Liz Butler Draws The ROM: Passenger Pigeons!
Hi ROMKids!
I returned once again to the Gallery of Birds this week, but for a new exhibit. ROM staff have reconstructed part of a previously retired diorama, to mark the 100th anniversary of the death of the last passenger pigeon. The recreated scene shows passenger pigeons resting near the ground in a human-made clearing, with a mural of the birds in flight in the background. The diorama hints at the once-great number of passenger pigeons that lived in North America, but also reveals the habitat destruction that was a major factor in their extinction. The narrative was as important in the past as it is today; even large populations of animals can be wiped out through rapid and thoughtless human expansion.
But of course, human ingenuity can be a tool for conservation as well! With new technologies we may be better able to learn about species at risk, and to communicate those risks to others. There is also much discussion about the possibility of ‘de-extinction’: recreating an extinct species. Even thought it might seem like a great solution to the global biodiversity crisis, many find the concept of de-extinction controversial! Some wonder if money and time spent trying to re-create lost species could be better spent trying to conserve the species we have left.
Check out the passenger pigeon diorama- Empty Skies: the Passenger Pigeon Legacy- and learn more about this lost bird, de-extinction, and other species we may be able to save!
More info:
- Liz Butler is an artist and teacher who loves natural history and museums. She loves drawing, painting, and making crafts of all kinds. She is happiest when she can find ways to combine art projects with science content.
- Liz’s Website – Liz Butler Draws
- Liz’s Blog – Saw Whet Studio
- More guest posts from Liz HERE!
- Do you like to sketch? Love museums? Are you a full time student in Canada? The ROM is yours to explore, FREE, every Tuesday! MORE!
Guest Post By Liz Butler. Last Updated: October 5th, 2014.
109 Notes/ Hide
- maxatr0n liked this
- le-hibou-sarcastique liked this
- zuzi90love-blog liked this
- its-j-l liked this
- sherryfrajer reblogged this from scientificillustration
- whalelip liked this
- whatarefears liked this
- sleepanddream liked this
- xplicit9 liked this
- maineserena liked this
- thecogitationzone liked this
- ann1hilati0n liked this
- hma-thot liked this
- chuddlesthewumbologist liked this
- cacklecacklecackle liked this
- thenightborn liked this
- timirwin liked this
- curiotoybox liked this
- notwiselybuttoowell reblogged this from scientificillustration
- alihsi liked this
- felixpheonix liked this
- olivethundar11 liked this
- danburyshakes reblogged this from scientificillustration
- kelp-kelp liked this
- extinctinks liked this
- cacthigh reblogged this from dinodorks
- fbnmh liked this
- teacupchimera liked this
- dreadlockmimi liked this
- saurs-random-stuff liked this
- alxndrasplace reblogged this from scientificillustration
- dinodorks reblogged this from scientificillustration
- notbythehaironmychinnychinchins liked this
- deadbirdlife reblogged this from scientificillustration
- forsooth-verily liked this
- woahyeti liked this
- mackennzie-blog reblogged this from scientificillustration
- mackennzie-blog liked this
- king-in-yellow reblogged this from cypr1anlatew00d
- mondaymorgue liked this
- cypr1anlatew00d reblogged this from scientificillustration
- cypr1anlatew00d liked this
- krynnibear reblogged this from scientificillustration
- romkids posted this
- Show more notes