S.Res. 564 — Introduced in Senate

III 113th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 564 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES September 18, 2014 Mr. Brown (for himself and Mr. Portman) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works RESOLUTION Honoring conservation on the centennial of the passenger pigeon extinction. Whereas the Senate recognizes the importance of conserving natural habitats for bird populations and preserving the Nation’s biodiversity; Whereas the death of Martha, the last passenger pigeon, on September 1, 1914, at the Cincinnati Zoo, and the extinction of the passenger pigeon helped to catalyze the American conservation movement of the early 20th century, resulting in new laws and practices that prevented the extinction of many species; Whereas the story of the passenger pigeon can serve as a cautionary tale and raise awareness of current issues related to human-caused extinction, explore connections between humans and the natural world, and inspire people to build sustainable relationships with other species; Whereas the passenger pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) was once the most abundant bird in North America, with a population exceeding 3,000,000,000 and with flocks so large that they could darken the skies for hours and even days at a time; Whereas due to unregulated market hunting in the 19th century and deforestation, the passenger pigeon population plummeted toward extinction; Whereas Project Passenger Pigeon, a consortium of over 150 institutions, scientists, conservationists, educators, artists, musicians, filmmakers, and others throughout the Nation, is using the centenary of the extinction of the species to tell the story of the passenger pigeon; and Whereas the story of the passenger pigeon, once a symbol of never-ending natural abundance, and its subsequent extinction is unique in the annals of the history of the United States: Now, therefore, be it That the Senate commemorates the importance of this centenary, our natural heritage, the sustainability of our ecosystem, and the conservation of our Nation’s wildlife.