T H E E N D C O M M U N E

 The Passenger Pigeon ― An Endling’s Letter Home

The passenger pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) went extinct by human hands in the late 19th century. It was once the most abundant bird in the whole of North America and probably also the world, accounting for approximately a quarter of all birds in N. America. The species are known for their massive migratory flocks which could consist of several billions of individuals. One particular flock observed in 1866, was described as being 1.5 kilometers (1 mi) wide, and 500 kilometers (300 mi) long. It took the flock about 14 hours to pass, and approximately contained 3.5 billion animals. Hunting and habitat destruction led to its demise.

The last passenger pigeon probably died in 1914.

1866―billions and billions of animals.
1916―confirmably extinct.