The Dodo Bird | History, Story and Resources for Dodobirds The Story of the Dodo Bird A Reference Site for The Dodo Bird and it's History The Dodo bird or Raphus Cucullatus was a flightless bird native to the island of Mauritius, near the island of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. The closest relatives to the dodo bird are pigeons and doves, even though dodo birds were much larger in size. On average, dodo birds stood 3 feet tall and weighted about 40 lb. Unfortunately, due to aggressive human population, dodo birds became extinct in late 17th century. The Dodo Bird Location Dodo Birds, while now extinct, were found only on the small island of Mauritius, some 500 miles east of Madagascar, and 1200 miles east of Africa. The complete isolation of this island let the Dodo Birds grow and evolve without natural predators, unfortunately to a fault that led to their extinction. The History of the Dodo Bird What Would You Do? History of the Dodo Bird The first documented appearance of the dodo bird is in the early 15th century by Dutch explorers.

Dutch vice-admiral Wybrand Van Warwijck used the name “walgyogel” in his journal to describe the bird after his visit to the island of Mauritius in 1598. The origins of word dodo to describe the bird is still unclear, but some ascribe it to the Dutch word dodoaars referring to the birds knot of feathers. Even though the Portuguese visited the island first in 1507, no records show of them mentioning the bird. But, according to the Portuguese dictionary, the word “dodo” is derived from doido meaning “fool” or “crazy”. Morphology and Flighlessness In 2005 , an international team of researchers excavated the remains of dodo birds at the city of Mare Aux Songes on the island of Mauritius. A number of bone remains were found, and from this expedition scientists at the Oxford University of Natural History and Dublin’s Natural History Museum were able to assemble specimens of the bird from the disassociated remains.

A Dutch painter, Roelant Savery, composed some of the earliest drawings of the dodo bird depicting bird to be gray color, with small wings, a 9 inch bill with hocked point, stout yellow legs and with a tuft of curly feathers high on the bird’s rear end. Even though the dodos were small birds of only 40 pounds and 3 feet tall, their sternum was insufficient to support flight. As a result, dodo birds were ground nesting birds who feed on fruit and utilized the island’s ecosystem without any predators. Even though the original drawing of the bird portrayed dodo’s as fat and clumsy, scientists have challenged that view. Because the island of Mauritius has dry and wet seasons, dodo birds gained weight at the end of the wet season and slimed down when food was scarce during the dry season of the island. This developed the dodo birds’ image as a “greedy” bird with a large appetite. Most of the birds portrayed in drawing were probably captive, overfed dodos. Extinction Because the dodo bird’s natural environment lacked any significant predators, dodos were fearless of people. This, combined with flightlessness, made them an easy prey.

With combination of human hunting and becoming prey for animals brought onto the island by the explorers (i.e. dogs, cats, pigs, and rats) dodo birds became extinct in late 17th century. Upon the initial extinction, very few took notice of the bird. In the early 19th century, scientific interest in the dodo bird was rekindled after some evidence of the bird was found in the swamp on its native island. Also, the use of dodo bird as a character in the Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland sparked interest in the dodo bird with the general public. Since then, multiple films, cartoons and other media have used dodo birds as an example of an extinct species. In Recent Times In July 2007, scientists found a best yet preserved dodo bird skeleton to date. Besides being the most accurate and preserved specimen of the extinct species, scientists were able to extract a sample DNA. Prior to this the only other DNA sample available came from a skeleton brought to Britain in 15th-century when dodo's were newly extinct. The new DNA sample allowed scientists to further determine the bird's characteristics and its relationship with other birds.

Also the findings of the new DNA sample raises the new questions: Could the scientists resurrect the dodo bird from extinctions and should they? Get some Dodo Swag! Logic Media | Louisville Web Design For more than 350 years, dodo birds have been extinct on this planet. Learn more about these amazing creatures, their history, habitat, and unique characteristics. When did the dodo go extinct? Maybe later than we thought - NBC News Oct 9 2013, 2:07 pm ET When did the dodo go extinct? Maybe later than we thought by Douglas Main advertisement A museum employee looks at a dodo in display at the 'Extinction: Not the End of the World?' exhibition at The Natural History Museum on Feb. 5 in London. Peter Macdiarmid When geophysicist Andrew Jackson was poring over 17th-century observations of Earth's magnetic field, perhaps the last thing he expected to discover was a new potential extinction date for the dodo, the goofy-looking, flightless bird that became a poster child of extinct species.

