Deep Sea Love

AMAZONIA

To Sleep (Ectopistes migratorius, extinct), Kristina Knowski, 2014

Between infinity and oblivion, we only understand the latter. 

Of the two, it’s the one we experienced during that memoryless expanse before birth, the one we still taste in the fog of deep sleep, and the one we must touch when confronted by loss. 

Febirdary Day 2: Last

An endling is an individual that is the last of its species or subspecies. Once the endling dies, the species becomes extinct.

Orange Band (Dusky Seaside Sparrow)

Martha (Passenger Pigeon)

Incas (Carolina Parakeet)

Entry 8: Passenger Pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius)

A prime example that even the most abundant animals are not safe from the dangers of extinction, the Passenger Pigeon was once the most populous bird in all of North America.  It made of a quarter of all birds in the region and sometimes had flocks so wide and long, it’d take 14 hours to pass by.

The Passenger Pigeon is named for the French word passager, which means “to pass by”, but had many names amongst the First Nations, including amimi in Lenape, omiimii in Ojibwa, and ori’te in Mohawk. They also featured prominently in some indigenous nation’s lore and diet.  Massive and complex nets were set up to trap the birds for food and they were believed to be ‘chief of birds’ by some indigenous peoples.

Their downfall came in the form of European colonization.  The massive log cutting operations to build Western style homes destroyed much of the habitat that Passenger Pigeons colonized in for their breeding seasons.  They became an easy and popular food for slaves and poor people.  The hunt was soon commercialized in the late 1800s, further reducing their populations as railroads opened to allow the hunting to continue for longer periods of time each season.

Weak and late state protection of the dwindling populations led to Martha, the last known passenger pigeon who was housed in the Cincinnati Zoo.  She died on September 1st, 1914.

I’m a passenger, I go

reminder series: bleak yet comforting thoughts.

i specifically chose animals that are (or believed to be) extinct due to human influence: thylacine, great auk, baiji, west african black rhino, golden toad, dodo, passenger pigeon, and quagga. there are many other species i could have included. the plants are also based on extinct species, but i found much less information about extinct plants, unfortunately.

the text doesn’t necessarily relate to each animal or their extinction. it’s all basically the same idea: let’s all be nice to each other, because today, the universe is vast and incomprehensible, we are all suffering, we are all going to die, and we’re all in this together. for today.

i’m busy for a couple weeks with conventions, but after that i’m considering a companion series with ancient extinct animals, so feel free to send me your favorites :)