Martha, the last passenger pigeon

Thursday
This evening we went downtown to see the Cincinnati Opera production of Pucchini's La Bohème at the Aronoff Center. We got there early, to attend an introductory talk, which was interesting and the opera was most enjoyable.  Across the road from where we parked, was this beautiful mural of Martha, the last passenger pigeon.
 "The passenger pigeon or wild pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) is an extinct species of pigeon, that was endemic to North America. Its common name is derived from the French word passager, meaning "passing by", due to the migratory habits of the species. The pigeon migrated in enormous flocks, constantly searching for food, shelter, and breeding grounds, and was once the most abundant bird in North America, numbering around 3 to 5 billion at the height of its population.
Passenger pigeons were hunted by Native Americans, but hunting intensified after the arrival of Europeans, particularly in the 19th century. Pigeon meat was commercialized as cheap food, resulting in hunting on a massive scale for many decades. There were several other factors contributing to the decline and subsequent extinction of the species, including shrinking of the large breeding populations necessary for preservation of the species and widespread deforestation, which destroyed its habitat. A slow decline between about 1800 and 1870 was followed by a rapid decline between 1870 and 1890. The last confirmed wild bird is thought to have been shot in 1901. Martha, thought to be the last passenger pigeon, died on September 1, 1914, at the Cincinnati Zoo." Wikipedia
The mural was created by ArtWorks in partnership with Cincinnati Zoo to commemorate 100 years since Martha's death. Founded in 1996, ArtWorks is an award-winning non-profit organization that employs and trains local youth and talent to create art and community impact through three strategic programming areas: Public Art, including an extensive mural program; an art therapy division, and an entrepreneurial arm. The artist was wildlife artist and conservationist John A. Ruthven
One year ago: Gateway