The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1910-12-08
One Wild Pigeon Left.
Lone Ohio Bird Survives Breed of Bill
lions. Other Species Near Extinction.

Lone OnlO DI0 SURVIVES DIeeu VI Dll-
lions. Other Species Near Extinction.
NEW YORK, December S. One solitary
passenger pigeon, ending her life at the
Geological Garden in Cincinnati, is today
all that remains of an American species
that early in the last century swarmed
over the continent in flocks numbering
billions, according to reports just receiv-
ed at the headquarters of the National
Association of Audubon Societies in this
city. With the death of this sole sur
vivor Of a bird tribe whose nesting
places often covered hundreds of square
miles there will soon disappear the last
trace of the wild pigeons that have been
slaughtered by the million by men who
fed their hogs upon the carcasses they
could not carry away. Though it is too
late to save this species, special efforts
are now being made by the Audubon
workers to bring about the restoration
of other birds of economic value that
must otherwise share the same fate.
For many months systematic search
has been made throughout the contin ent
by officials of the Audubon Association
for relics of the once prolific Passenger
Pigeon. Members of the organization
headed by Professor C. F. Hodge of
Clark University have made a standing
offer of $1,000 to anyone discovering
nest of this species; but, though thou
sands have been trying eagerly for the
prize, not one single claimant has ap-
peared. In response to recent inquiry
by T. Gilbert Pearson, secretary of the
National Association Of Audubon Socie-
ties the authorities of the Cincinnati
Zoo have Just furnished the last chapter
in the tragic tale of these butchered
birds. The Last of the Passenger pig
cons is female, 12 years old, whose
mate died recently without issue at the
age of "a.
AS late as 1877 what is now known to
have been the last nesting place of these
wild birds was found in the State of
Michigan, where their nests thickly COW
cred the trees over an area % miles long
and 4 miles wide. Residents of this city
declare that in 1850 they flocked over
Manhattan Island is such numbers that
they obscured the sun and that ships
loaded in bulk with the bodies of these
birds lay at the wharves selling them at
cent apiece. Audubon is quoted as OBJ
serving roosting place of wild pigeons
in Kentucky early in the last century
that extended 40 miles and was Smiles
in width. On its edges men with guns,
nets, clubs and torches slaughtered the
roosting birds, each often bagging 500 in
one day. When the wholesale butchers
could carry away no more, they let loose
droves of hogs to fatten on what was
left. About 1866 this treatment began
to thin the ranks of the passenger pig
cons, till two years ago it was discover
ed that only could be found on the
whole continent, at Milwaukee and in
Cincinnati.
Declaring that practically all the gulls
and terms in America today have surviv-
ed solely through the work Of protection
and restoration at their reservations,
leaders of the National Association of
Audubon Societies are now appealing to
the people of this country to support the
work of preserving dying species of ma
tive birds which they have already be-
gun. The Upland Plover, Cabot's Tern
and the Least Tern, they assert, cal now
be saved to the nation by quick emer
gency measures for which special funds
are to be raised. The work of restoring
the Wood Duck and other game birds
that are threatened with the fate of the
Passenger Pigeon is to be undertaken by
the Audubon workers with the support
of the sportsmen of the country. Sad as
is the passing of the Passenger Pigeon,
its lesson may avert the extinction of
other valuable species, it is declared, if
the American people rally at once to
save their remaining bird resources.