Images

bananacreamphi:

lifewithdeadbirds:

One of the most incredible specimens that we have in our collection of jarred birds is this Carolina Parakeet (Conuropsis carolinensis). “But Kaitie, there are no parakeets anywhere near the Carolinas!” Well, no, voice intruding into my post, there aren’t. At least, there aren’t any parakeets there anymore.

Carolina Parakeets were the only parrot species native to the eastern United States, pressing much farther north than other species. It lived in large flocks that captured the attention of European colonists. Their beautiful red, yellow, and green plumage made them one of the brightest birds in the area, and then, around 1918, they were gone.

A number of things may have added to the extinction of the Carolina Parakeet. Large amounts of deforestation due to increasing agriculture took away a home and a food source for the parrots, and many farmers shot them for eating the seeds and fruits of their crops. The parakeets’ flocking behavior made it very easy for humans to kill large numbers of them at once. Ironically, the Carolina Parakeet was key to controlling an invasive species of cocklebur plants, which became more troublesome to humans after parakeet populations declined. Parakeets were also removed from the wild for use as pets and to be killed for their feathers.

There are only a few hundred specimens of these birds left in institutions world-wide, so getting to see this bird was really an honor. It was a strong reminder of why we need to gain knowledge about natural history and ecology, and our need to use that knowledge to protect our world.

Could their DNA be extracted from this specimen? I wanna clone them

DNA extraction and cloning has been discussed, and the Carolina Parakeet is frequently called a great candidate for cloning an extinct species. However, questions for the long term of the species remain. Scientists aren’t sure if the parakeets would be able to survive in the drastically different, far more developed USA. Plus, little about them was researched and known. What impacts could they have on the ecosystem? I don’t think there are current plans to bring back the Carolina parakeet – it looks like with the way things are going, the main focus right now is on Wooly Mammoths.

birdstrips:

Bird no. 319. The nap to end all naps.
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I have never been more grateful for Friday – the end of a long week of waking up to jackhammers on the balconies around my apartment. Tomorrow I’m going to sleep until cows walk in my front door and hang their hats on the hook. (at Montreal, Quebec)