It was mostly habitat loss more than shooting.
When the large hardwood timber tracts in the eastern US were cut they disappeared. They fed on mast for the most part, if there aren't any trees producing the nuts then millions of birds don't have anything to eat. They nested in colonies of millions, if the timber isn't there to nest in they don't nest. People want to say they were killed off, that's just not the case. There were too many, it wouldn't have been possible, habitat loss did them in.
They were smaller than the wood pigeon, but bigger than our mourning dove, though very similar in shape. I've seen some mounted examples over the years, even had a chance to buy one once.
I'm sure a lot of these old Parker hammer guns, particularly ones that were used for live pigeon shooting, have killed Passenger Pigeons.
Destry
__________________
I was as virtuously given as a gentleman need to be; virtuous enough; swore little; diced not above seven times a week; went to a bawdy-house once in a quarter--of an hour; paid money that I borrowed, three of four times; lived well and in good compass: and now I live out of all order, out of all compass. Falstaff - Henry IV
|
03-21-2011, 04:23 PM
Hybrid Mode