A Message from Martha: The Extinction of the Passenger Pigeon and Its Relevance Today

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Mark Avery

A Message from Martha

The Extinction of the Passenger Pigeon and Its Relevance Today

Mark Avery

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English

Bloomsbury Publishing
01 October 2015

Mathematics & Sciences; Endangered species & extinction of species

September 1st, 2014 marked the centenary of one of the best-documented extinctions in history - the demise of the Passenger Pigeon. From being the commonest bird on the planet 50 years earlier, the species became extinct on that fateful day, with the death in Cincinnati Zoo of Martha - the last of her kind.

This book tells the tale of the Passenger Pigeon, and of Martha, and of author Mark Avery's journey in search of them. It looks at how the species was a cornerstone of the now much-diminished ecology of the eastern United States, and how the species went from a population that numbered in the billions to nil in a terrifyingly brief period of time. It also explores the largely untold story of the ecological annihilation of this part of America in the latter half of the 19th century, a time that saw an unprecedented loss of natural beauty and richness as forests were felled and the prairies were ploughed, with wildlife slaughtered more or less indiscriminately. Despite the underlying theme of loss, this book is more than another depressing tale of human greed and ecological stupidity.

It contains an underlying message - that we need to re-forge our relationship with the natural world on which we depend, and plan a more sustainable future. Otherwise more species will go the way of the Passenger Pigeon. We should listen to the message from Martha.

By: Mark Avery
Imprint: Bloomsbury Publishing
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 198mm, Width: 129mm,
Weight: 254g
ISBN: 9781472906274
ISBN 10: 1472906276
Pages: 304
Publication Date: 01 October 2015
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active

Preface Chapter 1: Introduction Chapter 2: The biology of an extinct bird Chapter 3: Lost abundance Chapter 4: A road tip in search of an extinct species Chapter 5: No ordinary destruction Chapter 6: How the Wild was lost when the West was won Chapter 7: The tolling bell? Chapter 8: Bringing it all back home Further reading Acknowledgements Index

Mark Avery is a scientist by training and a naturalist by inclination, who writes about and comments on environmental issues. Mark worked for the RSPB for 25 years before standing down in April 2011; he was the RSPB's Conservation Director for nearly 13 years. Mark lives in rural Northamptonshire.