September 1, 1914
The Passenger Pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) became extinct when Martha, the last bird, died at age 29 in the Cincinnati Zoo. The species lived in enormous migratory flocks until the early 20th century, when hunting and habitat destruction led to its demise..
Passenger Pigeons
Slowly the passenger pigeons increased, then suddenly their numbers
Became enormous, they would flatten ten miles of forest
When they flew down to roost, & the cloud of their rising
Eclipsed the dawns. They became too many, they are all dead
Not one remains…
Robinson Jeffers
