Category

Passenger Pigeon

The passenger pigeon nested in northern woodlands, and then migrated south, ending up as far south as Texas by September through early March. Favoring the headwaters of the Trinity and Neches Rivers, the bird was found in at least 68 counties of the state. However, deforestation and overhunting led to its demise. Last seen in Texas in 1900, the passenger pigeon was declared extinct in 1914.

Interviews

Narrator: Stan CastoTitle: MyriadsDuration: 00:03:44Date: March 1, 2024Stan Casto, a wildlife biologist who taught for many years at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, has been long fascinated by the passenger pigeon. Before its 1914 extinction, the pigeon visited at least 68 counties in Texas during its winter migrations, favoring the headwater forests of the Trinity and Neches Rivers. Here, Dr. Casto notes that the pigeons once roosted in such huge flocks that a number of sites in the state are still named in honor of this long-gone bird.