Passenger Pigeons

Once North America’s most numerous bird, the passenger pigeon was especially abundant in the Upper Mississippi Valley. The mature male was about 16 inches long, while the female was less colorful and smaller. Michigan was once a favorite nesting ground because vast quantities of beechnuts and other food attracted the birds. Each spring immense flocks arrived, darkening the skies for hours as they flew over. At Crooked Lake, a nesting in 1878 covered ninety square miles. Millions of birds were killed, packed in barrels, and shipped from Petoskey. This wanton slaughter helped drive the species to extinction, and in 1914 the last known survivor died. The conservationist’s voice was heard too late.

Michigan · United States