Before the modern conservation movement, early ornithologists shot birds to get a closer look. And the urge was hard to resist, even when they knew their beloved birds were endangered. The idea that physically large, showy, abundant species could go extinct forever took a while to sink in. It was hard for humans to realize that we are that powerful.
Click above to hear part 4 of For the Birds, featuring Michelle Nijhuis, science journalist and author of “Beloved Beasts: Fighting for Life in an Age of Extinction.”
For the Birds:
Part 1: Scott Weidensaul / Epic Migration
Part 2: Scott Weidensaul / Restoring Habitats
Part 3: Kassandra Ford / Helpful Birding
Part 4: Michelle Nijhuis / Conservation Efforts