The Earth's magnetic field , created by molten iron in the outer core, is the protective envelope around the planet that guards the surface against bursts of solar radiation; without it, life as we know it would cease to exist. Studying the ancient magnetic field of the planet helps scientists to better understand the present-day magnetic field and how it will change in the future, said Jackson, a geophysicist at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland. This is where the dodo comes in. Later extinction date? In the course of looking at past geophysical measurements around the globe, Jackson ran across several writings by Benjamin Harry, a 17th-century British sailor and scientist who was the first person to measure the inclination, or angle, of the Earth's magnetic field in various spots in the Southern Hemisphere. This measurement helped to vindicate the idea that the planet had such a field emanating from deep underground, and helped give rise to the modern understanding of geomagnetism.

[ 50 Interesting Facts About The Earth ] Though Harry is little-known, he shouldn't be, Jackson said: Besides his important and detailed geomagnetic recordings, he made detailed drawings of the Great Comet of 1680, one of the brightest in recorded history, which could be seen even during daytime and with the naked eye, for about three months. Harry also took notes in 1681 about what birds were being eaten near Mauritius, in the Indian Ocean east of Africa, while his ship was docked in the area. Jackson came across these writings while looking at Harry's magnetic field work. Among the feathery beasts being feasted upon were dodos, whose flesh, he noted, was quite hard. That didn't stop Europeans from hunting the flightless bird to extinction (though introduced pigs and possibly other invasive species also played a role). Previously, however, some scholars had dismissed Harry's observations — since they were "anecdotal" and his other high-quality observations weren't well known — and it was generally thought that the dodo had vanished by 1662 from its last stronghold on an island off Mauritius, Jackson said.

But Harry's observations agree with those from another hunting journal from 1688 that recorded dodos being killed, although some have said that the term for dodo is too similar to another island bird to know for sure. But that record, combined with what Jackson calls Harry's high-quality work, suggests dodos were still around at this time, he said. "People didn't appreciate Harry was a great scientist, and his (dodo) observations shouldn't be dismissed," Jackson said. Dodo doubts However, independent ornithologist Anthony Cheke said that he wasn't swayed by the study and maintains that the last reliable sighting of dodos was indeed on an island off Mauritius in 1662. By the 1660s, Cheke said, dodos had already gone extinct on the main island of Mauritius, and the name "dodo" had been transferred to a similar flightless species now known as a red rail. Harry's "ability as an observer is not the issue, he saw/ate a bird he was told by the locals was a 'dodo,' and naturally that's what he called it in his account; this does not make him 'unreliable,'" Cheke wrote in an email.

But another scientist (and artist) who has studied the extinction of dodos, Julian Hume, said he believes that dodos went extinct by about 1690, and that Harry was certainly "no fool." However, it is "presumptuous for anyone to suggest what Harry did or did not see almost 350 years after the event," he added. "Although the difference is a bit academic," Jackson said, since the dodo is extinct either way, "I think it's a serendipitous spin-off to research." Bird Extinctions Endangered Species Handbook Print PDF of Section or Chapter It's Too Late Bird Extinctions A bleak picture has emerged, showing a dramatic rise in the rate of bird extinctions over the past 200 years. At least 157 species of birds have become extinct since 1500, and many more have not been seen in decades. In pre-history, approximately one bird disappeared each century (Leakey and Lewin 1995), but the present rate is many times that.

During the 17th century, 15 birds disappeared, increasing to 26 birds in the 18th century (at an average rate of about one bird every four years); this was 26 times the pre-history rate. Nineteenth century extinctions totaled 56 bird species, or about a bird every other year. Data for the 20th century is still being totaled, but 54 birds have already been declared extinct since 1900 ‒ already almost as many as the entire 19th century’s toll. Thus, the rate of avian extinctions has likely more tripled since the 18th century. A large number of birds have not been seen in the wild for many decades and will likely soon be declared extinct; a period up to 50 years between the last sighting and formal declaration of a species' extinction is generally accorded, unless thorough surveys verify the species is indeed gone. An important dimension of these extinctions is the fact that birds are considered indicators of the planet's health. Birds are sensitive to environmental pollution, habitat loss and other signs of deterioration, as illustrated when canaries were used by coal miners to test for the presence of lethal methane gas.

