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* The Passenger Pigeon FAQ *
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Created and maintained by
David Staley: dragonraid@yahoo.com
Version 4.50
"The multitudes of Wild Pigeons in our woods are astonishing. Indeed,
after having viewed them so often, and under so many circumstances, I
even now feel inclined to pause, and assure myself that what I am going
to relate is fact." ~ Audubon
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Contents:
0. Is there a disclaimer?
1. What is a Passenger Pigeon?
1.1 Other names for the Passenger Pigeon
2. What are the characteristics of the Passenger Pigeon?
2.1 Physical Characteristics
2.1.1 Size and coloring
2.1.2 Differences with male and female
2.1.3 Vocalization
2.2 Nesting and breeding habits
2.2.1 Squab rearing
2.3 Feeding habits
2.3.1 Foods
2.3.2 Water
2.4 Flight and walking
2.5 Waste
3. What are the details about Passenger Pigeon migration and flocks?
3.1 Migration patterns
3.2 Flock formations
3.3 Notable years and locations
3.3.1 Alexander Wilson 1810
3.3.2 James John Audubon 1813
3.3.3 Wisconsin 1871
3.3.4 Michigan 1878
4. When did the Passenger Pigeon become extinct?
4.1 In the wild
4.2 In captivity
5. How did the Passenger Pigeon become extinct?
5.1 Hunting
5.1.1 Methods of hunting
5.1.2 Reasons for hunting
5.1.3 Passenger Pigeon recipes
5.2 Legislation against Pigeon Hunting
6. What were the stages and effects of Passenger Pigeon depopulation?
7. Can I see a real Passenger Pigeon today?
7.1 Public displays
7.2 Private collections
7.3 Feathers and relics
7.4 In the wild
8. What are some books on Passenger Pigeons?
8.1 The book of books
8.2 Nonfiction
8.3 Fiction
8.4 Juvenile literature about the Passenger Pigeon
8.5 Books and articles with Passenger Pigeon segments
8.6 Poetry about the Passenger Pigeon
9. Is there any audio-visual media with Passenger Pigeon content?
9.1 Music and song
9.2 Video and DVD
10. What are some Webpages on Passenger Pigeons?
11. Where can I buy Passenger Pigeon stuff?
12. Are there any Passenger Pigeon Societies or Organizations?
13. What does it all mean?
14. How can I contribute to this FAQ?
15. What is the history of this FAQ?
16. What are future considerations for this FAQ?
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[0] Is there a disclaimer?
--------------------------
Yes!
However, let me state from the start that this FAQ in an unofficial
document. That is, it is not, at the present time, endorsed nor
sponsored by any organization or persons but is the sole property
of David Staley. By sharing this document with the general public I,
David Staley, am providing a service for edification only.
I have done research to create this FAQ, but I am but an amateur
Passenger Pigeon enthusiast, and do not lay any claim to be an expert
in the topic of or surrounding the Passenger Pigeon or Ornithology. I
do plan on continuing my study of the Passenger Pigeon and perchance,
over time, this FAQ will evolve with my knowledge and the contributions
of others. [13]
Also, this document is not meant to be taken in a heady manner. Yet it
is not to be taken too lightly. There is a balance of sober reality
and love for nature and life that I wish to achieve with this FAQ.
While this FAQ is meant to be an introduction to the Passenger Pigeon, I
hope that those with prior knowledge of this bird will benefit from
this project as well. It is my intention that this FAQ will serve not
only to inform but to edify as well.
Finally, to reduce the redundancy of the name 'Passenger Pigeon' within
this FAQ, periodically terms such as 'the Pigeon', 'the bird', the
names given in [1.1], and even 'PP' will be used in place of the full
name of Passenger Pigeon.
God bless,
David Staley
dragonraid@yahoo.com
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[1] What is a Passenger Pigeon?
-------------------------------
The Passenger Pigeon was a bird that was indigenous in North America up
until the beginning of the twentieth century. It is now extinct. It
is considered to have been the most populous bird in the history of the
world. The population at its high-water mark has been estimated to
have been around 12 Billion in number, although more conservative
estimates place the figure around 5-6 Billion. Still, lots of
Wild Pigeons!
The first recorded report of the Pigeon was made by the French explorer
Jacques Cartier while on Prince Edward Island on July 1, 1534.
[1.1] Other names for the Passenger Pigeon
------------------------------------------------
The earliest common names for the Passenger Pigeon were simply "Pigeon"
or the "Wild Pigeon". Due to its grace and speed in flight and
coloring it also had the nickname of "blue meteor". There is also the
most recent scientific name for the bird which is Ectopistes
migratorius, which basically means "migratory wanderer".
Mark Catesby [8.4] called the pigeon, "Pigeon of Passage". Certainly
this is the source which Thomas Pennant, in 1875, used when he named
the bird the "Passenger Pigeon". This is a good thing to keep in mind
when looking for Passenger Pigeon references in printed material that
date prior to 1875.
These are the commonly known and used names.
However, there have been other names that the Passenger Pigeons have
been called. Even the scientific names evolved over time. All these
name variances are too numerous to mention all in full. I would refer
those interested to Schorger's book [8.1], Chapter 12.
I will mention that the Native Americans had names for the Passenger
Pigeon. For instance, the Narragansettes realized the nature of these
birds and even gave them the name "wuskowhan", which means 'wanderer'.
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[2] What were the characteristics of the Passenger Pigeon?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
There is always more information that is desired for a species
that is extinct, but there is enough data to 'reconstruct' much
understanding of the bird's life in the wild.
Also, since the PP was kept in captivity for some time, much reliable
information has been gathered about the bird. And of course, specimens
now give us the ability to see the bird, albeit dead, up close even
today.
[2.1] Physical Characteristics
-------------------------------
The Passenger Pigeon is a beautiful creation. If you have not seen a
color picture of one seek one out. Many photographs are black and
white and just don't do the bird full justice. Unfortunately, the only
color pictures are of specimens, but you still get the full color of
the real bird in these pictures.
Even though there are great color prints, like that of Audubon, There
is nothing that is the same as seeing the real bird in person. [7]
[2.1.1] Size and coloring
--------------------------
The average lengths were between 15 and 17 inches with a wingspan of
about 8 1/4 inches. They were about 8 1/4 inches tall and weighed an
average of 12 ounces.
The Pigeon had a small head and prominent thin neck which was described
by Thoreau as being "inquisitive". It also had a broad breast and a
long pointed tail which was as long as its pointed wings.
The coloring of the Passenger Pigeon was typically slate-blue on the
head and grayish blue on its back. The throat, foreneck, and breast
were somewhat of a chestnut color fading to a whitish color toward the
tail. The hindneck had an iridescent array of bronze, green and purple
tinge.
[2.1.2] Differences with male and female
----------------------------------------------
As in most birds, the female is not as "flashy" as the male. In the
pictures that I have observed it appears that the female is more
slender or at least sleek looking, and seems to give her more of an
air of elegance about her. This may be due to the fact that she is
more petite than the male bird too?
Her coloring is less iridescent on the hindneck than the male and her
underside is more grayish than white.
[2.1.3] Vocalization
---------------------
What did the Passenger Pigeon sound like? When I hear the smooth
cooing of a Morning Dove I wonder if what I am hearing is a distant
sampling of the sounds of the Wild Pigeon? In some respects it is, but
the Passenger Pigeon was definitely a world apart in its vocalizations.
Perhaps one reason the bird received the name of Wild Pigeon by some
was due to its shrieks, chattering, and clucking? Not as quaint as the
mournful coos one would think to hear from a pigeon.
Many references to the sound common to the Passenger Pigeon was that of
the "Keck". This is further described by Schorger as being something
like a "monosyllabic kee-kee-kee-kee diminishing in power from first to
last." Short coos were however made during breeding season.
[2.2] Nesting and breeding habits
----------------------------------
The Passenger Pigeon had great colonial nestings, varying in size from
many millions to 20 or less. The area covered by these colonial
nestings were more than 40 miles in length. The average nesting area
though was around 31 square miles or about 10 miles in length and 3
miles in width.
