How The Passenger Pigeon Changed North American Forests

I mourn this loss . How terrible to lose a part of our world

Literally turned paradise into a parking lot.

The wanton destruction of Eastern North American forests for timber harvest in the late 19th century was a major factor in the decline of the passenger pigeon. When we visit a high quality forest preserve nowadays, it's helpful to keep in mind that what we think of as a healthy and pristine wilderness is actually a radically altered habitat when compared to the time before European settlers arrived. Very interesting to hear some of the theories on the ecological effects to forests due to the passenger pigeon extinction. Great video, thank you!

I imagine the carnivores like martens, fishers, weasels and bobcats must have really benefited from the pigeons’ arrival in the Spring. And the loss of all that biomass must have really thrown the food chain for a loop.

Yeah that's pretty sad. I'm surprised there are any Bison left as well.

I get choked up every time I visit Martha's shrine.

Well done Adam. Very informative and interesting video! 👍👍

The extinction of the passenger pigeon has always left me in shock and mourning. How could so many billions of birds be wiped out so thoroughly? How could hunters be so callous as to not see what they were doing? The callousness is beyond understanding.

That Biotech Startup called Colossal trying to bring back mammoths should refocus on passenger pigeons…

And the American chestnut was spread all over. How about the effects of the dung on the soils and how it helped build the fertile soils we have today. The fires as a result may have kept specific diseases in check by not allowing them to spread. Now it’s a horror if we have a fire. Excellent video of the pigeon. Thank you for doing that

John Muir talked about passenger pigeons darkening the sky in hundreds of thousands coming to roost for the night. They were hunted & culled until. Last passenger pigeon died in 1914 in a zoo Like the dodo & Florida parrot & the auk, etc - not extinction - exploitation

I've heard of a theory that the prevalence of Lyme disease is partially a result of the extinction of the Passenger Pigeon. The idea being the acorns and other hard mast that was no longer eaten by the pigeons allowed deer and rodents to occur in close proximity, resulting in ticks being transferred between the two more easily. The deer (whose population increased exponentially with our removal of wolves and cougars) traveling further distances than the rodents, contributed to the spread of the disease.

It would be nice to see a video like this about the Carolina Parokeet. Probably the most beautiful bird we’ve lost😢

Thank you Adam! I love your incredible knowledge and enthusiasm! As a novice mycologist, I've been watching only your mushroom videos for a few years now. But this just introduced me to something I didn't even know I was interested in!!! 😊 As always, you gave such a clear and interesting delivery of a topic not frequently seen!

Fascinating stuff. I've often wondered what kind of impact the huge numbers of these birds must have had on the environment.

Fascinating Adam! Thanks for sharing this👌👌

Passenger Pigeons are fascinating. Thank you Adam, for this excellent video and a more in depth look at one of the world's most iconic birds. 🌼🌳

To inform and inspire is your path. Thank you.

What an amazing story Adam. Thx

Too cool.. sad but interesting... Adam is unbelievable.. I'm always amazed at his awesome videos.