Their extinctions will also affect the ecosystems in which they once lived, since many birds pollinate plants or disperse seeds, and without them, these plants die off. The story of the dodo (Raphus cucullatus) is an example of such a relationship. Some of the most amazing and unusual species that ever lived are among the birds that have become extinct since 1600. Many of these extraordinary birds evolved on remote islands without human inhabitants over periods of millions of years. The heaviest bird ever to have lived on Earth was the Great elephant bird (Aepyornis maximus) of Madagascar, the last of many related species of elephant birds. Some experts maintain this giant bird disappeared prior to 1500 (Brooks 2000), but observers spoke of its continued presence on the island after 1600. The giant moas of New Zealand are thought by some to have persisted until the 19th century, while others believe they died out a thousand years ago, within a few centuries after the arrival of the Maori people.

The brawny great moa (Didornis torosus) of New Zealand was perhaps the last of many species of moas, the largest of which was the tallest known bird, some 12 feet in height. It was hunted to extinction like its relatives. Some said it persisted until 1670. Another extraordinary New Zealand bird was unique in that males and females had beaks that were completely different in both size and shape: the colorful huia (Heteralocha acutirostris) became extinct early in the 20th century, mainly from the effects of forest destruction and hunting for its feathers, which were sold in the European markets for ladies' hats. The Mascarene Islands, which remained uninhabited by humans until the 17th century, once had an unparalleled diversity of birds, including an array of many odd flightless birds such as the famous dodo. Flightless herons and storks fished in the streams, and enormous parrots ‒ their beaks as large as their heads ‒ lumbered about in search of fruits and seeds. Each island had its own distinctive parrot species.

Some of the native parrots had not become flightless, and each of the seven or so species occupied its own ecological niche. Gray parrots with bright red beaks, small gray parakeets and two types of lime green parrots with very long tails swooped about in large flocks (Fuller 1987). Large numbers of the flightless, turkey‑sized dodos waddled about on Mauritius. The birds, weighing about 50 pounds and covered with grayish, downy feathers, fed on hard-shelled seeds. Of all birds that have become extinct, this species is perhaps the most famous. The dodo’s common name apparently came from “dodoor,” a Dutch word meaning sluggard, and dodaers, a lubber, or awkward sailor (Halliday 1978). The creature's original scientific name was Didus ineptus, indicating its inability to flee humans or defend itself. In fact, the dodo was the final result of thousands — perhaps millions — of years of evolution in isolation on an island with no land predators.

Wild pigeons of an unknown species landed by chance on Mauritius at some early date and became resident, gradually evolving into a gigantic form of the original immigrant. The dodo may have evolved from New Guinea and Pacific Islands tooth‑billed pigeons that landed in the Mascarenes, according to some zoologists (Halliday 1978). Tooth-billed pigeons also have curious hooked beaks, although the dodo's 9 inch beak was far more massive. Yet whatever its ancestry, the dodo became flightless in its predator‑free environment. Its feathers lost their sheen and aerodynamic quality and came to resemble the down of nestling birds. Mauritius was first visited in the early 16th century by Portuguese sailors, and was later settled by the Dutch, who brought pigs, goats and cattle. These domestic animals soon multiplied and overran the islands. Pigs rooted in forests, devouring rare flora, and cattle and goats overran the fragile tropical vegetation. Rats swam from ships and colonized the main islands; they preyed on flightless birds, eating their eggs and young, even climbing trees to devour nesting songbirds.

Mongooses native to Asia were brought to Mauritius, which presented a lethal threat to native birds and other wildlife. Long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) were imported as pets at some point from Southeast Asia and then released into the forests of Mauritius, spreading throughout the island and preying on native birds. Settlers also cut the trees needed by native birds for habitat and food. The delicate plants, forests and vulnerable wildlife were devastated by this onslaught. Portuguese and then Dutch seamen and colonists slaughtered thousands of dodos, using them as a major source of food. They cut down the seed-bearing trees dodos fed upon, and their eggs and chicks may have been preyed on by rats and introduced macaques (Fuller 1987). Settlement began in 1634, and within less than 30 years, the once-common dodos were slaughtered to extinction. The settlements failed and Mauritius remained uninhabited for a period of time. The last account of wild dodos dates from 1662.

