Photo credit: Bryan Boyle / Royal Ontario Museum
Passenger Pigeon
(Ectopistes migratorius)
Up to about 1880, Passenger Pigeons in eastern North America filled the skies by an estimated five billion birds. Within 50 to 55 years they were extinct. Basically, they were hunted to extinction. They were easy prey because they were so numerous and always flocked together. For hunters, the Passenger Pigeons were like sitting ducks, until there were no more. The Mourning Dove (photo below), smaller but somewhat similar in appearance, did not flock together...no more than a few at a time. The result? 85 years after the extinction of the Passenger Pigeon, Mourning Doves thrive and are immensely abundant at about 475 million at any given time. This despite 25 to 30 million being killed by hunters each year. Long may the Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura), with its lovely, gentle cooing, live among us.
BarrytheBirder
Photo by BarrytheBirder
Please comment if you wish.BarrytheBirder
No comments:
Post a Comment