![]() ![]() Back in the nineteenth century, there were so many Passenger Pigeons that when they migrated you couldn’t see the sky.ġ3. To commemorate the centennial of her death, this year she stands mounted in a Smithsonian exhibit.ġ2. Until this year, preserved Martha has spent the last 15 years filed away in a specimen cabinet. Both times she flew first class and was escorted by a flight attendant.ġ1. Between 19, Martha has left the Smithsonian only twice. It is rumored that he died in Martha’s “death cage.”ġ0. Four years after her death, Incus-the last Carolina parakeet-also died in the Cincinnati Zoo. In the 1980s, John Herald, a bluegrass singer, wrote a song dedicated to Martha titled, “ Martha (Last of the Passenger Pigeons).”ĩ. Martha was mounted for display by Smithsonian taxidermist Nelson Wood.Ĩ. After her death, Martha’s body was immediately packed in an enormous block of ice and sent to the Smithsonian to be mounted.ħ. Of course, not many pigeons received medical care like Martha.Ħ. She lived to the ripe old age of 29, which is ancient by pigeon standards-most modern wild pigeons only live to be about 15 at the oldest. As Martha grew older and weakened, her keepers had to continuously lower her perch-until it was just a few inches above the ground-so she could climb up onto it, rather than fly.ĥ. She survived, but never fully recovered.Ĥ. Martha had an apoplectic stroke several years before her death, which left her weak and frail. During Martha’s lifetime, her caretakers offered a $1,000 reward to anyone who could capture a mate for her. Martha was named in honor of our very first First Lady-Martha Washington.Ģ. We also give you with some ways to commemorate the day.ġ. To remember Martha and her fellow brethren, check out these interesting facts about her life and her species. Today, Martha’s memory reminds us that just because you can kill 50,000 birds a day doesn’t mean you should. Once numbering in the billions and pervasive throughout the country, Passenger Pigeons went extinct in the start of the 20th century, following voracious hunting by humans. She spent her final years alone as an aging spinster with no hope for baby pigeons of her own-most male pigeons had kicked it by then and Passenger Pigeons didn’t really get it on in captivity, anyway. 1, 1914 after spending nearly all of her life there. Martha, as she was known to her adoring public, died at the Cincinnati Zoo on Sept. ![]() One hundred years ago this Monday, the only Passenger Pigeon left on earth cooed her last. ![]()
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