North America's only parrot- EXTINCT

GreenCheek · Jul 20, 2010

This breaks my heart.

North America (specifically the east coast) used to have a native parrot called the Carolina Parakeet, but it went extinct around 1918. Reason for extinction? Habitat loss, poisoning because they were thought of as pests, and were killed because they used the feathers for ladies hats

. The selfishness of humanity never ceases to amaze me. Now we have lost a beautiful species of parrot, in fact, our only one!

Carolina Parakeet - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

madparrotwoman · Jul 20, 2010

You are right it's heartbreaking, when will man ever learn? Anything derived from animals, skin/feathers/ivory etc etc can all be simulated, there is just no need for it!

parrotqueen · Jul 20, 2010

What a beautiful, beautiful bird. And extinct--why? For our selfish reasons.

So, so sad. I would've loved to have the pleasure of seeing the birds in person.

GreenCheek · Jul 20, 2010

madparrotwoman said:
You are right it's heartbreaking, when will man ever learn? Anything derived from animals, skin/feathers/ivory etc etc can all be simulated, there is just no need for it!

Very true, it's just that synthetic versions don't fetch the high price.

People should be ashamed of themselves.

And I agree, I really wish I could have seen them in person as well. Heck, they'd be in my back yard!

apatrimo94 · Jul 20, 2010

GASP!

Our only native parrot....extinct

There's pretty much parrots native to every continent, except Antarctica...and ours. All because of mankind's desire, greed, and lust to kill until it's gone. Those are beautiful birds and I bet I'd have one myself! And they'd be in my backyard!!!!

Beilana · Jul 20, 2010

Aw thats so sad! They were so beautiful! There are no parrots native to Canada that I'm aware of...

_Cass_ · Jul 20, 2010

That's so horrible. It makes me think of the Quakers in california. They are thought of as pests and your not even allowed to own one. Some people seriously need to start thinking before they act. The Paradise Parrot, The Spixs Macaw (Extinct in the wild) and etc, are all gone! It's so sad that we will never see the beauty of these birds.

genevieve · Jul 21, 2010

That is sad; it looks like they were really beautiful birds.

There is a neat film on the wild parrots (I think mostly cherry headed conures) of San Francisco entitled The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill. They supposedly have developed unique vocalizations... their own little language.

GreenCheek · Jul 21, 2010

_Cass_ said:
That's so horrible. It makes me think of the Quakers in california. They are thought of as pests and your not even allowed to own one. Some people seriously need to start thinking before they act. The Paradise Parrot, The Spixs Macaw (Extinct in the wild) and etc, are all gone! It's so sad that we will never see the beauty of these birds.

Oh wow, I have never heard of those parrots. Luckily it looks as if there is a breeding program for the Spixs Macaw, and maybe one day they'll be able to be reintroduced. Doesn't look so bright for the paradise parrot though.

But they rediscover extinct species all the time (they're called "Lazarus species"), so who knows, we may get another chance.

And actually, Quakers in CA are pests! They are an established introduced/invasive species, and they threaten California's agriculture and native wildlife. They are also established in several other states and countries (VERY successful bird!), and this is the reason they are illegal to own in several states.

apatrimo94 · Jul 21, 2010

GreenCheek said:
_Cass_ said:

That's so horrible. It makes me think of the Quakers in california. They are thought of as pests and your not even allowed to own one. Some people seriously need to start thinking before they act. The Paradise Parrot, The Spixs Macaw (Extinct in the wild) and etc, are all gone! It's so sad that we will never see the beauty of these birds.

Click to expand...

Oh wow, I have never heard of those parrots. Luckily it looks as if there is a breeding program for the Spixs Macaw, and maybe one day they'll be able to be reintroduced. Doesn't look so bright for the paradise parrot though. But they rediscover extinct species all the time (they're called "Lazarus species"), so who knows, we may get another chance.

And actually, Quakers in CA are pests! They are an established introduced/invasive species, and they threaten California's agriculture and native wildlife. They are also established in several other states and countries (VERY successful bird!), and this is the reason they are illegal to own in several states.

That's actually what I'm currently working on for a summer project. Invasive Species. It's sad and frustrating how people can just think that releasing their pets in the wild if they can't care for them. Many of those animals cause millions of dollars in damage.

_Cass_ · Jul 21, 2010

genevieve said:
there is a neat film on the wild parrots (i think mostly cherry headed conures) of san francisco entitled the wild parrots of telegraph hill. They supposedly have developed unique vocalizations... Their own little language.

Omg. I LOVE that movie

Birdamor · Jul 22, 2010

GreenCheek;39547 And actually said:
are[/I] pests! They are an established introduced/invasive species, and they threaten California's agriculture and native wildlife. They are also established in several other states and countries (VERY successful bird!), and this is the reason they are illegal to own in several states.

Well, actually, the allegations that quakers threaten agriculture and native wildlife have never been proved and do you know why? Because they are poppycock. There hasn't been a single complaint from farmers, not even in Florida where the wild colonies number thousands of birds and you have the most tropical fruit orchards. They do not threaten any native species because there are no comparable ones and yes, they do eat grains, fruits, veggies, etc. just like any other bird out there but they are not more voracious or destructive than any other species. And the reason they are considered a pest and forbidden to own in any of the agricultural states in America is because the countries of origin had them so designated but they have lived there for thousands and thousands of years and nobody has ever gone hungry because of them so how much of a pest could they possibly be?

naomisarah · Jul 22, 2010

When I was in High School, I wrote a big long report on them and even painted a giant acrylic of a Carolina Parakeet. I even had a sweater made with the scientific name for them on it! (DORK I know hehe) Love the Carolina, as sad as it is that it's gone, I'm pleased that everyone's still talking about them and learning from our past mistakes.

