The natural world is not exclusive to human beings. All creatures in it have their own right to live. We cannot deprive other races of their right to live on earth. In the past tens of millions of years, especially in the past few hundred years, human beings have killed thousands of creatures with their own hands, and the scene is heartbreaking.
Today we will take a look at two species of birds that are gradually becoming extinct in the hands of humans, one is the seaside bullfinch active in the Americas, and the other is the former "Arctic penguin" - auk !
The victim of chemical pesticides - the seaside bullfinch
You may not have heard the name of the seaside bullfinch, after all, this species has been extinct for decades, and we have hardly encountered it been. The shape of the seaside bullfinch is a bit like the sparrow in our country, but the feathers are a little darker, and the Americans also call it "American sparrow", indicating that it used to live very well.
The seaside bullfinches have evolved alone in the Americas' Merritt Island region for 250,000 years. They travel every year and travel 30,000 kilometers in their lifetime, longer than Red Army Long March. At first, this place was uninhabited, and it was not until the 19th century that the number of people living in it gradually increased, and scientists did not really record this species.
The Merritt Island area has vast salt marshes and numerous snakes, insects, rats and ants. People who move here are often harassed by local mosquitoes. After decades of forbearance, the local residents finally rose up to fight against the annoying mosquitoes. At that time, humans had already discovered the insecticide " DDT ", and the result was immediate, and many mosquitoes were eliminated.
But everyone should also know the side effect of DDT, that is, the residual ability is extremely strong, and the food of the seaside bullfinch is frog , spiders and other small animals. The results can be imagined. Frogs and spiders swallow DDT into their stomachs by preying on mosquitoes.The seaside bullfinch eats frogs and spiders in its stomach.
is enriched by the food chain , DDT gathers in the seaside bullfinch, and when the final concentration reaches a certain level, it will poison and die. Some of them did not die. Due to the highly toxic nature of DDT, the calcium metabolism in the seaside bullfinch was disturbed, so that the eggs laid were soft-shell eggs, which further hit the seaside bullfinch population.
The matter is not over yet. Due to the long-term use of insecticides, the mosquitoes have become resistant to the insecticides, and the local residents have to find other ways to eliminate the insects. Later, an expert suggested that as long as the water level of the salt marsh is raised, the number of mosquitoes can be reduced. This method is undoubtedly environmentally friendly and natural, much better than using chemical pesticides.
However, some people are happy and some are worried. The local residents have built a reservoir, which has indeed increased the water level of the local salt water and reduced the breeding of mosquitoes. But they ignore the feeling of the seaside bullfinch. The bird's nest is generally built in the middle and lower part of the aquatic plants. It is easy to be found by natural enemies on the upper side, and it will be flooded at the bottom. The water level is the lifeline of the seaside bullfinch.
As a result, many seaside bullfinch nests were flooded, and a whole generation of seaside bullfinch was wiped out. Only a few escaped. The final result is known to everyone. Due to the destruction of the habitat of the seaside bullfinch due to the construction of the reservoir, and the fact that people's attention to the seaside bullfinch is relatively late, when the number of seaside bullfinch is found to be reduced, it is irreversible. .
In 1953, there were about 900 pairs of seaside bullfinches left, but ten years later there were only 70 pairs left. It was later discovered that the wrong Americans tried to save the seaside bullfinch by artificial breeding, but it was unsuccessful. By 1987, the last seaside bullfinch had died in the zoo, marking the extinction of the seaside bullfinch population.
arctic penguin - great auk
I believe many of my friends have heard this brain teaser: polar bear Why not eat penguins? The answer is: penguins are in Antarctica,Polar bears are in the North Pole, and the two are not in the same place. But if we lengthen the time line, we will find that there used to be penguins in the Arctic, and the person who discovered it called it "Great Auk".
Auks are similar in appearance to penguins in Antarctica. They are also classic black and white color schemes, and their body shapes are almost the same. Adult auks can reach a height of 80 cm and weigh around 10 kg. The only difference is that the wings of the great auk are not completely degraded, and they can be used not only for swimming, but also as a glider.
The great auk, which swoops down from a height, can glide near the water after spreading its wings, which is more useful than the penguin's short wings. The great auk is also good at swimming. Although it is not fast, its hunting ability is still very strong. Coupled with the feathers with excellent waterproof effect, the great auk can do whatever it wants in the water.
The auk can catch a 20cm herring under water, I have harvest every day, although it is a little hard, but I am very happy. It is a pity that such a beautiful day has ended since the arrival of mankind. People who have hunted this bird said: The meat is delicious and the eggs are rich in nutrients.
eventually became one of the main hunting objects of human beings, in the middle of the 19th century when there was no awareness of protection, the auk fell under the human musket , leaving only the legend about it resounding in the ears.
Summary
The seaside bullfinch and the great auk are both victims in the history of human development, and their peaceful development would not have endangered their lives. However, all of this is inseparable from the earlier concept. Now that we have the awareness of protecting the environment, we need to protect it together.
What other extinct bird have you seen?
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