Hummingbirds are one of the most important pollinators in all of America.
They exist close to 350 species hummingbird on that continent. It is about the smallest birds in the world (and they are also the only ones that can fly in reverse) with a weight between 4 and 6 grams and a measure of 10 to 13 centimeters. Their colorful plumage and rapid wing movement make them extremely striking and interesting to humans.
But this is not the only reason why they are so admired. In the collective imagination of MexicoHummingbirds are a kind of magical creature with the ability to bring messages from the afterlife. In accordance with a legend of the Mayan culture, the gods created hummingbirds to be their messengers. That is why if one of these birds visits you, it is because it is taking you a message with good wishes from someone who thinks of you, whether from this world or the other.
However, it is also believed that they have great power to attract love. For this reason, in some communities c4dávere5 of hummingbirds are used in black and white magic rituals with the purpose of generating loving ties. That is to say, the stuffed bodies of these birds serve to “tie up” the person you want to love you.
Thus, witchcraft turns out to be one of the main causes for which the hummingbird is in danger of extinction. In Mexico it is a very common practice to make these moorings with the small c4dávere5 of these birds. In addition, the mvert0s hummingbird business also seems to be very fruitful because according to local media, in the Tulancingo Marketin Mexico City, you find stuffed bodies in 250 weights.
Although it is a species protected by law, the hummingbird population continues to decline.
According to the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resourcess (SEMARNAT), the hummingbird has been a protected species since the 90s. For this reason, a sanctuary was created in northern Mexico to protect and promote the reproduction of birds. known as Sierra La Laguna Biosphere Reserveit is the main sanctuary for two of the most important species in Mexico and Latin America: the hummingbird purple head (Calypte costae) and that of xanthus (Hylocharis xantusii).
With the creation of this park it was also established in the Federal penal code that the hunting and sale of these birds are crimes. The sanction goes from 6 months to 6 years in jail and a fine of up to 20 thousand Mexican pesos for anyone who capture, traffic and/or possess specimens of these species.
However, this is not an impediment to their continued use in magical rituals. Despite the fact that there is no scientific evidence to back it up, people still rely on witchcraft to get their loved one. Thus, the use of endangered species, added to the destruction of the natural habitat, are wiping out the hummingbird population in Mexico.
Although it is true that the idea dates back to pre-Columbian times, since specimens were also used for rituals for love purposes, today it should be obsolete. Believing that the body of a small bird will make you find a mate only pushes dozens of species a little closer to the brink of extinction.
Hummingbirds are excellent pollinators and depend on them at least 10 thousand flowers from North to South America. Their existence is of the utmost importance to maintain balance in ecosystems, although they have fewer and fewer natural spaces to inhabit.