The Dodo, a well-known flightless bird from Mauritius, went extinct due to human activities after Dutch sailors discovered it in 1598. Within less than 80 years, hunting, habitat destruction, and the introduction of non-native species led to its disappearance. This trend is not unique to the Dodo. Recent studies show that 610 bird species have gone extinct over the last 130,000 years, closely related to human expansion. For instance, the Hawaiian songbird Kauaʻi ʻōʻō (pronounced Kah-wah-‘ee ‘Oh-‘Oh) was declared extinct last year. The loss of bird species affects ecosystems because these birds play important roles, such as dispersing seeds, controlling insects, and pollinating plants.

Tom Matthews, an ecologist at the University of Birmingham, notes that many fruit-eating birds, or frugivores, are now extinct on islands like Mauritius and Hawaii. This has caused a decline in tree species that rely on these birds for seed dispersal. Invasive animals like rats and cats have also contributed to this loss, especially on islands where birds evolved without natural predators and often lacked the ability to fly. Hunting remains a threat, and diseases like avian malaria have devastated Hawaii’s native bird populations. The extinction of 610 bird species reflects a loss of 3 billion years of evolutionary history. Unfortunately, this number may be an underestimate, and over 1,000 bird species could face extinction in the next two centuries due to human actions.