Delicate Avis

The hummingbird is known by several names in the Western Hemisphere: colibrí, picaflor, and beijaflor, but its scientific name is Trochilidae, and it is a wonder of nature in the Americas.

When the first Europeans arrived in the New World, these tiny birds amazed them. At first they confused them with giant insects, because of their buzzing of wings and their dedication to flowers, which provide their sustenance.

These tiny wonders captivate the human imagination, leading people to come up with ways to attract the birds to artificial nectar feeders to get a closer look at them. In the United States, it is illegal to keep hummingbirds as a pet.

The Trochilidae family is exclusive to the Americas, and its members can be found from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego, with 328 different species recorded.

At websites dedicated to this bird, we find that the largest weighs 20 grams and lives in South America, while the smallest is just 2.2 grams, and is native to Cuba. One of the most interesting hummingbird cases is that of the Chilean island of Juan Fernández, which has its own unique species that is not found outside this island 600 km from the coast.

The flight of the hummingbird is awe-inspiring. The beating of the wings is so fast that it is nearly impossible to see the single movement. They can fly at high speeds, but also carry out such feats as flying in place and backwards.

These abilities mean that the hummingbird has an accelerated metabolism and must consume great quantities of energy. The bird must drink lots of water and feeds an average of 300 times a day. The human equivalent would be to eat 130 kilos of bread and drink 150 liters of water each day.

These "miniscule and sensitive birds" play an important role in the ecosystem as well, contributing to the pollination of plants.

The Hummingbird Web Site
Kolibri (Hummingbird) Homepage
Hummingbirds.net
Hummingbird websites
The Hummingbird Society
Hummingbirds: featured on postage stamps

The Rivers Flow

Rivers are an unequivocal synonym of life. Their flows sculpt the land's geography, determine the traits of ecosystems and guide the settlement of civilizations. But in spite of their transcendent role, many rivers are in danger.

Nearly all rivers have characteristics in common. They originate from a water source, at a higher elevation, and follow a route that the water has traced over time, with the volume of water increasing as tributaries join the flow.

Rivers are a necessary source for freshwater, which supports life. The area of influence of a river is known as its basin, the preservation of which is a top priority for those who seek to protect ecosystems.

Throughout history, rivers have been very important for human civilization, which is why major cities and cultures have flourished along their banks. However, these water sources have been affected by our presence on Earth.

We humans produce pollution and our development projects change the course of river flows. One of the most conflictive situations involves the tens of thousands of dams, which are capable of ending the life of a river.

The Internet reveals a great deal of information about rivers, much of it provided by organizations dedicated to conserving these flows of fresh, live-giving water.

Portal: International Rivers Network
Thinkquest: All along a river
Principal rivers in the world
BBC: Rivers in danger
National Geographic: Rivers 2001
Yahoo!: websites about rivers
World Commission on Dams

Food of the Gods

The cacao tree is an illustrious native of the Americas whose fame has been sustained by the massive consumption of a product much desired around the world: chocolate. But many people are unaware that this delicious food originates from a tropical tree, producer of an extraordinary fruit.

In the mid-18th century, this fruit received a formal name from botanists, 'Theobroma cacao'. The first part of the name insinuates a relation dating back to ancient times, that of "food of the Gods."

The main consumers of cacao in antiquity were the Meso-American peoples. The Olmecas, Mayans and Aztecs were well aware of the secrets possessed by this fruit, or bean. They used it as currency and consumed it as a beverage, known as 'xocolatl', the world that gave rise to the English word "chocolate".

For the Europeans it was at first a curiosity, and then a highly prized product, sought by the first merchants in the New World and demanded by the elite classes on the European continent. It was there that cacao, or cocoa, was first mixed with milk, and where the first chocolate bars were produced.

The cacao tree grows in areas of dense vegetation. The fruits, which can be of extraordinary colors, grow on branches and hold the seeds covered by a white and refreshing pulp. In the process of turning cacao into chocolate, the seeds are dried, toasted and crushed.

The Internet holds a vast array of information about cacao, ranging from its role in the world market to its history and its amazing transformation into delicious chocolate.