They also commonly nested as single pairs or in groups of only a dozen
pairs. However, success in the smaller nestings were not as successful
as the colonial sized ones.
There are some good observations recorded which give some picture of
the courtship of the Passenger Pigeons.
Following copulation soft, toneless clucks were made. The female would
also strike the male two or three times. This act was peculiar to the
Passenger Pigeon. There was some "rushing" towards one another by both
the male and the female, an act which frightened other species of
pigeons, thus making it difficult to crossbreed with great success in
captivity.
About three days after courtship the nest was built of loosely
constructed twigs. The nests were saucer-shaped and about 6-7 inches
in diameter and about 2 1/2 inches thick. The male brought all the
nesting material. It took on average about 3 days to build the nest
and lay the eggs.
It should be mentioned that during the selection of the nesting sight
the pair would be involved in much caressing and cooing.
One or two eggs were laid in the nest.
The last large nesting of the Passenger Pigeon took place in 1878, in
Petosky, Michigan. [3.4]
[2.2.1] Squab rearing
----------------------
Upon laying the eggs, incubation took 13 days and then the dependent
feeding of the squabs took about 14 days.
Both sexes produced milk to feed the young. The young Pigeons fed on
this milk for about six days. Parent birds primarily fed their own
young, but in cases where the young died or didn't finish the supply of
milk the parent birds would feed other young Pigeons.
The young Passenger Pigeons matured very quickly. Between 2-4 weeks
was all it took before the young left the nests.
[2.3] Feeding habits
---------------------
Due to the energy expended because of the length of the migration
flights and the swiftness at which the birds flew, the Passenger Pigeon
had a great appetite. Considering too the large numbers of birds in
the flocks, the daily consumption figures are almost unbelievable.
Based upon Audubon's description of the mass consumption, James Wilson
wrote, "We wonder after this, that any farmer should ever dare to
migrate to America."
During feeding too the Pigeons would constantly "twitter and squeak"
while they ate. Of course, due to the numbers in the flocks this sound
could be heard for nearly a half mile away and sounded something like
the voices of little girls.
One peculiar trait of the Passenger Pigeon was that upon finding a
source of food more to its liking both young and old would throw up the
food that they had previously eaten.
[2.3.1] Foods
--------------
The birds had a varied diet. In the Fall, Winter, and Spring they ate
mostly acorns, chestnuts and beechnuts. During the Summer months they
would eat soft fruits and occasionally plants and seeds. Less than 10%
of the Pigeon diet was insects and worms.
[2.3.2] Water
--------------
While drinking water, the PP would immerse its head in up to its eyes.
It remained in this manner until it was finished drinking.
Occasionally, when a small pond or adequate shoreline could not be
found the pigeon would land on the surface of the water with its
wings spread halfway out, get its drink and then lift off with one
stroke of its wings.
[2.4] Flight and walking
-------------------------
The Passenger Pigeon was a fast bird. It flew at approximately 60 MPH.
It's flight was silent and was executed by very fast rapid flaps of its
wings rather close to its body. When alighting in a tree, the Pigeon
would first dip, then rise before landing upon a branch. Similarly,
when the bird would leave the branch it would take a downward plunge
before rising to flight.
The massive flying flocks have been said to have sounded like distant
thunder. Alexander Wilson [3.3.1] noted that the dense flocks of
Passenger Pigeons flapping their wings during flight was so great that
it terrified his horses and made it difficult to hear another person
speak.
When the Pigeon would walk on the ground it would be with an awkward,
but cautious step. They had short legs and were not extremely agile on
the ground.
[2.5] Waste
------------
Naturally, with flocks the size that they were, Passenger Pigeon waste
would be a force to reckon with. A.W. Schorger states that the
Pigeon's "dung fell like hail". One can only imagine. The odor must
have been horrid as well, especially after a short rain on a warm day.
At their roosts, Alexander Wilson described that their dung "covered to
the depth of several inches" on the ground. Some reports bring depths
of dung up to a foot thick, and in instances where roosts were made in
the same spot in consecutive years the depth would reach up to three
feet thick in certain spots. Indeed the effects of the Pigeons upon an
area would leave its marked effect for several years, killing trees and
plants where the massive amounts of dung had collected.
Some made use of this large resource. Some collected dung to make
saltpeter, yet others were adventurous enough to use the waste of the
Passenger Pigeon as an ingredient for medicinal purposes.
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[3] What are the details about Passenger Pigeon migration and flocks?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Migration and particularly the size of the Passenger Pigeon flocks are
one of the more popular and well known subjects concerning the
Passenger Pigeon. It is where the statistics get staggering. They make
the Passenger Pigeon, to those of us who will never have the chance to
see the spectacle of their enormous flocks, a bit of a mythical legend
although the facts and figures of their flocks are true.
[3.1] Migration patterns
-------------------------
The Passenger Pigeon usually migrated northward near the sign of the
first thaw or as the winter weather lessened in intensity. Weather
heavily influenced the Spring migration of the Passenger Pigeon.
However, if the weather was not that good as the flock continued
northward, the flock would go into a reverse migration back toward the
south.
Fall migration in the North started around the end of August. It
peaked around the first couple weeks of September and usually ended at
the end of that month. As the winter climate began to become
intolerable, the flocks would head toward the southern states.
There are also some claims that the Passenger Pigeon held to no
seasonal migration patterns but was strictly controlled by the
abundance and lack of food.
While food, as weather, influenced the migration patterns of the
Pigeon, I personally find more evidence leaning to seasonal migration
habits being the dominant reasons for migration while the bird was in
abundance.
[3.2] Flock formations
-----------------------
There is conflicting evidence on the formations of the flocks. Verbal
and pictorial examples show both scenes of "V" formations as well as
long columns of birds. It appears that the PP used both of these
techniques.
As a side note, one morning as I was driving to work I noticed a flock
of Canadian Geese that were flying in a straight column, although I
mostly see them flying in a "V" formation or at least in a staggered
'half' "V". This leads me to personally believe that both methods
(column and "V") were used by the Passenger Pigeon.
[3.3] Notable years and locations
----------------------------------
In Colonial times, Catesby [8.5] noted that in Virginia he witnessed a
continual flock that progressed for three successive days. This is a
strong parallel to Audubon's account [3.3.2] in 1813.
Schorger [8.1] has a very detailed date listing of Passenger Pigeon
migration in his book at the end of Chapter 14, pages 269-285. It is
too lengthy to list here in full, but it gives State to State and
Canadian Province details. However, below is a brief analysis of his
research into the 1871 Wisconsin Nesting [3.3.3] as found in Silent
Wings [8.2].
[3.3.1] Alexander Wilson 1810
--------------------------------
Pigeonry en masse. Those are the words that come to my mind when I
consider Alexander Wilson's account of the flock that he witnessed in
1810. He calculated a massive flock of Passenger Pigeons flying past
Frankfort, Kentucky towards the Indiana Territory to be around
2,230,272,000 Pigeons.
Yes, that is 2.2 BILLION Pigeons flocking together!!!
He further calculated that the length of the train of these birds
extended about 240 miles. Also, he estimated that they consumed nearly
17,424,000 bushels of mast per day!
An interesting point concerning their nesting in the area was that
he noticed that there were upwards of 100 nests in some of the trees.
He mentioned that one had to be very cautious when walking under these
nests due to large falling branches. I'm sure there were other things
falling that one would need to be aware of as well. [2.5]
[3.3.2] James John Audubon 1813
----------------------------------
Audubon saw a flock of Passenger Pigeons near the Ohio and Kentucky
border in 1813 that he estimated at being around 1,150,136,000 in
number. Although this great flock of Pigeonry was nearly 1.1 Billion
birds it is interesting to note that it was only 51.6% of the amount
seen in the flock that Wilson saw just 3 years earlier.
