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Comment by TheSwordsman | Hacker News Reader

We are so fucked

Just a reminder that in the 19th Century we killed off billions and billions of passenger pigeons until they went completely extinct. They were the most abundant bird in North America and we literally killed them all. Humans causing massive damage to our environment isn't anything novel unfortunately.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passenger_pigeon

Sure. It's been done before by humans but now we aren't deliberately killing off these species. We are just existing and through the consequences of our behaviors we are killing them. We are all killing off species at a rate humans never before could.

I would expect that since the number of humans exist at many multiples of what they used to before. Plus technological advances allowing humans to exert more influence over the environment.

Sure, but let’s add to the fact that as a species we have pretty much collectively decided that the other animals, plants, insects don’t matter. We’ve also collectively decided to defecate all over the environment and dump chemicals everywhere. As a species we really suck.

> We are just existing

You may be just existing but some very powerful politicians and businessmen are spreading lies and hiding the truth so we can continue to just exist and never realize that the systems which determine how we exist (eat, move, live, consume...) are destroying our habitat/climate for the benefit of a few. There are many ways to exist, and our current ways are very deliberate with regards to their impact on life (eg neonicotinoids).

Let me clarify. Without actively and purposefully doing so we are killing off species on a grand scale. We do by how we acquire food, how we manufacture items for consumption, etc. Just by existing, in the sense of local optimization creatures who seek comfort and pleasure, we are killing the planet.

I, for one, am glad we don't have passenger pigeons regularly depleting large portions of our food supply.|

On the other hand, I did just go out and flip over the bird bath, so it won't accumulate rain any more, and spread this disease. (We've already removed bird feeders here in NW Indiana at the direction of the State)

Was trading them for the European Starling really a win though?

Ecological niches don't just go unfilled y'know. That grain is still in the field and there are birds who want to eat it.

To be clear, it's not just about birds. The entire planet.

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