![]() The science of revival seemed as though it should fall into place with the right innovation and perseverance. Lastly, their reproduction is well understood pigeons have been bred in captivity for centuries with great success. The Band-tailed Pigeon has been identified as the closest living relative of the Passenger Pigeon based on DNA sequencing. There is usable DNA because there are more stuffed Passenger Pigeons resting in museum drawers and private collections than any other extinct bird. Why does the Passenger Pigeon meet they necessary criteria for de-extinction?įirst, the necessary scientific knowledge and genetic material to revive Passenger Pigeons exists. The Passenger Pigeon proved to be a strong candidate in both spheres. Therefore, the model species – the one to troubleshoot de-extinction – needed to be a strong candidate for the sciences of both revival and reintroduction. To revive a species scientists need its DNA, a living surrogate, and knowledge of the reproduction of both the extinct species and the surrogate. First, the extinct species has to be revived, and that science is new. ![]() Reintroduction requires a thorough knowledge of the ecology of the species to be reintroduced as well as the state of the habitat in which reintroduction will occur.ĭe-extinction requires more than simply reintroducing a species. But how do we restore a species to the wild that is gone? Reintroducing species into areas where they were extirpated is decades-old science (examples include wolves in Yellowstone, Elk in Kentucky, Beaver in Scotland). The goal of de-extinction for us, quite literally is revive and restore, and so the pilot project needed to be one that would have a likelihood of success returning a species to the wild. “ The Great Passenger Pigeon Comeback” began in 2012 with a central paradigm: de-extinction needed a model candidate. Stewart Brand introduces the inception of Ben Novak’s thesis research at the Long Now Foundation’s Interval Salon & Bar, September 27, 2016. Research on the Passenger Pigeon’s ecology and habitat revealed its vital role: the Passenger Pigeon was the ecosystem engineer of eastern North American forests for tens of thousands of years, shaping the patchwork habitat dynamics that eastern ecosystems rely on, ecosystems now losing diversity without the Passenger Pigeon’s engineering role. Since then, new insights have revealed the Passenger Pigeon isn’t simply a model species it quite possibly is the most important species for the future of conserving eastern America’s woodland biodiversity. When the bird went extinct in 1914, it was a somber awakening of the power of industrial humanity to wipe out even the most abundant of natural resources. Conservation has often rallied behind iconic birds to galvanize environmental revolutions – modern conservation itself began with the extinction of the Passenger Pigeon. The Passenger Pigeon is certainly an iconic candidate. When Revive & Restore started working on Passenger Pigeon de-extinction four years ago, we hypothesized that the passenger pigeon could be a model species to develop the science of de-extinction. A roosting colony could comprise well over 100,000,000 birds and cover more than 800 square miles of forest, with as many as 100 nests per tree.Īdditional Information: In the mid-1800’s, the population of Passenger Pigeons was estimated between three and five billion birds, the birds were extinct by 1914.Ryan Phelan and Stewart Brand congratulate Ben Novak at the Interval after Novak’s talk on his master’s thesis research for “the Great Passenger Pigeon Comeback”, September 27, 2016. Was a common migrant and summer resident in eastern parts of Nebraska.įun Facts: Passenger Pigeon were extremely social animals that liked to live and travel in large groups at all times. Where in Nebraska: Formerly ranged over much of eastern North America. Beechnuts and acorns were the favorite foods of Passenger Pigeons. ![]() Habitat: Preferred beech-oak-maple forests. Iridescent feathers on the sides and back of neck with metallic gold or violet glow and small black spots on wings. Slate-gray back with gray-brown to olive-brown tinge slate-blue rump and lower back russet or wine red underparts with a white belly. Long graceful pointed tail slate-blue head black bill and red legs. ![]() Coos along with loud croaking, chattering, and clucking noises.ĭescription: Sexes similar.
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