James Audubon also is noted as having one of the most popular
eyewitness accounts of PP flock migrations. I don't wish to do his
account an injustice by trying to paraphrase it due to its importance
and style, so below I am including excerpts from his personal account
of his exposure to this awesome sight. These excerpts will also prove
useful in the leading into the topic of hunting. [5.1]
==== ==== ====
"In the autumn of 1813, I left my house at Henderson, on the banks of
the Ohio, on my way to Louisville. In passing over the Barrens a few
miles beyond Hardensburgh, I observed the Pigeons flying from
north-east to south-west, in greater numbers than I thought I had ever
seen them before, and feeling an inclination to count the flocks that
might pass within the reach of my eye in one hour, I dismounted, seated
myself on an eminence, and began to mark with my pencil, making a dot
for every flock that passed. In a short time finding the task which I
had undertaken impracticable, as the birds poured in countless
multitudes, I rose, and counting the dots then put down, found that
163 had been made in twenty-one minutes. I traveled on, and still met
more the farther I proceeded. The air was literally filled with
Pigeons; the light of noon-day was obscured as by an eclipse, the dung
fell in spots, not unlike melting flakes of snow; and the continued
buzz of wings had a tendency to lull my senses to repose.
Whilst waiting for dinner at YOUNG'S inn at the confluence of Salt
river with the Ohio, I saw, at my leisure, immense legions still going
by, with a front reaching far beyond the Ohio on the west, and the
beech-wood forests directly on the east of me. Not a single bird
alighted; for not a nut or acorn was that year to be seen in the
neighbourhood. They consequently flew so high, that different trials
to reach them with a capital rifle proved ineffectual; nor did the
reports disturb them in the least. I cannot describe to you the extreme
beauty of their aerial evolutions, when a Hawk chanced to press upon
the rear of a flock. At once, like a torrent, and with a noise like
thunder, they rushed into a compact mass, pressing upon each other
towards the centre. In these almost solid masses, they darted forward
in undulating and angular lines, descended and swept close over the
earth with inconceivable velocity, mounted perpendicularly so as to
resemble a vast column, and, when high, were seen wheeling and twisting
within their continued lines, which then resembled the coils of a
gigantic serpent.
Before sunset I reached Louisville, distant from Hardensburgh
fifty-five miles. The Pigeons were still passing in undiminished
numbers, and continued to do so for three days in succession. The
people were all in arms. The banks of the Ohio were crowded with men
and boys, incessantly shooting at the pilgrims, which there flew lower
as they passed the river. Multitudes were thus destroyed. For a week or
more, the population fed on no other flesh than that of Pigeons, and
talked of nothing but Pigeons.
==== ==== ====
Many trees two feet in diameter, I observed, were broken off at no
great distance from the ground; and the branches of many of the largest
and tallest had given way, as if the forest had been swept by a
tornado. Every thing proved to me that the number of birds resorting to
this part of the forest must be immense beyond conception. As the
period of their arrival approached, their foes anxiously prepared to
receive them. Some were furnished with iron-pots containing sulphur,
others with torches of pine-knots, many with poles, and the rest with
guns. The sun was lost to our view, yet not a Pigeon had arrived. Every
thing was ready, and all eyes were gazing on the clear sky, which
appeared in glimpses amidst the tall trees. Suddenly there burst forth
a general cry of "Here they come!" The noise which they made, though
yet distant, reminded me of a hard gale at sea, passing through the
rigging of a close-reefed vessel. As the birds arrived and passed over
me, I felt a current of air that surprised me. Thousands were soon
knocked down by the pole-men. The birds continued to pour in. The
fires were lighted, and a magnificent, as well as wonderful and almost
terrifying, sight presented itself. The Pigeons, arriving by thousands,
alighted everywhere, one above another, until solid masses were formed
on the branches all round. Here and there the perches gave way under
the weight with a crash, and, falling to the ground, destroyed hundreds
of the birds beneath, forcing down the dense groups with which every
stick was loaded. It was a scene of uproar and confusion. I found it
quite useless to speak, or even to shout to those persons who were
nearest to me. Even the reports of the guns were seldom heard, and I
was made aware of the firing only by seeing the shooters reloading.
No one dared venture within the line of devastation. The hogs had been
penned up in due time, the picking up of the dead and wounded being
left for the next morning's employment. The Pigeons were constantly
coming, and it was past midnight before I perceived a decrease in the
number of those that arrived. The uproar continued the whole night; and
as I was anxious to know to what distance the sound reached, I sent off
a man, accustomed to perambulate the forest, who, returning two hours
afterwards, informed me he had heard it distinctly when three miles
distant from the spot. Towards the approach of day, the noise in some
measure subsided: long before objects were distinguishable, the Pigeons
began to move off in a direction quite different from that in which
they had arrived the evening before, and at sunrise all that were able
to fly had disappeared."
[3.3.3] Wisconsin 1871
-------------------------
Wisconsin had some very notable flocks that migrated there. In Silent
Wings [8.2] Schorger gives a very detailed account of "The Great
Wisconsin Nesting of 1871". Of course the migration and flocks go hand
in hand with the end result; the nesting.
In this account, the locale from which the birds migrated from is noted
as being from the Mississippi and Rock River valleys in mid-March,
1871. The flocks congregated over an area of 400 square miles west of
the Wisconsin River and an additional 450 square miles to the east of
the Wisconsin River. That is 850 square miles of roosting. With the
estimate of 250 birds per acre by Schorger the total birds in Wisconsin
during 1871 in this nesting colony were 136 Million birds.
[3.3.4] Michigan 1878
------------------------
Petoskey, Michigan in 1878 is commonly cited as being the last large
colonial nesting of Passenger Pigeons. This nesting was probably the
majority of the remaining Pigeons left in the country. In this large
roost there were nearly 1.5 Million birds and covered nearly 100,000
acres. As usual, the slaughter was immense, and estimates of the dead
by the end of the nesting nearly equal the estimated total of the roost
itself. It has also been recorded that over 80,000 birds were taken
alive from the Petoskey nesting.
It is worthy to note that the number of this roost, although still
immense is significantly small compared to what it was 70 years
earlier. Furthermore, with the passage of another decade, no nestings
of more than 100 birds existed.
=======================================================================
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[4] When did the Passenger Pigeon become extinct?
--------------------------------------------------------
As you can tell by Audubon's testimony [3.3.2] man had set himself up
as the great enemy of this bird. The widespread violence and brutality
towards this species is hard to comprehend. The old Western philosophy
that "if a little is good then more is better" seemed to be applied
towards the killing of the Passenger Pigeon. I am assuming that the
prevalent thought of the time was that this enormously populous bird
could never be greatly diminished and that the extinction of the
Passenger Pigeon, despite the killing, was probably beyond belief to
many until it was apparent that the extinction of the Passenger Pigeon
was eminent.
[4.1] In the wild
------------------
In the wild, the Passenger Pigeon met its demise around the turn of the
century. It is hard to pinpoint exactly where and when for all of the
final reports contain an element of controversy. I am going to use
the instance of the final recorded sighting of the bird which occurred
in Ohio in 1900 as the last record of the Passenger Pigeon in the wild.
On March 24, 1900, on a farm near in South Central Ohio's Pike County,
a 14 year old boy named Press Clay Southworth (no kidding) saw a bird
eating their corn. He got permission from his mother to use their
12-gauge shotgun to shoot the bird, and when he went outside he found
it up in a tree.
After the boy had shot and killed the bird he took it to show his
Mother. When his mother saw it she knew that it was a Passenger
Pigeon. This bird, who is named Buttons, is now on display at the Ohio
Historical Society in Columbus, Ohio.
Personally, I look at Buttons as the last true Passenger Pigeon in some
respects due to it truly being a Wild Pigeon. The last Pigeon of the
species didn't die until 14 years later, but she, on the other hand
was born, raised, and died in captivity. In this regards I think that
"Buttons" deserves a bit more distinction than is normally given to it.