A Dutchman named Volquard Iversen was deserted on Mauritius soon after both the early settlement and the penal colony failed (Quammen 1996). Iversen and his shipmates scoured the island for food and found no dodos, but they did see some on a small islet off the coast. He described them as "larger than geese but not able to fly. Instead of wings they had small flaps; but they could run very fast" (Quammen 1996). The islet protected the last few dodos from human hunters and introduced predators, and until then, the tiny population had remained undetected. Iversen's party waded through the shallow water to the islet and captured a dodo. "When we held one by the leg he let out a cry, others came running forward to help the prisoner, and they were themselves caught" (Quammen 1996). These were the last of their species. Altruism, a trait that has helped many animals survive through mutual aid, has also caused extinctions. Human hunters have taken advantage of this, killing animals that come to the aid of each other.

In the centuries since its demise, the dodo has come to symbolize extinction, but many still think of this bird as stupid, giving rise to the expression "dumb as a dodo." Animals are frequently deemed stupid if their natural defenses against humans are inadequate, or vicious if they are able to defend themselves. Yet this bird so many people have described with disdain came to the rescue of its fellows, even at the risk of its own life, and was an extremely successful species within its environment. If the word dodo must be seen symbolically, then it would be more reasonable to equate it with human stupidity, because our own species wantonly destroyed this extraordinary bird. In the opinion of Errol Fuller (1987), author of the authoritative book Extinct Birds, "The dodo was one of the most fantastic creatures ever to have lived." In 1973, Dr. Stanley Temple, an ornithologist, made a remarkable discovery about the dodo. He noticed that a beautiful tree native to the island, the calvaria or tambalacoque tree, was reduced to 13 dying specimens, all more than 300 years old.

Gerald Durrell (1977) described these trees as at least 50 feet tall, with massive crowns and silvery, gnarled trunks; cracks appeared in their buttress roots. Since no young trees were located, it occurred to Dr. Temple that no seeds had germinated since the 17th century when the dodo became extinct. Apparently, stones found in the dodo’s gizzard by sailors butchering it for food might have been able to abrade the thick shell covering the seeds. Dr. Temple fed some of the seeds to domestic turkeys, which were presumed to have similar digestive systems, and of 10 seeds recovered from feces or regurgitation, three sprouted when planted (Anon. 1978). Some scientists now believe this tree could germinate without the dodo. A surviving parakeet is thought to be able to crack its hard-pitted seeds, and the extinct Mauritius flying fox and some of the extinct parrots were able to do so as well(Quammen 1996). Dr.

Wendy Strahm, in her botanical work on Mauritius, has found young trees of this species that germinated in the past 300 years, although they are quite rare (Quammen 1996). Another scientist, Anthony S. Cheke, believes seed germination has continued, but at a low rate ‒ perhaps too low to maintain the species long-term. The rarity of the tambalacoque tree was considered to be due to seed predation by rats, deer browsing on saplings, rooting by pigs and perhaps browsing by the introduced macaque monkeys (Quammen 1996). Yet dodos were likely major seed distributors of this tree in the pre-human environment, and their role has not been successfully replaced ecologically. The introduction of a veritable zoo of non-indigenous species has reaped havoc on a variety of native plants. The dodo's close relatives on neighboring islands are far less known.

On Reunion, a bird called the Reunion solitaire (Raphus solitarius) was described by early visitors to the island as resembling the Mauritius dodo, except its beak was somewhat smaller, its plumage was white and the tips of the wings and the tail were black (Fuller 1987). One traveler, M. Carre, said in 1699: "The beauty of its plumage is a delight to see. It is of changeable color which verges upon yellow" (Fuller 1987). Two were taken aboard ship as a present to the French king, but both refused to drink or eat and soon died. M. Carre noted in his description that "The flesh is exquisite; it forms one of the best dishes in this country, and might form a dainty at our tables" (Fuller 1987). This was an ominous prediction of its final fate. The Reunion solitaire probably died out about 1715 as a result of being slaughtered for food. On tiny Rodrigues, yet another dodo-like bird existed. Far more is known of this species, whose bones have been found in caves on the island.

