The Ones We Lost

This week, we celebrate the birthday of our country. From a New World perspective, it will be our 249th birthday since the revolution of 1776 but significant human impacts have been at play since Jamestown in 1607, and before that, as Indigenous people have been a part of the environment for thousands of years. Numerous extinct birds have been found in the fossil record of North America, including owls, hawks, waterfowl, shorebirds, and seabirds.

The better documented birds that have sadly left our land forever include the Passenger Pigeon, Carolina Parakeet, Great Auk, Dusky Seaside Sparrow, Heath Hen, San Clemente Wren, Culebra Island Amazon, Labrador Duck, and the Guadalupe Wren.

The San Clemente Wren has not been observed since 1941 while the Guadalupe Wren has not been seen since 1897.

Both the last Passenger Pigeon and Carolina Parakeet became extinct when the last known individuals died at the Cincinnati Zoo. The last Passenger Pigeon, Martha died in 1914 and the last Carolina Parakeet, Incas, died in 1918 in the same enclosure.

Several factors have contributed to these extinctions, including deforestation, hunting for the pet trade and feathers, hunting for food, poaching, and the introduction of European honeybees. Early colonists, who marveled at the abundance of flora and fauna in the New World, were unfamiliar with the concept of extinction. The pressures from a rapidly expanding country in the New World were too overwhelming for these bird species.

According to the State of the Birds 2025 report, about one-third of bird species in North America face threats due to low population numbers, declining trends, and other dangers. There are 42 species considered Red-alert tipping point species, having lost more than 50% of their population over the past 50 years. This includes Bachman's Sparrow, which is vanishing due to the loss of grassy, open pine woodlands in the American Southeast. The Orange-alert list features 37 birds, including the Chimney Swift, which is experiencing a sharp decline across its range, including the Gulf Coast.

Bird-friendly policies benefit both birds and people. Developing resilient landscapes, clean watersheds, promoting native plants and insects, maintaining healthy working lands, and education will all contribute to the future of our birds. Everyone can make a positive difference. To learn more about the state of the birds: https://www.stateofthebirds.org/2025/executive-summary/

As we approach the 4th of July celebrations, remember that fireworks can be very disruptive to birds and other wildlife. Consider attending a community event instead of using them on private property near wildlife habitats. The noise and flashing lights are quite distressing to native wildlife, and the leftover debris can also pose problems. To learn more: https://www.fws.gov/story/keeping-wildlife-safe-independence-day#:~:text=The%20threat%20to%20wildlife%20doesn,may%20be%20toxic%20if%20ingested.

Passenger Pigeon by John James Audubon