[4.2] In captivity
-------------------
The death of the very last Passenger Pigeon that died in captivity is
also surrounded by an element of controversy. Some of the times and
the circumstances differ, the basic fact remains that the last
Passenger Pigeon of the entire species died in the Cincinnati Zoo in
Ohio and was named Martha, after Martha Washington.
It is commonly cited that on September 1, 1914 at 1:00pm Martha was
found dead at the bottom of her cage. She was born and raised and died
in captivity. She was 29 years old when she died.
I have seen referenced an interesting point that Martha was not a
superstar attraction at the Cincinnati Zoo in the eyes of the public
right before her death. In fact, her passing was noted in the press,
but with relatively little recognition despite the fact that she was
the last of her species.
Anyhow, right after she died she was packed in ice and quickly shipped
to Washington DC to be housed at her future resting place in the
Smithsonian Institution.
=======================================================================
-------------------------------------------------------
[5] Why did the Passenger Pigeon become extinct?
-------------------------------------------------------
Man. Plain and simple. Man was the cause of the extinction of this
bird from the face of the earth.
I hate to admit it, but sometimes I do wonder what a Passenger Pigeon
tasted like and what it would have been like to sleep on a mattress
filled with new Passenger Pigeon feathers, even though I am aware that
it was due, in part, to these "markets" that the massive and wasteful
killing of these birds occurred.
The tales of the killing of the Passenger Pigeon, at times, seems to
rival the unbelievable size of their flocks.
[5.1] Hunting
--------------
In my opinion, I believe that the use of the word "hunting " in
regards to the Passenger Pigeon in the days of their large flocks is a
very unfavorable word. It seems that very little skill was required to
be a good "hunter" of the Passenger Pigeon. In fact, it seems as if
even a child could have been successful at hunting the Wild Pigeon.
Indeed, this was the instance in case of the killing of the very last
Passenger Pigeon that was ever recorded in the wild. [4.1]
For a detailed graphic account of the slaughter of these birds, I would
direct anybody to read Chapter VIII, (pages 77-92), of Mershon's book.
[8.2]
[5.1.1] Methods of hunting
---------------------------
The methods of "hunting" the Passenger Pigeon were varied. Some were
the usual methods of hunting, but other methods were more exotic and
were employed due to the nature and makeup of the Passenger Pigeon
roosts and flock size.
One of the more uncommon methods of killing the Pigeons was by
suffocating the birds while they roosted. This was done by burning
grass or sulfur under their roosts.
Using long sticks to knock them out of trees as they roosted or as
their massive flock flew by at low altitude was a cheap method that was
also used.
The more common methods used to kill the Passenger pigeon were blasting
them with shotguns and catching them in large nets. There are many
illustrations and engravings which show these two methods being used in
the hunting of this bird.
Hunters also trapped the Pigeons by using pigeons as decoys. These
"decoys" were tied to a perch, called a stool. (this is the origin of
the term "stool pigeon")
[5.1.2] Reasons for hunting
----------------------------
Flesh of the Pigeons were dark in color, and according to Audubon the
meat afforded "tolerable eating". Early Americans developed a taste
for the bird which created a market demand for its meat. [5.1.3] This
is one of the reasons for the extensive hunting of it.
Another significant reason was the use of the Passenger Pigeon feathers
for the stuffing of bedding or in the use for decorative purposes.
A cruel aspect of hunting the Pigeons was the capture of live Pigeons
for use as target practice at a later date. There is one account in
Cincinnati, Ohio, at a shooting park, where crates filled with nearly
8,000 living Passenger Pigeons were to be used as targets in a
live-bird shooting match.
Then, of course, there was the mere thrill of the hunt. Even not being
a hunter myself, I can only imagine the exhilarating feeling that one
must have felt during a Passenger Pigeon hunt. The maddening chaos
would have been an intense sight to behold and be a part of, but I am
afraid that personally, the guilt of lending my hand to such excessive
slaughter would have far outweighed the benefit of the excitement of
the moment.
An interesting point from a rather interesting source is found in the
1903 book "Our Feathered Game". [8.5] The following is a quote from it
concerning the Passenger Pigeon and I will simply let it speak for
itself for what it is worth. It is something to consider in reference
to the massive killing of the Passenger Pigeon...
"It wasn't done by sportsmen, for no man having the heart of a
sportsman could go into a roost of pigeons and strike down the innocent
fledgling with a club while its mouth was crying for food, and its
mother circled around it trying to win it with piteous cries to take
wing and fly with her away from this threatening danger...it was not
the sportsman who spread the nets and sewed the eyelids of the
stool-pigeons with silken threads, so they would perform to his liking
when tolling their kind to destruction. It was not the sportsman who
shipped the birds in barrels to the market, or in crates to the
shooting-matches."
[5.1.3] Passenger Pigeon recipes
---------------------------------
This may seem to be a gruesome section for this FAQ, but I think that
for the sake of posterity it is important to see just how the pigeons
were prepared for consumption by Americans. Thus this section.
--- --- ---
1) POTTED PIGEONS
Pigeons enough for family
1 cracker per pigeon
1 egg per pigeon
Salt pork
Piece of suet or butter the size of an egg
Sweet marjoram or sage, 1/2 tsp. per bird
Flour
Note: the "cracker" specified in this recipe is more the size of a Civil
War hardtack, not a modern soda cracker. Use 5-6 soda crackers if
hardtack is not available.
Pigeons may be potted, roasted or stewed. Potting is the best, and
the least trouble. After they are thoroughly picked and cleaned, put
a small slice of salt pork, and a little ball of stuffing, into the body
of every pigeon. The stuffing should be made of one egg to one cracker,
an equal quantity of suet, or butter, seasoned with sweet marjoram or
sage, if sweet marjoram cannot be procured. Flour the pigeons well,
lay them close together in the bottom of the pot, just cover them with
water, throw in a bit of butter, and let them stew an hour and a quarter
if young, an hour and three quarters if old. Some people turn off [pour
out] the liquor [pan juices] just before they are done, and brown the
pigeons on the bottom of the pot; but this is very troublesome, as they
are apt to break to pieces.
~ From The American Frugal Housewife by Mrs. Child, published 1833.
[5.2] Legislation against Pigeon Hunting
----------------------------------------------
There was public opposition and some protest concerning the inhumane
slaughter of the Pigeons, and some states did, or attempted to, pass
legislation to limit the hunting of the Passenger Pigeon. However, the
trend was that this legislation was only pushed after the population of
the Pigeons in that state was negligible or nonexistent. In other
words, when the hunting of Pigeons was no longer of viable economic
substance the "need" for protection for the Pigeons became an issue to
pursue.
Regardless, the only state to really pass a strict Pigeon hunting law
was Wisconsin. However, it was also passed when it was beyond the
point of relevance to the Passenger Pigeon. In fact, it was more of a
flagrant insult; a testimony to the effects of the stain of greed on
the hearts of man.
=======================================================================
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
[6] What were the stages and effects of Passenger Pigeon depopulation?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
A bleak fact from the great Passenger Pigeon gathering in Wisconsin
in 1871 [3.3.3] concerning a stage in the bird's depopulation is the
estimate of the birds that were killed by hunters during that nesting.
The conservative figure for the number of Pigeons killed in the
Wisconsin nesting is set at 1.2 Million birds. Although this number is
only 1% of the entire flock that was there, it is evident that the mass
killing of the Pigeons had a toll over the years. Consider how
Wilson's account numbered the flock he witnessed at about 2.2 Billion
birds [3.3.1] in 1910.
Just 61 years later the massive flocks had dwindled by nearly 94% from
their numbers Wilson had seen, and as we know today, another few
decades would see the remainder of the population exterminated in the
wild.
Due to the colonial habits and the reproduction conditions of the Wild
Pigeon, it is understandable why towards the end of the 19th century
this bird was doomed to certain extinction.
Man's attitude certainly contributed to the demise of this species as
well. Not only time, but the actual times in which the Wild Pigeon
found itself surely helped expedite its depopulation. Progressive
reform was not to come into play until the bird was well on the
decline, and attempts to legislate action to save this bird were too
little, too late.