Its beak was shorter and its neck was longer, but it also apparently evolved from pigeon ancestors (Halliday 1978). It was called the Rodrigues solitaire or solitary (Pezophaps solitaria) for its habit of feeding alone on leaves and fruit in secluded places. Errol Fuller's description in Extinct Birds evokes its once peaceful existence: "In this tranquil kingdom generations of solitarys must have lived enjoying extraordinary peace and seclusion until their world was shattered by the coming of man." Francois Leguat, a Huguenot refugee, left extensive descriptions of these birds when he spent two years on Rodrigues after he was marooned there with a small group of followers in 1691 (Fuller 1987). "They walk with such stately form and good grace," Leguat wrote, "that one cannot help admiring and loving them" (Fuller 1987). He watched them nesting and feeding their chicks until they fledged at several months.

The male and female defended their territory, driving other solitaires away with a dramatic display in which a bird pirouetted for four to five minutes while whirring its wings violently to produce a loud rattling noise that could be heard 200 yards away (Halliday 1978). If this impressive display did not frighten other birds away, they used knobby growths at the joints of their flightless wings in combat with other solitaires (Halliday 1978). Some wing bones now found in museums have healed fractures, an indication of the violence of these encounters (Halliday 1978). Leguat saw the parents of solitaires escorting their single chick to a gathering of some 30 other solitaire families, where the adults would leave the chicks. Tim Halliday wrote in Vanishing Birds (1978) that he believes what Leguat witnessed was actually a sort of nursery gathering, similar to that which flamingos and some penguins organize while adults go off to feed. Although these birds were able to hide in foliage and could run quickly, hunters chased them down and butchered every last bird.

People slaughtering them found stones in their gizzards ‒ even in those of very young nestlings. How they got there remains a mystery, since the stones were too large to have passed down the gullet (Halliday 1978). The last solitaire was seen around 1746, and the species was deemed extinct by the 1760s (Brooks 2000). The origin and affinities of these three species of pigeon-like birds in the Mascarene Islands will be disputed by scientists for some time to come. Tim Halliday (1978) conjectured that the dodo may have evolved from a pigeon, such as the tooth-billed pigeon (Didunculus strigirostris) of the Pacific ‒which has a similar but far smaller hooked bill ‒ or that they were related to rails. It is also possible the dodo had one ancestor and the solitaires had another. What is not disputed is that they left no close relatives. No living birds on Earth are related to the dodo and the solitaire, or bear any strong resemblance to them.

Other flightless native birds of the Mascarenes disappeared as well: all the huge parrots, three kinds of owls, three rails, several small pigeons, two night herons, a stork and an ibis. Little is known about many of these birds, but two of the rails were described in detail. The Rodrigues or Leguat's rail (Aphanapteryx leguati) had bright gray plumage flecked with white and gray, a curved red bill, red legs and feet and a red ring surrounding the eye (Taylor 1998). The bird’s call consisted of a long whistle, but when pursued, the rail gave an alarm call that sounded like a person with a hiccup (Taylor 1998). This species fed on tortoise eggs and, like the related Mauritian red rail (Aphanapteryx bonasia), could be lured by holding out a red object and trapped when the bird came to attack the lure (Taylor 1998). They were described as delicious, and were killed to the last bird.

Among flighted species lost were a type of weaver, a starling and a falcon (Brooks 2000; Fuller 1987; Greenway 1967). The total of 31 extinct birds is more than that of any other island group or continent. However extraordinary such a toll may seem for a group of small islands, it may represent only a percentage of Mascarene avian extinctions. Stanley Temple estimated that prior to the arrival of humans, 68 species of birds lived on the three main islands and, of these, 45 species (66 percent) became extinct after 1600 (Temple 1981). The 14 species not officially included among the extinct birds of these islands were described by travelers but have not yet been authenticated. The majority lived on Mauritius. Future archeologists are certain to discover far more about the birdlife that once inhabited these islands, and genetic studies of specimens from which DNA can be extracted may help identify their origins. The Hawaiian Islands vie with the Mascarenes for numbers of extinctions. At least 21 species and many more subspecies have become extinct since 1600.

One of these was native to the remote swamps of Kauai. The Kauai Oo (Moho braccatus) had pitch black plumage brightened by several long, canary yellow feathers. The male had a haunting, fluted call. The species dwindled as forests were cut, and by 1960, only 12 birds were known to remain. A single pair survived by the 1980s. The female disappeared after a hurricane in 1985 (Brooks 2000), and the male lived on a few more years as the last member of his species. He was seen singing and building a nest with each final year, trying to attract a mate who never came (Daws 1993). He was last seen in 1987 (Brooks 2000). The Kauai Oo was the last of a group of dramatic songbirds that once lived on all the major islands.

