THE EXTRA MILE.

The text discusses the history and extinction of the passenger pigeon, once the most abundant bird in North America. The article highlights the immense flocks of passenger pigeons that migrated across the continent, their numbers reaching billions. However, due to relentless hunting and habitat destruction, the population declined rapidly, and Martha, the last known passenger pigeon, died in 1914. Martha's death sparked the American conservation movement and led to the signing of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act in 1918. The Passenger Pigeon Memorial at the Cincinnati Zoo commemorates Martha's legacy and serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting endangered species. [Extracted from the article]