While more research would be interesting in regards to the effect of
the loss of the PP on the environment and ecosystem, another important
aspect that deserves pondering is the effects that the loss of the PP
has had on the North American identity.
Personally, the topic of the Passenger Pigeon has been elevated to much
more of a wide-ranged philosophic issue than one merely of ornithology
or environmental importance. We have a lot to learn from the Passenger
Pigeon. What we have done to ourselves by causing its extinction is a
point that should not be overlooked.
=======================================================================
---------------------------------------------------
[7] Can I see a real Passenger Pigeon today?
---------------------------------------------------
Starting in 1957, a five year search was begun by Paul Hahn [8.5] to
find out how many Passenger Pigeon specimens could be located that were
in collections. A total of 1,532 skins and mounts were located and 16
skeletons. In other words, they are out there to see.
If you are unable to locate a Museum near you to view an actual
specimen of a Passenger Pigeon, there are many opportunities to view a
Passenger Pigeon in both books and online.
In Schroger's book [8.1], Chapter 16, there is a large list of
illustrations that have been made of the bird as well a partial list of
some of the photographs there were available at the time.
Online, the premiere sight to view a real specimen is at Garrie
Landry's sight. [7.2]
If you know of the location of a real passenger pigeon specimen
(private or public) please let me know of it and I will be sure to
include it in future versions of this FAQ. [13]
[7.1] Public displays
----------------------
Chicago Field Museum of Natural History
http://www.fmnh.org
~ 1400 South Lake Shore Drive
Chicago, IL 60605-2496
Phone: (312) 922-9410
Cleveland Museum of Natural History
http://www.cmnh.org
~ 1 Wade Oval Drive, University Circle
Cleveland, Ohio 44106-1767
Phone: (800) 317-9155
F.A. Seiberling Naturealm - Visitors Center
http://www.neo.lrun.com/MetroParks/parks/naturealm.html
~ 1828 Smith Road
Akron, Ohio
Phone: (330) 867-5511
Ohio Historical Center
http://www.ohiohistory.org
~ 1982 Velma Avenue
Columbus, Ohio 43211
Phone: (614) 297-2300
This is but a very partial and limited list. If you know of other
public displays of the Passenger Pigeon, please let me know the details
of it and it will be included in future versions of this FAQ. [13]
[7.2] Private collections
--------------------------
Garrie Landry's online sight "History of my Passenger Pigeon" is
located at: http://www.ulala.org/P_Pigeon/George.html
This single sight is the premiere Passenger Pigeon site on the
Internet. I am not just saying that because Garrie is a great
gentleman. Honestly, there is not only awesome information and
graphics here, including extensive illustrations of prints and also
pictures of real specimens, but the history of his personal Passenger
Pigeon specimen.
You not only are able to view a number of pictures of his specimen,
named "George", but also read an exhaustive history of this bird,
including Garrie's purchase of the bird on Ebay. George is a beautiful
and majestic bird and is a great example of his species. If you are
online and are interested in the Passenger Pigeon (which I assume you
are if you are reading this FAQ) you must check out Garrie's sight.
[7.3] Feathers and relics
--------------------------
One would think that due to the massive amounts of feathers used in
bedding and as decorative pieces there would be a fairly common supply
today. After extensive research I have only had one faithful lead in
the location of an available feather. This is an enigmatic area that I
would love to see expanded on in future versions of this FAQ.
Wood carvings and decoys are also great momentous to the Passenger
Pigeon and are highly collectable. Some are rather generic and plain
in nature, but some take on an almost life-like presence. This is
truly an artform that can enhance the interest in the history and love
of this bird.
[7.4] In the wild
------------------
Well, not so fast. While man has been at the helm of the incessant
killing and slaughter of the Passenger Pigeon, and their numbers are
now recorded as zero, one can still hope. It is probably and exercise
in futility, but for the idealist and dreamer it helps to keep the
vitality of their memory alive.
While I know that there is no large flocks of Passenger Pigeons hidden
away in the jungles of South America, couldn't there perhaps be a small
remnant? Or perhaps with scientific advancement in genetics a Wild
Pigeon could be raised from the past to a present reality?
OK, perhaps I am an idealist. But I do admit that sometimes when I
watch some Morning Dove's bob around and I see some that are much
larger than the others, I sometimes wonder if there is some Passenger
Pigeon blood flowing through some of their veins.
=======================================================================
---------------------------------------------------
[8] What are some books on Passenger Pigeons?
---------------------------------------------------
The following books are ones that I have personally seen and read or
browsed through, unless otherwise noted.
Also, there are many bird books that contain a bit about Passenger
Pigeons, but I am only containing ones that have an unusual piece of
information, illustration, or that were printed prior to the bird's
extinction.
[8.1] The book of books
------------------------
Schorger, A.W. The Passenger Pigeon: It's Natural History and
Extinction. The University of Wisconsin Press. Madison. 1955.
[8.2] Nonfiction
-----------------
A Passing in Cincinnati - September 1, 1914. Office of Communications.
Department of the Interior. Washington: GPO. September, 1
1976.
Bittner, W. Sanford. "Stilled Wings". Echoes. Volume 6. Number 5.
Ohio Historical Society. Columbus. May 1967.
French, John C. The Passenger Pigeon in Pennsylvania. Altoona Tribune
Co. Altoona. 1919.
(This full book is online: http://www.rootsweb.com/~srgp/books/1916pig1.htm)
Mershon, W.B. The Passenger Pigeon. The Outing Publishing Company.
New York. 1907.
Mitchell, Margaret H. The Passenger Pigeon in Ontario. The Reuben
Wells Leonard Bequest. The Univeristy of Toronto Press. 1935.
Schorger, A.W. The Passenger Pigeon: It's Natural History and
Extinction. University of Oklahoma Press. Norman. 1973.
(Reissue)
Scott, Walter E. ed. Silent Wings: A Memorial to the Passenger Pigeon.
The Wisconsin Society for Ornithology. Madison. May, 1947.
Wisconsin Stories: Passenger Pigeons. "Some Documents Relating to the
Passenger Pigeon". State Historical Society of Wisconsin.
Madison. 1976.
[8.3] Fiction
--------------
Eckert, Allan W. The Silent Sky: The Incredible Extinction of the
Passenger Pigeon. Little, Brown and Company. Boston. 1965.
(This title is currently reprinted at http://www.iuniverse.com for order)
Johnson, James Ralph. The Last Passenger. The Macmillan Company. New
York. 1956.
[8.4] Juvenile literature about the Passenger Pigeon
--------------------------------------------------------
Coleman, Graham. The Extinct Species Collection - Passenger Pigeon.
Gareth Stevens Publishing. Milwaukee. 1996.
Erdrich, Louise. Grandmother's Pigeon. Hyperion Books for Children.
New York. 1996.
Gordon, Esther S. and Bernard L. Once There Was a Passenger Pigeon.
Henry Z. Walck, Inc. New York. 1976.
Johnson, James Ralph. The Last Passenger. The Macmillan Company. New
York. 1956.
Morrison, Susan Dudley. The Passenger Pigeon: Gone Forever Series.
Crestwood House. New York. 1989.
[8.5] Books and articles with Passenger Pigeon segments
-----------------------------------------------------------
Acken. C.S. "How Indians Caught Wild Pigeons (1920)". A Collection
of Ethnographical Articles on the California Indians. Ed.
Robert F. Heizer. Ballena Press. Ramona, CA. 1976.
(note: article originally from Forest and Stream, July 1920)
Albrecht Jr., Carl W. "The Peaceable Kingdom: Ohio on the Eve of
Settlement." Timeline. Vol. 2. No. 3. Ohio Historical
Society. Columbus. June/July 1985. (Page 21)
Apgar, Austin C. Birds of the United States: East of the Rocky
Mountains. American Book Company. Cincinnati. 1898. (pages
214-216)
Cokinos, Christopher. Hope is a Thing with Feathers: A Personal
Chronicle of Vanished Birds. Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnum.
