Ectopistes migratorius
The passenger pigeon was once considered the most common bird in North America. Today, it exists only in historical records and museum specimens. Now, modern gene-editing technologies aim to bring the species back. Hayashi and Toda (artists), Charles Otis Whitman (author)., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

The Revival of the Passenger Pigeon: A Project by Revive & Restore

The passenger pigeon, once the most common bird in North America, has been extinct for more than a century. Now, biologists from the nonprofit organization Revive & Restore have set a goal to bring the species back using cutting-edge gene-editing technologies. Under the leadership of Ben Novak, efforts are underway not only to revive the passenger pigeon but also to reintegrate it into its original habitats, aiming to restore the ecological functions it once fulfilled.

Revival of the Passenger Pigeon
A photograph of the last passenger pigeon named Martha, taken in 1912. (© Enno Meyer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Novak leads the organization’s de-extinction projects and coordinates initiatives for animal cloning. His main focus is the restoration of the passenger pigeon, the flagship project of Revive & Restore, known as “The Great Passenger Pigeon Comeback.” In a recently published interview with Wisconsin Public Radio, Novak discussed the background of the project and the planned efforts in Wisconsin.

The passenger pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) was the most widespread bird in North America and likely the world until the early 19th century. Estimates suggest that the population once numbered around five billion birds. Their massive flocks, consisting of millions of individuals, were an impressive natural phenomenon. However, this abundance also made them particularly vulnerable to humans.

With the increasing settlement and industrialization of North America, hunting of the passenger pigeon rapidly escalated. The birds were killed in massive numbers and sold for the commercial meat market. Within just a few decades, their population shrank drastically, and by around 1900, only a few thousand remained. The last known wild passenger pigeons were killed shortly thereafter.

Why bring back the passenger pigeon?

The project to revive the passenger pigeon goes far beyond simple species conservation. It aims to restore a crucial ecological role in forests that was lost with the disappearance of the species. The birds had a significant impact on the forests of North America. Their massive flocks caused considerable disturbances, but these also had a positive effect on the ecosystem. The weight of the many birds in the trees would break branches and even entire trees, opening up the forest canopy to sunlight and promoting the growth of new plants.

Additionally, the birds left behind a thick layer of droppings, which fertilized the forest floor and suppressed vegetation in a way similar to a fire. This natural disturbance cycle was an essential part of the forest ecosystem in North America, contributing to greater biodiversity and maintaining a cycle of disturbance, regeneration, and succession. Reintroducing the passenger pigeon could therefore help to restore this lost natural process and revitalize the forests.

Biotechnology: Gene editing as the key

The plan to revive the passenger pigeon is based on the use of modern gene-editing technologies. Ben Novak and his team at Revive and Restore aim to sequence the DNA of extinct passenger pigeons, which has been obtained from museum specimens, in order to identify the genetic differences from modern pigeon species. The goal is to reproduce these differences using gene editing, allowing the genetic traits of the passenger pigeon to be transferred into a closely related pigeon species.

This process will make it possible to “breed” new passenger pigeons that can have the same ecological impact as the extinct species. The researchers hope to raise the first hatchlings in aviaries between 2029 and 2032, with behaviors similar to the historic passenger pigeons. These birds would eventually be released into the wild to establish stable and self-sustaining populations. However, the entire process could take several decades.

First steps: Research efforts in Wisconsin

An essential part of the project is to determine how the reintroduction of the passenger pigeon would affect today’s forests. To this end, Novak and his team are working in Wisconsin, where the largest historical nesting sites of the species were once documented. The researchers are studying trees that are over 150 years old to assess whether the conditions in the forests are still favorable for the passenger pigeon. The hope is that these experiments will help better understand the bird’s impact on the ecosystem and lay the groundwork for future reintroduction efforts.

Who are Revive & Restore?

Revive & Restore is a nonprofit organization dedicated to using biotechnology in conservation. Its mission is to protect and revive endangered and extinct species through gene editing and other advanced technologies. The organization takes a pragmatic approach to species conservation, applying scientific methods to promote biodiversity and restore functioning ecosystems. Projects like the revival of the passenger pigeon are part of a broader vision focused on restoring natural processes that have been lost due to the extinction of species.

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