Extinction in Two Acts: The Life and Death of the Carolina Parakeet

EXTINCTION IN TWO ACTS: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF THE CAROLINA PARAKEET
By Kevin R. Burgio, PhD
Thursday, May 6, 6:30-7:30pm

Get to know Dr. Kevin Burgio, NYC Audubon's new director of conservation and science, with this virtual talk highlighting his research. The Carolina Parakeet, America's only endemic parrot, went from being widespread at around 1800, when John J. Audubon first noted a decline, to being isolated into small, remnant populations by 1900. These iconic birds hung on until the 1930s or 1940s, before blinking out entirely. Despite all of the research on this species, especially over the last 50 years, there is no still clear explanation for their loss. Some have pointed to hunting, trapping, habitat loss, disease, and even competition with bees for nesting spots as the cause, but it is still a mystery. During this talk, Dr. Burgio will discuss how he came to study the Carolina Parakeet, along with the species' basic biology, current thinking about its extinction, and all he learned over the course of the 10 years he has studied and published research on this iconic species. Registration required. Limited to 500. Free