New York. 2000. (pages 195-278)
Edey, Maitland. "Once there were millions, now there are none." LIFE.
Vol. 51. No. 25. December 22, 1961. (pages 169-176)
Feduccia, Alan ed. Catesby's Birds of Colonial America. The
University of North Carolina Press. Chapel Hill. 1985.
(pages 60-63)
Foster, David R. Thoreau's Country: Journey Through a Transformed
Landscape. Harvard University Press. Cambridge. 1999.
(pages 167-175)
Fuller, Errol. Extinct Birds. Viking/Rainbird. New York/London.
1987 (pages 112-117)
Grosvenor, Gilbert and Alexander Wetmore ed. The Book of Birds Volume
1. National Geographic Society. Washington DC 1937.
(pages 252-253)
Hahn, Paul. Where is that Vanished Bird? An Index to the Known
Specimens of the Extinct and near Extinct North American
Species. The Governors of The University of Toronto.
University of Toronto Press. 1963. (pages 1-3; 64-180)
Huntington, Dwight W. Our Feathered Game. Charles Scribner's Sons.
New York. June, 1903. (pages 339-345; 386; Plate XXVIII)
Perelman, Michael. The Natural Instability of Markets: Expectations,
Increasing Returns, and the Collapse of Capitalism. St.
Martin's Press. New York. 1999. (pages 53-56)
Price, Jennifer. Flight Maps: Adventures with Nature in Modern
America. Basic Books. New York. 1999. (pages ix-xxii;
1-55; 257-269)
Rice, Paul and Peter Mayle. As Dead as a Dodo. David R. Godine,
Publisher. Boston. 1981. (page x)
Shufeldt, Dr. R.W. Anatomical and Other Notes on the Passenger Pigeon
(Ectopistes Migratorius) Lately Living in the Cincinnati
Zoological Gardens. The Auk. Vol. 23. No. 1. January, 1915.
American Ornithologists' Union. Cambridge, MA. (pages 28-41)
Steele, Philip. Extinct Birds: and Those in Danger of Extinction.
Franklin Watts. New York. 1991. (pages 16-17)
Stoutenburg, Adrien. A Vanishing Thunder: Extinct and Threatened
American Birds. The Natural History Press. New York. 1967.
(pages 11-39)
Sullivan, Sarah L. Indian Trails: A Reprint of Historical Articles.
"The Passing of the Wild Pigeon". Cincinnati. 1967.
(pages 41-43)
[8.6] Poetry about the Passenger Pigeon
----------------------------------------
Brock-Broido, Lucie. "The Last Passenger Pigeon in the Cincinnati Zoo".
Walk on the Wild Side: Urban American Poetry Since 1975. Ed.
Nicholas Christopher. Charles Scribner's Sons. New York. 1994.
(pages 15-16)
Jeffers, Robinson. "Passenger Pigeons (1949)". So Glorious a Landscape:
Nature and the Environment in American History and Culture. Ed.
Chris J. Magoc. Scholarly Resources Inc. Wilmington, DE. 2002.
(pages 245-247) Also Online. Last Accessed 11/2/03. Located:
http://www.ethanrussell.com/robison.htm
Kronen, Steve. "Passenger Pigeons". Emprical Evidence. The University of
Georgia Press. Athens, GA. 1992. (page 24)
Penha, James. "September 1, 1914 The Last Passenger Pigeon Receives a
Guest". Indonesia. Online. Last Accessed 7/10/02. Located:
http://www.poetrymagazine.com/archives/1998/october/penha.htm
Quinn, Joseph W. "The Passenger Pigeon". Ohio. Online. Last Accessed
11/02/03. Located: http://www.angelfire.com/oh/raraavis/quinn.html
Staley, David. "Ode to the Passenger Pigeon". Akros Review. Vol 31. The
University of Akron Press. Akron, OH. 2002. (page 94) NOTE: This
poem is an updated version of "One And Then Another", listed below.
Staley, David. "One And Then Another". Online. Last Accessed 11/2/03.
Located: http://www.ulala.org/P_Pigeon/Poem.html
Still, James. From the Mountain, From the Valley: New and Collected Poems.
"Passenger Pigeons" Ed. Ted Olson. The University Press of
Kentucky. Lexington. 2001. (page 51)
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
[9] Is there any audio-visual media with Passenger Pigeon content?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
There are some media resources that contain PP content out there. The
ones that I have found so far, especially in video form, are pretty
limited in content. Usually only to a passing reference. Most are
pretty rare and hard to find. If you know of any media coverage about
the Passenger Pigeon please let me know and I will include it here.
When I first started this FAQ, there was a link to an animated gif of a
Passenger Pigeon that was offered by some graphics company for d/l.
However, the link was dead and no attempts to contact the company had
any success in getting a response. Same goes for a "3D" photograph of
Martha that was apparently on the Smithsonian site for researchers only.
No success has been obtained in finding if the photo is still available
or not. Any leads to either of these items would be greatly appreciated!
[9.1] Music and song
---------------------
John Herald - John Herald
1973 Paramount Records PAS 6043
"Martha (Last of the Passenger Pigeons)"
~ Listen to the a demo and read the lyrics:
http://www.hvmusic.com/artists/johnherald/martha.shtml
Happy Traum - Bright Morning Stars
1980 - Greenhays GR703
"Passenger Pigeon" (written by John Herald)
http://theband.hiof.no/albums/bright_morning_stars.html
Dahlem Environmental Education Center
Camp Songs Cassette Tapes
Volume 1
"The Passenger Pigeon Song/Wind Upon the Shoulders"
http://www.dahlemcenter.org/Camps/memos.htm
[9.2] Video and DVD
------------------
The Life of Birds - by David Attenborough
Volume 5, Episode 10: The limits of endurance
CBS/Fox Video, 1999.
=======================================================================
------------------------------------------------------
[10] What are some Webpages on Passenger Pigeons?
------------------------------------------------------
There are many great sites out there on the Internet devoted in full,
or in part, to the Passenger Pigeon. Of course, there are many, many
more than can be listed here. These are ones that I personally find
very edifying. Here are the links to some of these sites and a brief
description of what they contain.
http://www.passengerpigeon.org
The Passenger Pigeon Society Homepage
~ This is the official site of the Passenger Pigeon Society. Check
this site out and join the Society for free.
http://www.ulala.org/P_Pigeon/George.html
History of my Passenger Pigeon
~ This site is simply awesome. The information is great, and the story
surrounding George is simply fascinating to read and makes this site
totally unique. If you only look at one Passenger Pigeon webpage, make
this the one...too.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~srgp/books/1916pig1.htm
The Passenger Pigeon in Pennsylvania
~ This is the full book published in 1919 and written by John French
[8.2]. This is a great book, and considering it is extremely rare and
expensive, this site is an awesome find!
http://members.aol.com/duiven/articles/birdlore//birdlore.htm
Birdlore articles on the Passenger Pigeon from 1913
~ This is a great site with the text and images from a 1913 article
on the Passenger Pigeon that originally appeared in Birdlore. This
is great stuff!
http://community.webtv.net/ectopistes/PassengerPigeon
http://community.webtv.net/ectopistes/ThePassengerPigeon
http://community.webtv.net/ectopistes/MYPASSENGERPIGEONS
~These are links to a valuable collection of passenger pigeon pictures.
A must visit for some unique picture captures by a great artist and
longtime contributor to the Extinct Bird discussion list.
http://www.geocities.com/dragonraid/birds/pp
My personal Passenger Pigeon page.
~ It is the 'official' home of this FAQ and also has lots of links and
an original Passenger Pigeon Poem that I wrote. I also have a budding
Passenger Pigeon Aviary which houses photographs of Passenger Pigeons
who were living at the time they were taken.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/extinctbirds
The Extinct Birds Discussion List
~ This discussion list is one that I, David Staley, moderate and it is
dedicated to the discussion of all extinct birds, including the
Passenger Pigeon. It is open to all who wish to join and discuss any
aspect that pertains to the Wild Pigeon or events that surround it.
