The Passenger Pigeon, which numbered once in the tens of billions, lived in North America east of the Rocky Mountains.
Their flocks, a mile wide and up to 300 miles long, were so dense that they covered the entire sky for hours as the flock passed overhead.
Population estimates from the 19th century ranged from 1 billion to close to 4 billion individuals.
Total populations could well have reached 5 billion individuals and the passenger pigeon comprised about 40% of the total number of birds in North America.
Passenger Pigeon
This may be the only species in the entire world for which the exact time of extinction is known down to the moment it happened.
The Passenger Pigeon was similar to but larger than the Mourning Dove.
It was slate blue on its head and bottom, a gray back and a lovely wine red breast.
Male coloration was deeper and brighter than the female. The eye was scarlet.
The short, black bill, slender in its makeup was well suited to the diets the birds ate, which were acorns, beechnuts, chestnuts, various fruits, grains and insects.
Tens of thousands of individuals were harvested daily by hunters, who hunted into their nesting colonies and shipped them to markets to be processed.
Our very advances in technology helped to speed the death and extinction of this beautiful bird
The telegraph would help to spread where the locations of flocks could be ascertained, and the birds were hunted relentlessly, then modern shipping saw to their shipment for markets
A remarkable bird, all estimates say that the passenger pigeon could reach speeds of 70 miles per hour and sometimes faster.
The last Passenger Pigeon, Martha, died completely alone at the Cincinnati Zoo at about 1:00 pm on September 1, 1914.
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i need to do a science folio about extinct and endangered species
I saw a British T.V programme on 18th of Feb, called The Dodo’s Guide to Survival. This alaso recalled the plight of the Pasenger Pigeon. I work in conservation with The Birmingham Ranger Service, and deal with bird life alot. and was horified at what mankind did to this wonderful beautiful bird. I almost felt ashamed to be human for a few minutes. It has affected me emotionally for days since and each time I see a pigeon I feel physically ill. Thank God for the R.S.P.B, and the mind boggles at what people might have done to wood pigeons. collared doves ferals, stock doves etc.
I can only hope that with modern technology and cloning , maybe we may see The Passenger Pigeon return to our trees, rooftops, and fields.
I have played three songs this week to pay homage to Columba migratorius Jimi Hendrix – Little Wing, Lenny Kravitz – I want To Get Away, and Fly Away and Led Zeppelin – Night Flight.
Now don’t go making yourself sick over this. The truth is they are only believed to be extinct. I have seen a small population of passenger pigeon in Pennsylvania. If we don’t destroy any more nesting grounds they still have a chance. I did manage to get some pictures of the one that didn’t immediately fly away. Let me know if anyone is interrested in seeing them.
I would indeed be interested in seeing these birds, id you would be kind enough to email me the images.
Many Thanks
Malcolm Jacques
I would gladly send you the pictures. Just need an email address.
Kevin
Kevin B you know you said you had video of your passenger pigeon sighting but you accidentally taped over it are you sure you don’t have a copy of it somewhere if you do tell me.
I would also love to see the photos … My heart breaks at the fate of such a lovely bird … have you ever sent these photos to an agency that might be able to protect these birds (that is, if they are confirmed to be Passenger pidgeons)? Thankfully, species thought extinct are sometimes rediscovered in small numbers and need all of our help! Please let someone – such as an animal conservation group – know about your finding. I am sure many, many, many of them would be interested. Good luck.
Are your photos available to artists to use as reference photos? I would even be interested in paying a fee for use.
Thank you
Deborah
im doing a folder of extinct animals i need about 8
im doing a folder of extinct animals i need about 8
The passenger pigeon was a great bird, its almost sad to know that even second hand accounts of the bird cannot be told, due to the amount of time that has passed. In 1914, my grandparents had yet to be born. Kevin i would love to see th pictures you have. If you would, please email them to me at justfresh50@yahoo.com
Justin C
Hell, yeah, I’d be interested in seeing your photos of the “Passenger Pigeons”! If only it were true… Are you sure you weren’t seeing a mourning dove, or even an off-colored rock pigeon?
please give me all nice birds. thanks and i like pigeons.
The existence of an extinct species such as the passenger pigeon would be encouraging. E-mail photo please.
Kevin B., Please send me pictures at ewest21@hotmail.com!
From what molecular geneticists say, it could be possible to clone the passenger pigeon from existing genetic material in preserved birds of that species. Doing that would be a very good test of genetic technique, anyway.
I’d like very much to see photos of the Pennsylvania group of passenger pigeons.
Kevin,
Is there any way you could send me pictures also, I would really like to see them!
Joe
In cloning recently extinct species, apparently existing nuclei would be removed from eggs of a related species, and dna recovered from the extinct species placed into those eggs. They would then be incubated. First solve the problems in restoring simple species such as frogs, then go on to more comlex species. It would be necessary to select species that are likely to recover. Passenger pigeons and dodos are among those most treasured, though its not clear they would be most likely to recover significant population.
The rallying cry could be ‘Clone the Dodo’.
I email everyone my pictures to everyone upon request but I need your email address. The pictures are lacking quality due to the great distance they were taken from.
I am 100% positive they are of a real living Passenger Pigeon. I have studied wildlife my entire life. Which amounts to many decades of real world experience actually being out in the woods not just reading about it in books. Don’t get me wrong there are alot of knowledge to be learned from books but I always been a firm believer that there is no replacement for hands on experience.
I just recently purchased a high quality camera and I am anticipating this spring I will be able to produce enough evidence to validate my claims.
From what I understand no one has been able to successfully clone any species of bird at all. So I think expecting someone to be able to resurrect an extinct species from a living relatives DNA is so far off I wouldn’t hold my breath.
Please send pictures. I am hoping you have a find.
Where at in PA did you see these birds? I would love to go and get some pictures this spring. Send me a private email, please?
This is interesting because both ideas are low in probability but have serious chances of being true. A species of woodpecker was found just a few years ago living in the wild – I forget which kind – which was thought to be extinct since the early 1900’s.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_animals_that_have_been_cloned
has a list that includes carp, recently. Molecular biologists are very progressive and make huge jumps. like from yeast, to more complex organisms. Resurrecting an extinct species is likely to be high on their list.
It would not have to start with an extinct species, just breed a member of one species by grafting it onto the reproductive cycle of a similar but distinguishable species.
True, though, it’s not something to hold one’s breath over.
omg could you send me some of those pics pleassseeeeeess
Please send me the pictures as well. For a good read on some of our extinct bird species I highly recommend “Hope is the thing with feathers”! It has chapters on the passenger pigeon, ivory billed woodpecker and the Carolina parakeet. It has been a while since I read it but do remember how fascinating it was. For a review of the book:
http://www.amazon.com/Hope-Thing-Feathers-Personal-Chronicle/dp/0446677493?tag=dogpile-20
I would love to see the photo’s of Passenger Pigeons if they are available from anyone.
What about persuading the owner of It’s Nature website to host a photo? One or two of the best would go a long way.
Please be patient like I said before I have some pictures but they are not deffinative due to the poor quality. If you can wait a few months I should have undisputable high quality photo’s and possibly HD video.
This will be a major news story you will hear about soon.
I sure hope that you have identified them correctly. If so it would be the find of lifetime! Can you please send whatever photos you have?
Thanks,
Todd
We’d love to host any photos you may have on it’s nature! please send any pictures/videos to info@itsnature.org and we will credit you in return. Thanks!
Good luck Kevin B. I hope you pruduce some worthy news. This could be fantastic! Please include me on your updates wfmciver@gmail.com Thanks.