Humans have had a large impact on birds, unfortunately these effects are largely negatives as many bird species are driven to extinction by humans. Two common human-related causes of bird extinction are hunting of birds as well as pollution of their environments. Hunting has caused birds such as the passenger pigeon to face swift and shocking extinction. The passenger pigeon was one of the most common birds in North America in the 1800s, but went extinct in 1914 after being over hunted for years on end. Pollution also can affect birds, like the California condor. This species nearly went extinct in the 1980s. DDT, a pesticide sprayed on California crops, caused condor eggs to be too fragile, and hatch prematurely and die. Since this time however, DDT has been banned and environmentalists are working to nurse the condor population back to a healthy number. Humans can drastically change the environment a bird lives in and cause rapid and unforeseen extinction.
Further Reading: DDT, the California Condor, and a Decades-Long Battle with a Banned Pesticide
Further Reading: Why the Passenger Pigeon Went Extinct
Further Reading: DDT, the California Condor, and a Decades-Long Battle with a Banned Pesticide
Further Reading: Why the Passenger Pigeon Went Extinct