From its life and extinction to more philosophic meandering.
http://enquirer.com/editions/2000/03/24/loc_passenger_pigeon.html
A The Cincinnati Enquirer Article on Buttons
~ This is an article that appeared in the Cincinnati Enquirer that focuses
on Buttons, the last wild Passenger Pigeon.
http://www.birdnature.com/jan1898/passengerpigeon.html
http://www.birdnature.com/jan1898/passengerpigeon1.html
http://www.birdnature.com/jul1898/passenger.html
Articles from Birds and Nature magazine from 1898
~ Some articles about the PP that occured before its extinction. Again,
good stuff.
http://www.valleynewsonline.com/News/2001/0818/Sports/094.html
Alas, the passenger pigeon ~ Article from The Sportman's World
~ This is a significant article by Leon Archer about the Passenger Pigeon.
http://www.wildbirds.org/apidesay.htm
Extinction of the Passenger Pigeon -- The True Story
~Text from a 1917 essay by Edward Howe Forbush. Nice overview of the species
and its extinction.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=passenger%2Bpigeon
This isn't really a website on Passenger Pigeons in and of itself, but
it is a search on the Passenger Pigeon with the best search engine that I
have found to find into on the PP. If you are able to copy/paste the
above into your address window you will save you some typing. In any
case you will be greatly rewarded in your search for PP info. On the site
there is also a tab that will able you to conduct a search specifically
for PP images too!
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22wild+pigeon%22
This link is basically the same as the Google Search from above, but it is
for "Wild Pigeon". It isn't as specific as "Passenger Pigeon", of course,
but it will turn up other PP sites that may not otherwise be found with
the previous search.
http://www.si.edu/resource/faq/nmnh/passpig.htm
Some good information about the Passenger Pigeon from the Smithsonian
Institution's "Encyclopedia Smithsonian". There is also a good picture of
Martha there that is in color.
http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/chf/pub/surveyreports/may-jun98/color.html
Here is a site that has a couple line drawing pictures of the Passenger
Pigeon. One is just the PP, and the other pinpoints the varying colors
of the PP. It is a nice little site and could actually be used for kids
to color when printed out.
http://www.ris.net/~tony/ppigeon.html
The Passenger Pigeon
~ A Passenger Pigeon page with basic information and a link to John
Herald's song about Martha, the last Passenger Pigeon.
http://www.inform.umd.edu/PBIO/darwin/dw04.html
1858 Darwin-Wallace paper on evolution
~ On this page, Wallace expounds a bit on the ready food supply
and ability of the great Passenger Pigeon to obtain it. He surmises
that due to this the species is destined to survive regardless of the
interference of man....interesting piece with the advantage of
hindsight.
http://www.nancymatson.com/ppiglp.htm
Lesson Plan: Passenger Pigeons
~A nice, short lesson plan to teach grade 4-6 children about the
Passenger Pigeon. Many of the links are dead, but you could easily
substitute other links.
http://www.cpawscalgary.org/education/free-resources/saving-our-species.html
We’re All Passengers
~Scroll Down and you will see the link to a PDF file that contains a basic
lesson for kids about extinction, in particular, that of the Passenger
Pigeon. The only problem is that the refer to Martha being in the St.
Louis Zoo instead of the Cincinnati Zoo.
http://darwin.bio.uci.edu/~sustain/bio65/lec03/b65lec03.htm
Extinction and Depletion from Over-Exploitation
~ The title of the page describes its contents pretty well. This is an
info page that includes a bit on the Passenger Pigeon among information
on other species and commentary.
=======================================================================
------------------------------------------------
11. Where can I buy Passenger Pigeon stuff?
------------------------------------------------
At the present, I am not aware of any store or website that
specifically offers Passenger Pigeon items except perhaps for the
common books, and even those are rare. If you can't locate a book to
buy on the online sources below (or even if you can) I would strongly
recommend you check out your nearby college library or your public
library.
Some places online to check are:
http://www.ebay.com
Ebay Auctions
~ Over time, you can pretty much find most anything on Ebay. I have
seen many books (including Mershon's 1907 book "The Passenger Pigeon",
decoys, and the ever-present 'prints') This is also where Garrie
Landry bought his real Passenger Pigeon! [7.2]
http://www.amazon.com
Amazon
~ Basically Amazon is good for books, and will even do a search for
ones that are out of print.
http://www.ulala.org/P_Pigeon/For_Sale.html
Garrie Landry's For Sale Page
~ Here, you can find some great Passenger Pigeon prints and items that
are for sale.
=======================================================================
--------------------------------------------------------------------
12. Are there any Passenger Pigeon Societies or Organizations?
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Towards the completion of version 1.00 of this FAQ I was not aware
of any special societies dedicated to the Passenger Pigeon. Therefore,
I created an email discussion list for the Wild Pigeon. This has since
been updated to include all extinct birds.
Webpage: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/extinctbirds
To subscribe to the list please send an email to:
extinctbirds-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
However, I am very happy to say that in November 2000 I discovered that
Garrie Landry [7.2], the owner of "George", began The Passenger Pigeon
Society. It is in its "squab" state right now, but is growing. It is
free to join, and you can easily find out more by simply visiting the
website at:
http://www.passengerpigeon.org
=======================================================================
--------------------------
13. What does it all mean?
--------------------------
Here is where I could wax eloquently concerning the Passenger Pigeon,
but I will try to keep it short.
When I think of the Passenger Pigeon, something of the enigmatic nature
of this bird draws me. The massive migrations and nestings and all the
facts that surround these events. Those are very interesting to me.
However, it is a bird. A pigeon at that. At one time a common pigeon,
but over time, and by the hands of man, this bird became extinct. I
believe that is what really draws me. This and the issues that
surrounded the Wild Pigeon's demise.
When I casually ask people if they've ever heard about the Passenger
Pigeon, most say 'yes'. However, they usually think that I am
referring to the Carrier Pigeon or the common bird that is in abundance
here in Northern Ohio, the Morning Dove.
When I begin my brief testimony on this bird many people are a bit
confounded about what to make of it. And they should be.
To me, it is rather akin to the United States slavery issue or the
forced Westward exodus of Native Americans and the whirlwind of events
that surrounded those issues. Indeed, those issues were in heated
debate during the heavy hunting of the Passenger Pigeon. I don't think
that it is ironic that the Passenger Pigeon's demise occurred around
the time of America's expansionistic view or with the great
industrialization trends that were taking place in Northern America. I
believe that considering the people, their perspectives, and the times
leading to the extinction of the Passenger Pigeon, their extinction was
like writing on the wall.
There are many social and environmental issues that I would like to
research more to gain further understanding of the fuller range of the
'why's' surrounding the extinction of the Passenger Pigeon and its
effect upon the American identity. I know that it is but a part, but
I believe that it is a clear indicator of the bigger picture than one
might believe. It is more than the extinction of a species. It is the
condition of the human heart, a significant factor in a transitional
growth period of the "great Republic experiment" of America, and a sign
for modern day man that our actions are not islands unto themselves,
but effect the living world around us.
I think that the Passenger Pigeon can be elevated into a myth, but I
don't dare do that. At least, not entirely. It was real. It had a
real impact on life in America only 150 years ago. Time seems to move
so fast today, but really, 150 years is not that long ago. We are
still carrying baggage from that "by-gone era". Surely, buried down
in the closets of our Grandparents or Great Grandparents, or perhaps
hidden in an attic with a Confederate or Union button lies a piece of
the Passenger Pigeon history. If you look deep enough you will see
that this bird isn't so far removed from your life today.
Here is a poem that I wrote as an ode to the Passenger Pigeon that
will help to put a lot of my feelings and motives for doing this FAQ
in perspective. It appeared in the Akros Review in 2002 as "Ode to the
Passenger Pigeon" [8.6].
