Animal extintion in Ecuador

Ecuador possesses more bird species per area than any other Latin American country. Eighteen percent of the total number of bird species in the world are awaiting your visit. Ecuador has the greatest diversity of hummingbird species (also known as quindes) in the world. These small specimens will captivate the attention of bird lovers. The condor, the country's national bird, still flies over Ecuador's Andes mountains.

What is birding or bird watching?
Birding involves the act of observing bird species in their natural and wild state, without disturbing the ecosystem.

Within continental Ecuador, there are more than 1800 species of birds and a very special group of 30 species on the Galapagos, which makes us the fourth country in the world for bird diversity. This statistic keeps growing due to the unexplored places that gives us new discoveries every day.

Approximately 84% of the birds are residents and the rest are migratory birds. The number of endemic species on the mainland is 14. Unfortunately, in spite of this great diversity and uniqueness, many species are in danger of extinction.

Ecuador's representative species
Hummingbirds: Ecuador has 131 species of hummingbirds making us the country with the greatest diversity of hummingbirds in the world. Their beauty and peculiar way of flying makes them admired by scientists and photographers looking for exclusive and difficult shots of these animals. The smallest can measure less than five centimeters long.

Andean condor: The largest bird of the Ecuadorian highlands. For decades, hunting and destruction of their habitat has caused this animal to be in danger of extinction. As a scavenger, this species is essential to the natural processes of the ecosystems where it's found.

Harpy eagle: This is the largest raptor in South America. It is found at the top of the food chain in tropical forests that are in a good state of conservation. Due to the deterioration of its natural habitat, the harpy eagle is on the list of endangered species.

Ecuador population density map

POPULATION EXPLOSION

The rapid growth of the world's population over the past one hundred years results from a difference between the rate of birth and the rate of death. The human popula-tion will increase by 1 billion people in the next decade. This is like adding the whole population of China to the world's population. The growth in human population around the world affects all people through its impact on the economy and environ-ment. The current rate of population growth is now a significant burden to human well-being. Understanding the factors which affect population growth patterns can help us plan for the future.

In the past, infant and childhood deaths and short life spans used to limit popula-tion growth. In today's world, thanks to improved nutrition, sanitation, and medical care, more babies survive their first few years of life. The combination of a continu-ing high birth rate and a low death rate is creating a rapid population increase in many countries in Asia, Latin America and Africa and people generally lived longer. Over-population is defined as the condition of having more people than can live on the earth in comfort, happiness and health and still leave the world a fit place for future generations.1 What some people now believe that the greatest threat to the future comes from overpopulation.

Expanding new Lands

In the 15th century, Europeans began seeking sea routes to Asia to help build trade. In 1498, the Portuguese explorer Vasco de Gama was the first European to reach India by sea.
The rulers of Spain hired Chrisopher columbus to find the sea route to India by sailing west.
He crossed the Atlantic Ocean and reached what he thought was Asia.
Later, this landmass was a new continent.We know it today as the 2 continents of north and south America.
In 1519, Ferdinand Magellan set off on a voyage around the world that lasted 3 years.

As result of these explorations, Europeans developed colonies around the world.

Nationalism and Absolutism

By the 16th century, the Catholic Church had lost much of its power.
Monarchs now ruled Europe, europeans became loyal to their nations instead of a nobles.
This change in Loyalty was the start of to Nationalism.
Strong leaders developed in Europe.
Louis XIV of France and Peter the great of Russia had almost absolute power.
Absolutims worked in France and Russia, but it failed in England.
When Charles I became king, his disputes with Parliament, led to civil war. Charles I
was later executed  and England remained a country with no absolute ruler.

Monarchs: Are kings and queens.
Nationalism: Is a feeling of layalty to one´s nation.
Absolutism: Is a system of government in which a ruler has complete power.
Parliament: Is a group of government leaders.