The Hawaiian honeycreepers found only here evolved from one or a small number of ancestor species ‒ likely a New World finch, warbler or honeyeater ‒ into an estimated 40 to 50 brilliantly colored birds, before the arrival of the Hawaiian people. Some species were probably eliminated after they were killed in tremendous numbers for their feathers, then made into elaborate headdresses and cloaks for Hawaiian royalty, but the major cause of their extinction was the destruction of their forests by European settlers. As the honeycreepers retreated to smaller and smaller habitats, often surrounded by ranchland, sugar cane and pineapple farms, their habitats and food trees disappeared. Their fragmented populations were susceptible to avian malaria, which spread throughout the islands in the 20th century, brought by exotic cage birds that had escaped or been released by their owners. Thousands of birds died of the disease. The extinction toll of native birds within the past few hundred years stands at 21 species, in addition to even more subspecies. Twenty-three honeycreepers survive, but most are so endangered they are not expected to survive more than a few more decades.

One critically endangered honeycreeper, the po'o-uli (Melamprosops phaeosoma), has a total population of three birds: two males and one female live in a reserve and the adjacent Haleakala National Park on Maui (BI 2000). This small, masked brown-and-white bird, discovered in 1973 by a graduate student, once numbered 200 individuals before it underwent a drastic decline between 1975 and 1985 as a result of avian malaria and habitat destruction by feral pigs within its reserve (BI 2000). All three birds live in separate home ranges, and the species has little chance of survival. Rails are the most characteristic of all island land birds. These compact and stocky creatures are most frequently seen in wetland habitats, but some live in forests or grasslands. Almost all islands in tropical latitudes have or had endemic rails or fossil evidence of their past presence. Larger islands have several native rails, and it has been estimated that as many as 2,000 flightless rails inhabited Polynesian and western Pacific islands alone, prior to their colonization or visits by humans who exterminated them.

Many of these instances were in prehistoric times by Maori, Hawaiians and other native peoples (Taylor 1998). Some 23 species of island rails, virtually all flightless, have been exterminated since 1500 — far more than any other avian family (see Appendix). Rails are not likely candidates for colonizing islands because they are, in the words of S. Dillon Ripley (1977), an authority on rails, "loath to fly." When frightened, they usually do not take wing, but disappear into matted vegetation. When they do fly for short distances, it is rather feebly, and their legs dangle down. How could they have reached islands thousands of miles from the mainland? Some rails are long-distance migrants, while other species disperse in erratic patterns (Taylor 1998). Rails tend to travel in groups at night and are often blown off course. European rails on their way to Africa have ended up far from their wintering site (Taylor 1998). European Corncrakes, for example, have landed, exhausted, on ships in the Indian Ocean or even off New Zealand (Ripley 1977).

North American Purple Gallinules, colorful rails of southern marshes, have flown to tiny Tristan da Cunha island halfway between South America and Africa in the South Atlantic (Ripley 1977). The Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) of Eurasia, North and South America and Africa has colonized St. Helena, the Azores, the Seychelles, the Marianas and Hawaii, among other islands. These colonizing rails usually become flightless if they have are no enemies, such as native predators. Some become the size of large chickens. Once flightless, however, they are vulnerable to predation by animals brought by humans. The Laysan rail or crake (Porzana palmeri) was driven to extinction by imported rabbits who rendered Laysan Island devegetated. Biologists transported it to nearby Midway Island, where it flourished until World War II, when the island became a naval base. The navy personnel were entranced by this utterly fearless and agile bird that sprung into people's laps or onto the mess table in search of crumbs of food.

Unfortunately, the species perished soon after 1942, when rats from a naval landing craft apparently ate the rail's eggs and preyed on its young. A few of the rails had been returned to Laysan Island after rabbits were removed, but the vegetation had not recovered sufficiently and the birds did not survive (Ripley 1977). Most other island rails have died out from similar causes. Since about one-third of the world's birds are endemic to islands, and they have been reduced by 30 to 50 percent since humans came to these islands. Their extinctions represent a true biological catastrophe, in the words of Storrs Olson, an authority on extinct birds (Taylor 1998). The vast majority of avian extinctions in the past 500 years have been island birds ‒ victims of predation, competition from introduced animals and disease from cagebirds. Many were also killed for food or trade. Non-indigenous species are still causing bird extinctions on islands. In all, 137 of the 157 bird extinctions (87 percent) since 1500 have been island species, and human activities and animals introduced by humans have been responsible.