-- -- --
One And Then Another
One and then another
and then another just the same
Then dark and living clouds descend
with the thunder of a billion wings
A mighty mass of movement
The thick and musty stench
The unheard of sound surrounding
the breaking of the branch
"Here they come!"; the cry is heard
Then movement on the ground
A deadly storm is coming quick
with greed and violent sounds
With pole or net or gun
the targets are the same
Though a million are left for dead
the loss is seen as gain
Then away the clouds arise
A billion to their fate
Dashed to the ground from different skies
to pillow, plate, or crate
The living clouds descend
Each one marked with a numbered wing
Billions are millions are thousands
and then; one is left to sing
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14. How can I contribute to this FAQ?
-------------------------------------
Public participation in this FAQ is encouraged and if you wish to make
comments and suggestions or submit items for possible inclusion, just
email me, David Staley, at the following address:
dragonraid@yahoo.com
While I did do much studying in preparation for this FAQ it is by no
means unflawed. In fact, I hope that those more knowledgeable than I
will be infuriated at the blatant errors I have undoubtedly (yet
unintentionally) made and be quick to send me comments, suggestions,
and (better yet) sections and updates!
When these come through I will be sure to update this FAQ and release
subsequent versions to the public when able.
I am really interested in trying to obtain any leads or hard data that
concerns testimonies from relatives or where-abouts of birds on display
or in private collections. Like the Hahn's search begun in 1957 [7], I
would like to start to build a database of Passenger Pigeon material
that is not already published in books. While I believe that I, alone,
can't possibly be the sole source to collecting this data, perhaps it
could be a start. Any partial or complete information would be welcome.
As far as updates to the FAQ, I would like to ask that when you send
in your comments and suggestions you would cite the section number in
question. And, if able, please cite your sources when you give data
for updates.
I am willing to expand and desire to add sections that I haven't
thought of so please don't hesitate to let me know what you'd like to
see. If you have the time or desire, feel free to write a section too.
I will be sure to give you credit if you give me your permission.
Thank you!
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------------------------------------
15. What is the history of this FAQ?
------------------------------------
I am not sure what created the desire in me to find out more about the
Passenger Pigeon, but for some reason I was drawn to this enigmatic
bird. After doing some casual searching on the Web I found some good
information and some nice pictures about the 'Wild Pigeon' that really
increased my interest. I then began checking the libraries for books
on the Passenger Pigeon and ran into even more diverse and detailed
information on the bird.
I began to consider compiling the information I was running across
into an essay on the bird for my personal use. During some surfing on
the Internet I ran across a site on the Dodo bird, which I also find
fascinating, and found a FAQ on there that was made by David Reilly.
FYI, this site is: http://www.davidreilly.com/dodo.
I started to think that perhaps there was a FAQ out on the Internet for
the Passenger Pigeon that I could use as a simple reference for my
study of this bird. (At the time I was knee-deep in classwork and I
didn't have time to read each book that I had acquired) After
searching for about a week on a number of sites and search engines I
could not locate any FAQ on the Passenger Pigeon.
Thus, this FAQ.
On October 27, 2000 I began the basic outline of this FAQ, based in
part on David Reilly's Dodo FAQ, and based in part on other FAQ's that
I had used in the past (including heavy influence from Troels
Pleimert's "Official Space Quest FAQ"). The first public presentation
of the Passenger Pigeon FAQ was made on 12/06/00.
It is now stored at: http://www.geocities.com/dragonraid
This is where you will be able to get the most current version of the
Passenger Pigeon FAQ under the Passenger Pigeon section.
Thus concludes the "history" of this FAQ for version 1.00.
Version 1.10 - Done on 12/07/00. Mostly what was done was some major
spelling and grammatical corrections throughout the FAQ. Many thanks
to my wife, Beth, for her close proofing of this FAQ. I also made a
correction in the "high-water" mark population estimates [1] thanks to
input by Garrie Landry.
Version 2.00 - Done on 01/08/01. Updated the Wild Pigeon email
discussion list info to be that of the Extinct Birds email discussion
list info. I also moved the section "Books and articles with Passenger
Pigeon segments" from [8.4] to [8.5] and created a new section for
[8.4] for juvenile PP literature. I believe that it is important
to create an interest in young people about this bird and wanted to
have a specific section that had resources for those who wished to do
just that.
Version 2.10 - Done on 01/23/01. Updated some segments that referenced
Paul Hahn's search for vanished bird specimens [7 and 8.5] and updated
the book sections [8] with new resources. I also made a couple like
changes in wording here and there. Today I saw my first Passenger
Pigeons in person. Two males and two females.
Version 2.20 - Done on 1/26/01. Some updates for the Extinct Birds
discussion group since Yahoo took over eGroups. Also, I moved the
"official" holding place for the PP FAQ, and have updated that info
and done a couple other minor adjustments. I have also added a couple
more books.
Version 2.21 - Done on 03/08/02. Updated my email address. Also added
a couple good website addresses.
Version 3.00 - Done on 04/03/02. Updated links, removing dead ones.
Added poem, "One And Then Another" to the 'What does it all mean?'
section [12]. Added a section on Passenger Pigeon recipes [5.1.3].
Version 3.10 - Done on 04/04/02. Added important resource to section
[8.5]. Added section for future considerations for the FAQ [15].
Version 3.11 - Done on 04/05/02. Fixed some minor typos and formatting
errors.
Version 3.20 - Done on 04/25/02. Added many more resources to section
[8] and alphabetized listing. Added section [8.6].
Version 4.00 - Done on 06/26/02. Added some more resources to section
[8]. Added a location to secton [7.1], the Ohio Historical Center,
where Buttons (the last 'wild' Passenger Pigeon is displayed). Created
section [9] Is there any audio-visual media with Passenger Pigeon
content?
Version 4.10 - Done on 7/11/02. Added the ever-expanding resources section
[8]. Went through and updated some known typos.
Version 4.50 - Done on 11/2/03. Added a number of good links and expanded
some comments and information throughout.
=======================================================================
----------------------------------------------------
16. What are future considerations for this FAQ?
----------------------------------------------------
There are a couple items that I would like to explore more indepth and
include details on in this FAQ.
One question that keeps coming to my mind is; Are there accounts of the
Passenger Pigeon from Civil War sources? I would like to explore how the
PP figured into those involved with the Civil War. Were there flock
sightings? Did they rely on the PP as a food resource? Are there diary
entries that pertain to the PP or better yet a photograph of a PP in the
wild, even in the background of one of the many photos of the Civil War
that are available? The ultimate find, the pot of gold at the end of the
rainbow for me, personally, is to one day find and/or get to see a
photograph of a Passenger Pigeon in the wild. I know that this is rather
idealistic, but I remain hopeful that there is one (probably of very poor
quality) out there somewhere.
I have heard word that there is a Passenger Pigeon museum in the works as
well as a documentary. I don't have any further details, but from what I
understand it is a private endeavor. I hope that as it gains momentum the
call can go out to current PP enthusiasts for assistance and support of
these projects and it will help this dream become a reality.
I would also like to expand the listing of PP exhibits too. If you have
any information of PP exhibits, please send details following model given
in section [7.1], if possible, and they will be included in future
editions of the FAQ.
On a final note, I would like to say that I have read through
Christopher Cokinos' book "Hope is a Thing with Feathers" [8.5]. That
book is incredible. I highly recommend it to anybody who wants to
learn more about extinct birds. The section on the Passenger Pigeon is
one of the best and most unique pieces on the bird that I have ever read!
If you want somebody to learn more about the Passenger Pigeon, Cokinos
section onthe bird would be an ideal selection. It is easy and personable
and if you haven't yet read the book, pick it up. Best yet, you can order
a copy directly from the Passenger Pigeon Society at a good price. Plus,
"All profits made...from the sales of this book (ordered from the site
below) will be directed towards the first printed publication of
The Passenger Pigeon Society." Check it out at:
http://www.ulala.org/P_Pigeon/Cokinos.html
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