WW2 started 75 years ago today

[eustacetilley]

On this day, a Century ago, the last Passenger Pigeon died.
Her name was Martha, and she left no descendants, because she was The Last Passenger Pigeon.

Passenger Pigeons weren't exactly a delicacy, they were actually once quite cheap and plentiful. Also, they had this most disturbing habit, disturbing at least at that time: Passenger Pigeons enjoyed Group Sex. Really big Groups of Group Sex. Without around a thousand enthusiastic participants, they just didn't have much... enthusiasm.
Solitary species, like Condors, can be brought back from the edge of extinction even from a few breeding pairs. Not so the gregarious Passenger Pigeons.
So between hunting, and the destruction of habitat, and a certain disapproval of their mating habits, they just lost interest.
There had been unconfirmed sightings over the years of other lonely survivors, and there is a whole "Passenger Pigeon Park" thing going on now, involving salvaged DNA and monogamous relationships, but it just won't be the same.

All the world seems in tune
On a spring afternoon,
When there's Passenger Pigeons in the park...

Eustace

[GeneH]

"Solitary species, like Condors, can be brought back from the edge of extinction even from a few breeding pairs. Not so the gregarious Passenger Pigeon."

You may yet see the "resurrection" of the Passenger Pigeon in your lifetime, EustaceTilley.

Came across a very interesting TED Talk a while back that focused on just this topic. It was part of Ted Brand's series of talks entitled, "Are You Ready For De-Extinction?".

Found it very interesting - and inspiring in a way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUoSjgZCXhc

[GeneH]

"Solitary species, like Condors, can be brought back from the edge of extinction even from a few breeding pairs. Not so the gregarious Passenger Pigeon."

You may yet see the "resurrection" of the Passenger Pigeon in your lifetime, EustaceTilley. Came across a very interesting TED Talk a while back that focussed on just this topic. It was part of Ted Brand's series of talks entitled, "Are You Ready For De-Extinction?". Found it very interesting - and inspiring.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUoSjgZCXhc

[eustacetilley]

Yup, I was indirectly referring to this with the "Passenger Pigeon Park" comment.
But one of the main objections still holds- Passenger Pigeon behavior depends on a large population. Just a few lonely birdies, (Likely to be clones.), instrumented to the... uh... gills, observed relentlessly, and given no privacy whatsoever, (Actually, they probably won't mind that last bit.), aren't likely to be too interested in Avian Orgies.

Kidding aside, once mated, the nesting pair remained monogamous, and both parents took alternate turns incubating the single egg.

Eustace
(Edited- Due to a Nanny No No)