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Posts Tagged "Martha"

Passenger Pigeon centennial

Posted on Sep 1, 2014

Passenger Pigeon centennial

The world’s last Passenger Pigeon, Martha, died at 1PM on September 1, 1914 at the Cincinnati Zoo. Once likely the most abundant bird in North America it was effectively extinct in the wild around the turn of the 20th century and even Roger Tory Peterson, born 1908, never saw one. He did illustrate the species for his first field guide in 1934 with the help of museum specimens. Please visit RTPI to see these three Passenger Pigeons on display on our second floor and see Twan’s Meet Your Neighbours photos of them...

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Passenger Pigeons and Bird Fest 2014

Posted on May 15, 2014

Passenger Pigeons and Bird Fest 2014

One hundred years ago this year, Martha – the last of the Passenger Pigeons – died at the Cincinnati Zoo. This may once have been the most abundant bird in North America but was effectively extinct in the wild around the turn of the 20th century with only few sad survivors remaining in captivity. Roger Tory Peterson never saw one in the wild but did illustrate the species for his first guide in 1934. As was the case with most of his illustrations he used museum specimens as models. Twan took the following photos of the Passenger Pigeon mount and study skins, Meet Your Neighbours...

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