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Come@Me: Don’t Mourn for Extinct Birds

10,000 Birds

The causes were the usual reasons for island extinction—deforestation by both humans and invasive plants that crowded out native plants, hunting, and invasive rats, mongoose, monkeys, and, of course, feral cats. They have a hard enough time with Canada Geese. We know what those large flocks were like.

Mauritius 102
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Tiritiri Matangi Island

10,000 Birds

On my first visit to the island a few years ago I even found one hunting for sandhoppers and other assorted treats in the washed up seaweed on the beach. I usuaully see Saddlebacks when I go to Kapiti, and often when I go to Karori, but they are everywhere on Tiritiri. Saddleback ( Philesturnus carunculatus ) on the beach.