5 EXTINCT BIRDS AND POSSIBLE REASONS FOR THEIR EXTINCTION

1. Extinct bird species: Dodo

Dodo: Pinterest

The dodo was a flightless bird that uniquely inhabited the island of Mauritius found in the Indian Ocean. The dodo was said to be related to pigeons and doves and was described as being around 3.3 feet tall and weighing about 20 kg. In 1598, Dutch sailors came across these flightless birds in the island and immediately saw its potential for meat, as they were starving by the time they reached land. It was hunted to extinction for its meat that wasn’t that great in terms of taste. Nevertheless by 1681, the hungry Dutch sailors had contributed a big portion in its extinction, barely leaving a single sign of the dodo’s existence. Because of lack of any clue that may suggest its existence, it was left forgotten as a mythical creature. This remained as such until the 19^th century, when research was conducted on some of the last surviving species that had been taken to Europe. From then on, some remains and fossils of dodos were discovered in Mauritius.

2. Extinct bird species: Great Auk

Great Auk: Pinterest

The Great Auk was a large flightless species of penguins living in the North Atlantic rocky coasts and islands of the world and was believed to be in large numbers in the cold regions of Iceland, Greenland, Norway and Great Britain.It is depicted by the white fur on its belly, its black back and a thick hooked beak. The Great Auk was about 31 inches tall and weighing around 5 kg. Although the Great Auk was the only said species of genus Pinguinus to survive till recent times, it eventually became extinct in the middle of the 19th century due to excessive hunting. It was a source of food and also had a symbolic value to the Native Americans who buried the great auk bones together with the dead. Even the early Europeans who came to America hunted the Auks for food and used them as bait in fishing. Like most extinct species of birds, the Great Auk was hunted to extinction.

 3. Extinct bird species: Mauritius Blue Pigeon

Blue Pigeon: Pinterest

The Mauritius blue pigeon, endemic to Mauritius Island, is a striking bird, with a pearly white elongated neck, a vivid red tail and velvety blue body. Possibly being an omnivore, it was said to feed on fresh water mollusks and fruit.

It was first described in 1602 and the Dutch sailors, who landed in Mauritius, were glad to have a change in diet from eating the unappetizing dodo meat. Thus, it was largely hunted and eaten, thereby greatly diminishing the numbers of these pigeons.

Other reasons for extinction include; the pigeons hunted as a source of food by

 refugee slaves, introduction of predators like the Crab-eating Macaques and destruction of the pigeon’s natural habitat.

By the 1830’s it was easy to conclude that the Mauritius Blue Pigeon had forever disappeared and would never be seen again.

4. Extinct bird species: Laughing owl

Laughing owl: Pinterest

The Laughing Owl was a species of owl of the genus Sceloglaux, which means scoundrel owl, possibly referring to its malicious way of hooting.It was identified by its reddish brown plumage, with a white face and deep orange eyes. The Laughing Owl was about 36 cm tall, weighing 600 grams, with the males being of a relatively smaller size than the females.

Originating from New Zealand, the Laughing Owl was said to be in plenty by the time Europeans settlers landed in this island in 1840. Thereafter, it was hunted to gather specimens that were later sent to the British Museum. The exact reasons for extinction of the Laughing Owl are rather mysterious. But the invasion of Weasels and stouts might have brought in direct competition for food and thereby wiped out the bird species.

The Laughing Owl was popularly known for its crazy maniacal calls that echoed through the forests particularly on dark rainy nights.

The last sighting of the Laughing Owl was a dead specimen believed to have been found in Canterbury in 1914. But more and more unconfirmed sightings of the Laughing Owl have been reported; in the 1940’s a Laughing Owl was spotted in Pakahi near Opotiki, a town found in the North Island of New Zealand

5. Extinct bird species: Passenger Pigeon

Passenger Pigeon: Pinterest

The story of the now extinct passenger pigeon is one of the saddest extinct  birds’ stories. This abundant bird species was wonderfully social and lived in great flocks. It largely inhabited the lush forests of North America before was wiped off the face of this earth in the early 20^th century.

The passenger pigeon was principally hunted down as a source of food especially when its meat was capitalized in the 19^th century as food for the poor slaves, brought in from Africa.Due to man’s intrusion of the forests in order to create space for industrialization, the friendly Passenger Pigeons were annihilated and their free luxuriant forestlands burned down.

The last actual Passenger Pigeon, named Martha, died in the Cincinnati Zoo, Ohio, in 1914. A song entitled “Martha; the Last of the Passenger Pigeons,” is dedicated to Martha, the last of the Passenger Pigeon species to live on this earth. She must have lived an extremely lonely life, with all her relatives forever gone. 

 This post is mainly attributed to Rehana Stormme.