Lost Forever: Ten Extinct Bird Species

Both the Dodo bird and the Passenger Pigeon are two of the 844 species lost to the world through extinction over the past 500 years.

Currently there are some 11,000 endangered animal and plant species on the World Conservation Union's "Red List." Loss of habitat as a result of deforestation for agriculture, mining and development is a major culprit, followed closely by pollution and the resulting global warming that is altering climates and ecosystems all over the world. Add to these threats hunting and predation by other animals and species already on the brink of extinction can be pushed over the edge rapidly leaving nothing but stuffed museum exhibits where once there were thriving, beautiful animals. The birds already gone represent a significant loss.

They Are Gone

All of the following species have vanished where once they flourished in great numbers. There demise should be a lesson to future generations about the fragility of our ecosystem and the animals that share it with us.

Carolina Parakeet

The bright green, yellow, and orange Carolina Parakeet was found mostly in the southern United States. Increasing deforestation and hunting made the 12-inch bird rare by the mid-1800s and its love of seeds and fruits put it on a collision course with regional agriculture. It was consequently treated as a pest and hunted to extinction, an easy task as scores of parakeets gathered around their dead flock mates rather than fleeing the hunter's guns. By 1920 only 30 birds remained in Florida and by the middle of the decade, they had disappeared.

Bachman's Warbler

Although not yet confirmed to be extinct, a Bachman's Warbler has not been seen since 1988. The birds are insectivorous and live in shrubs and forests. They are 4.5 inches in length with the male appearing olive green in color on the upper side with yellow bellies and faces, and a black throat and crown patch. (Females lack the black throat patch.) Hurricanes and deforestation were the main factors in the extinction of the species.

Dodo Bird

The flightless Dodo bird was found on the island of Mauritius. A large bird, standing 3.5 feet tall, it resembled an over-sized duck and was first sighted by the Portuguese in 1598. To its own great risk, the Dodo did not fear humans and fell prey to their sporting interests since Dodo meat tasted horrible. They were killed purely for sport. The last Dodo died in 1681.

Continue to : Listings of some of the Unique and Extinct Birds

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