Island species have been more vulnerable to extinction than mainland species because of their small populations and limited habitats. Many were flightless or slow-moving species, unable to flee predators, including humans. Some were specialized in their diet and habitat and could not adapt to changes made in their environment. ©1983 Animal Welfare Institute Uncovered: 350-year-old picture of dodo before it was extinct - Telegraph Art News Uncovered: 350-year-old picture of dodo before it was extinct A previously undiscovered 17th century picture of a dodo, drawn before the bird became extinct, is to be sold at auction by Christie’s. By Alastair Jamieson 7:00AM BST 22 Jun 2009 The drawing, which dates from the late 1600s, offers a rare insight into the appearance of the flightless bird that was the first recorded casualty of human interference in the habitat of other creatures. The inscription above the bird, 'Dronte', was the Dutch 17th-century name for the dodo Dodos were the main predators on Mauritius until settlers introduced bigger animals to Indian Ocean island, including pigs.

Many were shipped to Europe as curiosities or had their nesting areas destroyed and the species was extinct by 1700. The 350-year-old drawing, described by Christie's as “vibrant”, is one of a small number of images of the unfortunate bird whose demise was largely unnoticed until a dodo featured in Lewis Carroll’s popular 1865 book Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Painted by an unknown artist of the 17th century Dutch school in about 1650, the unframed 10x8 inch picture is expected to fetch up to £6,000 when it is sold by Christie’s in London on July 9. The auction house believes it differs from existing images, many of which were drawn from a small number of dodos that were put on display in Europe, some of which were later stuffed. Related Articles 10 Apr 2009 Little is known about the origin of the picture, which has never before been published. The inscription above the bird, 'Dronte', was the Dutch 17th-century name for the dodo, although at this period it was also used in a number of other languages including French, German and Italian.

Julian Hume, a dodo expert and a palaeontologist at the Natural History Museum, said the image was “very interesting but rather odd”. “The lack of tail is anatomically correct - the ostrich-like plumes normally depicted are exaggerations - but this may be a fault by the artist,” he said. “The angle of the dodo is also novel, showing a 3D pose rather than the usual side view.” He added that it was likely to have been copied from earlier drawings. “The image is somewhat based on Roelandt Savery's 1626 image of the dodo standing by a rock. We know so little about the number of transported live dodo specimens, and coupled with repeated plagiarism of images, factual determination is almost impossible to obtain.” Another dodo expert, Anthony Cheke, said: “There is always a lot of interest in artefacts like these because the dodo is such a curiosity.

This is certainly an unusual image although the drawing is, frankly, not very good even by contemporary standards." Why did the Dodo go Extinct Why did the Dodo go Extinct 19 Sep, 2013 animals 2 The dodo was a large flightless bird was native to the Island of Mauritius (located to the east of Africa and Madagascar). This species is best known for becoming extinct in the 17th century, with the last sighting of this species in 1688. The extinction of this bird brought about many changes in the scientific community (extinction was once believed to be impossible) and was a catalyst for understanding human relationships with animals. The dodo is still used as a symbol for the protection of endangered species today. Let’s find out why the dodo became extinct. How did the dodo become extinct? The dodo lived in isolation from any major predators and it meant that when humans came into contact with this animal it showed no fear. This meant that they were easy to catch and made easy prey for sailors visiting the islands. However, this is no longer believed to be the major reason for the extinction of this species.

Once humans began to inhabit the island of Mauritius they brought other animals with them. Some of these animals, such as dogs, pigs, cats, rats and monkeys, began to raid dodo nests and compete for food on the island. Humans also destroyed the forests on the island, which provided protection for this species. There is some evidence that the dodo was in decline before encountering humans. In 2005 fossil evidence was recovered of a flash flood on the island, which could have put significant pressure on the survival of the species before human interaction. There is also fossil evidence that points to severe drought in the history of the island. Did you know? The term “to go the way of the Dodo” is a popular English saying that means to become extinct or obsolete. Calling someone a dodo is considered to be an insult to their intelligence. There is a common perception that the dodo became extinct because they lacked intelligence and were fat and clumsy. However, this view may have been distorted because most descriptions of the birds were from those overfed specimens kept in captivity or stuffed specimens in museums. Related Article

Question: Which bird became extinct in the 17th century?
Answer: Dodo