The extinction of the passenger pigeon by Norberto Franco Cisneros (guest writer)

John James Audubon, the famous ornithologist, first noticed the migrating pigeons in 1813, then estimated to be as many as five billion in the United States.
On March the 14^th, 1900, a towheaded boy of 10 proud of his new rifle shot and killed the last male Passenger Pigeon while it ate its last meal as any condemned prisoner. The last authenticated female Passenger Pigeon named “Martha” lived an ordinary life. She lived for twenty-nine years in captivity eating, drinking, sleeping and perching, perhaps listening for the beckoning call of a mate that would never come.
On September the 1^st, 1914, while sitting on her naked branch, her head slumped, her body quivered and unbeknownst, fell to the floor lifeless. She was never to know the closeness of mating, raising squabs, or the joy of togetherness in flight. The support of multitudinous wings fanning the winds around her was forever denied, a sensation only the flock can offer. Captivity deprived her of experiencing her true nature.


A mere one hundred and one years after Audubon took notice of the enormous shadow that blocked the sun; the Passenger Pigeon was wiped from existence.

A relevant side note: a year and a half later, Ishi, the last member of the Yahi tribe in Northern California also died, and with him, his people, and history. He was 56 years old. Can one truly appreciate the despair of that loneliness, of being the last?
Passenger Pigeons, in their heyday were majestic, swift and graceful in flight. Their impressive shifting shadows covered the earth. Night descended until they passed. One had to hide from the pelting of their droppings for they would engulf you where you stood.

Their beauty and grace were not enough to extend their perceived egregious life. Man as usual was the culprit. As is his wont in his worldly domain, caring not for the small of life, he gorged on and profited from their vulnerability until none were left.
Later, much later, we realized a hole had formed in time and what the world had lost; an unheard sigh lingered anguishing throughout eternity. It was only a bird, really, but at that point, where all sentient beings connect with the blessedness of the gift of life, even with all its incongruities, mankind felt the grit of life drop a notch; shadows fell on his soul, as even now the core of Life’s spirit weeps.


About the author: Norberto Franco Cisneros is a published and featured poet in worldwide e-zines. Mr. Cisneros came out with his first poetry chapbook "Heart Split in Two" two years ago; and received excellent reviews. His poems have been published by some of the following publications: Indiana University Journal Chiricu; Avocet Review (Avocet Press); Snow Jewel (Grey Sparrow Press); Ilumen (Mouthfeel Press/ Sam's Dot Publishing:, Ruhaatish, The Sound of Poetry, The Poetry Soup and other e-zines. Favorite poets Jalal al-Din Rumi, Edgar Allen Poe, Maya Angelou, Miguel Pinero, Kahlil Gibran, and Pablo Neruda. 

Click here to watch a YouTube video of Mr. Cisneros' reading of 'the extinction of the passenger pigeon' in Sedona, Arizona. Video created by Dr. Ansul Noor.