Barred-fruiteater

The Pearled-treerunner

For more information on this reserve contact Mindo Cloud Forest Foundation