Birdamor · Jul 23, 2010

And do you know the saddest thing about the extinction of the Carolina Parakeet? It's reported that they were so very flock oriented that when one of them got shot by a farmer, the others would take flight at the sound but would come back to ground to stay with the wounded one becoming, in the process, very easy targets for the farmers who would then shoot hundreds of them at one single time. And they would not leave that wounded bird's side even though they were getting killed themselves! Now, isn't that the saddest, saddest thing and an even sadder commentary on human nature?!

parrotqueen · Jul 23, 2010

Birdamor said:
And do you know the saddest thing about the extinction of the Carolina Parakeet? It's reported that they were so very flock oriented that when one of them got shot by a farmer, the others would take flight at the sound but would come back to ground to stay with the wounded one becoming, in the process, very easy targets for the farmers who would then shoot hundreds of them at one single time. And they would not leave that wounded bird's side even though they were getting killed themselves! Now, isn't that the saddest, saddest thing and an even sadder commentary on human nature?!

My eyes have practically welled up with tears reading this. I can't believe it's real. What a cruel, cruel world this is. I can't believe a man would massacre hundreds of birds, guiltlessly no less, just to protect his crops.

Where on earth did you hear this?!? I've never heard such a thing.

naomisarah · Jul 23, 2010

parrotqueen said:
Birdamor said:

And do you know the saddest thing about the extinction of the Carolina Parakeet? It's reported that they were so very flock oriented that when one of them got shot by a farmer, the others would take flight at the sound but would come back to ground to stay with the wounded one becoming, in the process, very easy targets for the farmers who would then shoot hundreds of them at one single time. And they would not leave that wounded bird's side even though they were getting killed themselves! Now, isn't that the saddest, saddest thing and an even sadder commentary on human nature?!

Click to expand...

My eyes have practically welled up with tears reading this. I can't believe it's real. What a cruel, cruel world this is. I can't believe a man would massacre hundreds of birds, guiltlessly no less, just to protect his crops.

Where on earth did you hear this?!? I've never heard such a thing.

I read that somewhere too, I'll look for it again and get back to you. You know what the reason for the extinction was, too?

Feathers. To decorate wealthy ladies' hats.

I'm not even kidding. Ridiculous. You were considered of high status to own feathers of an animal that was no longer common.

Much like Ivory. Much like mink skins.

I have so much more understanding for people like those in the Pantanal of Brazil, who at least use the feathers of Greenwinged Macaws in religious ceremonies and funerals, worn on a headdress of a close relative, though to kill any bird for moultable FEATHERS is ludicrous.

But for status among the already wealthy? Can't take that hat with you when you die!!! Makes me want to type things that would get me banned from this site!

I wrote an article for Bird Talk magazine about the Pantanal macaws. The people there learned to build nest boxes so they could collect moulted feathers instead of killing the macaws. At least, with us all enraged about the loss of our precious native hookbills, we can help spare other continents the same fate.

GreenCheek · Jul 23, 2010

Birdamor said:
Well, actually, the allegations that quakers threaten agriculture and native wildlife have never been proved and do you know why? Because they are poppycock. There hasn't been a single complaint from farmers, not even in Florida where the wild colonies number thousands of birds and you have the most tropical fruit orchards. They do not threaten any native species because there are no comparable ones and yes, they do eat grains, fruits, veggies, etc. just like any other bird out there but they are not more voracious or destructive than any other species. And the reason they are considered a pest and forbidden to own in any of the agricultural states in America is because the countries of origin had them so designated but they have lived there for thousands and thousands of years and nobody has ever gone hungry because of them so how much of a pest could they possibly be?

While this may be true (I don't know for sure, was just going off of what I've read), the bottom line is, they're not supposed to be there. Our carelessness causes disastrous invasive species all the time (can anyone say Cane Toad, Burmese Python, or Africanized Honey Bees?). There are seriously hundreds of invasive species that DO cause harm, that I don't blame people for being cautious.

naomisarah · Jul 24, 2010

? The Carolina Parakeet wasn't a foreign species, it was native to the south-eastern United States. It WAS a pest in some areas, until the population was quickly and thoroughly extinguished.

ETA: I think the last time anyone saw one in the wild was 1904, so obviously conservation has come a long way since then. I don't disagree at all with you about the honeybees and such, though I've not researched those animals myself.

GreenCheek · Jul 24, 2010

Sorry! I quoted the wrong post from Birdamor. This is what I was supposed to quote. It was in regard to Quaker Parakeets. I for sure know that the Carolina Parakeet was native, I started this thread!

Birdamor said:
GreenCheek;39547 And actually said:

are[/I] pests! They are an established introduced/invasive species, and they threaten California's agriculture and native wildlife. They are also established in several other states and countries (VERY successful bird!), and this is the reason they are illegal to own in several states.

Click to expand...

Well, actually, the allegations that quakers threaten agriculture and native wildlife have never been proved and do you know why? Because they are poppycock. There hasn't been a single complaint from farmers, not even in Florida where the wild colonies number thousands of birds and you have the most tropical fruit orchards. They do not threaten any native species because there are no comparable ones and yes, they do eat grains, fruits, veggies, etc. just like any other bird out there but they are not more voracious or destructive than any other species. And the reason they are considered a pest and forbidden to own in any of the agricultural states in America is because the countries of origin had them so designated but they have lived there for thousands and thousands of years and nobody has ever gone hungry because of them so how much of a pest could they possibly be?

Edit: Fixed it! Sorry for the confusion.

naomisarah · Jul 24, 2010

Lol sorry, too, for an unnecessary response!

North America's only parrot- EXTINCT

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24 hour food supply or not???

Disgusting.

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