In Memorium: Extinct Birds
Written by Andy McCormick
Extinction is forever. It is the death of a species. Today we have the deaths of ten bird species to mourn. The Ivory-billed Woodpecker and Bachman’s Sparrow are from North America. The Bridled White-Eye is from Guam. Eight other species are from Hawaii: Four from the island of Kauai, three from Maui, and one from Molokai.
In an announcement on September 29, 2021, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed delisting of 23 species of animals and plants from the Endangered Species Act due to their extinction. In addition to the ten birds, one mammal, the Little Mariana Fruit Bat, eight species of freshwater mussels, two species of fish, and a plant species are also now considered extinct; are no longer in need of protection under the Endangered Species Act; and can be removed from the list.
Our planet is in an extinction crisis and many more extinctions are predicted as the planet continues to warm. Human conversion of natural habitat for human use and the introduction of invasive species are two additional threats to wildlife. At least 12 more Hawaiian bird species are at risk of extinction. As the USFWS notice said, “These extinctions highlight the need to take action to prevent further losses.”
Below is a list of the ten bird species with the dates they were placed on the ESA list, and the last date seen as recorded by a human being. This information is from the full U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service press release. We can mourn the loss of these birds, but also, let us commit to preventing further losses.
Photo credit by Josh More.