A Feathered River Across the Sky

In the early 19th century, passenger pigeons dominated North America's avian population, making up 25 to 40 percent of all birds and nesting in massive flocks that darkened the skies. Despite their astonishing numbers, these birds faced extinction just decades later due to unsustainable hunting practices fueled by advances in transportation. Naturalist Joel Greenberg's poignant narrative explores the rise and fall of the passenger pigeon, serving as a cautionary tale about the risks of overexploitation of natural resources. The story culminates with the passing of Martha, the last passenger pigeon, at the Cincinnati Zoo in 1914.