Documentary chronicles the unlikely extinction of the passenger pigeon

A new documentary, “From Billions to None: The Passenger Pigeon’s Flight to Extinction,” will tell the compelling story of the unlikely extinction of the passenger pigeon in fewer than 50 years.

For centuries, the sleek, long-distance flyer was perhaps the most abundant avian species in the world. In 1813, while traveling in Kentucky, Audubon wrote: “The pigeons passed in undiminished number, and continued to do so for three days.”

Passenger pigeons often nested and roosted in vast areas. One nesting in Wisconsin in 1871 sprawled across 850 square miles. As late as 1860, a single flight near Toronto probably exceeded 1 billion birds, and possibly 3 billion.

But by 1900, as a result of organized hunting of the birds for food and sport shooting, along with habitat destruction, only a handful of pigeons existed in the wild.

The last unquestioned specimen was shot in Indiana in 1902. All that remained of the species were a few birds in three aviaries. On Sept. 1, 1914, Martha, the last passenger pigeon in captivity, died in the Cincinnati Zoo, marking the end of the species.

“The amazing story of how we eliminated this once abundant bird, coinciding with a centennial anniversary of its extinction, provides a once-in-a-lifetime teachable moment that can really raise awareness about living species extinction and living more sustainably today,” says author Joel Greenberg, who is featured in the documentary.

“Year 2014 is a unique opportunity for conservationists, for all of us.”

To mark the centennial of the bird’s extinction, the documentary is planned as a key part of Project Passenger Pigeon, a group of more than 160 cooperating institutions that will mount multimedia outreach initiatives throughout 2014, including the creation of a high school curriculum, downloadable museum exhibits, and numerous activities and exhibits mounted across the United States and Canada.

The producers hope to have the documentary screened on PBS.

In late April, the filmmakers launched an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign to raise funds to complete production.

The Indiegogo campaign for the film can be seen at igg.me/at/billions-to-none. For more on the passenger pigeon in Illinois, see Project Passenger Pigeon at www.passengerpigeon.org/states/Illinois.html.