212 Bird- Lore 



eon ' nestings,' near Petosky, Michigan, in 1878, it is estimated that one 

 billion birds were killed during the season. 



This, in brief, is the story of the destruction of the Wild Pigeon, whose 

 remarkably rapid extermination is paralleled only by that of the American 

 bison. During the period of its abundance the Wild Pigeon was distrib- 

 uted throughout the greater part of eastern North America, from the 

 Hudson Bay region southward to Florida, and casually westward to British 

 Columbia. Today an occasional individual is observed at intervals in the 

 Atlantic States, and in the middle and upper Mississippi Valley they are 

 seen more frequently. Reports of their presence in large numbers on the 

 Pacific coast or in various parts of the tropics prove to be based on other 

 species of Pigeons. 



STUDY POINTS FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS 



What are the special characters of the Wild Pigeon? How does the male differ from 

 the female ? How do the young differ from the adults ? In what respect does the Pigeon 

 differ from the Mourning Dove ? How many Pigeons were estimated by Wilson to be con- 

 tained in one flock ? Hov/ long a time was the flock in passing a given point ? What is the 

 estimated flight speed of the Pigeon ? At what price does Audubon mention seeing Pigeons 

 sold in New York City in 1805 ? How were these birds shipped ? Where were they caught? 

 What area was occupied by a Pigeon roost observed by Wilson ? How many nests have 

 been observed in a single tree ? What governed the migrations of Pigeons ? What was 

 their principal food ? When did wild Pigeons begin noticeably to decrease in numbers ? 

 What were the causes ? When and where was the last known large Pigeon roost ? What 

 was the former range of the species ? What is its present range ? What conclusion may we 

 draw from the history of the Pigeon's extinction ? 



Much information in regard to the Passenger Pigeon will be found in the works of 

 Wilson, Audubon and Nuttall, in Baird, Brewer and Ridgeway's ' History of North 

 American Birds,' Bendire's 'Life Histories of North American Birds,' Brewster's 'The 

 Present Status of the Wild Pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) as a Bird of the United States, 

 with Some Notes of its Habits,' The Auk, VI, 1889, pp. 285-291. 



Additional copies of this leaflet may be obtained from ffilliam Dutcher, Chairman 

 National Committee of Audubon Societies, J2^ Manhattan A've., Neiv York City. 



