A Night of Food and Film Featuring "From Billions to None"

On Friday evening, September 5, join Plimoth Plantation for a Night of Food & Film as we mark this centenary year of the passenger pigeon's extinction with the screening of the dramatic film From Billions to None: The Passenger Pigeon's Flight to Extinction. Explore this iconic bird's presence in 17th-century Plymouth, its current relevance to habitat and species conservation successes, and sustainable use of natural resources.

Stay for a post-film discussion with the film's co-writer and co-producer Joel Greenberg and a panel of bird conservation leaders and historians. Before the film, enjoy a reception of seasonal artisan culinary delights inspired by the Passenger Pigeon, locally sourced beer and wines, and a special signature drink. Copies of Joel Greenberg's book, A Feathered River Across the Sky: The Passenger Pigeon's Flight to Extinction, will be available for purchase and signing. Tickets are $30 per person or $50 per couple.

Edible South Shore & South Coast magazine is the media sponsor for this Night of Food & Film event. The South Shore and South Coast have been home to hunting, gathering, fishing, farming--and great eating--for over 10,000 years. Edible South Shore & South Coast magazine is committed to identifying and sharing the local and sustainable food sources that the Southeastern Massachusetts area has to offer today, and preserving local options for future generations.The event is also presented in collaboration with the South Shore Natural Science Center, dedicated to educating the public about the natural and cultural environments of the South Shore.

The plight of the passenger pigeon is unlike that of any other bird. With a likely population between 3 and 5 billion, it was the most abundant bird in North American and probably the world. Yet human exploitation drove this species to extinction over the course of a few decades.

The loss of the passenger pigeon set the stage for the earliest waves of environmentalism in America. The story continues to inspire activism even now, a century after the death of "Martha," the last passenger pigeon (named after George Washington's wife) who lived her 29-year life in the Cincinnati Zoo and died on September 1, 1914. According to Greenberg, "The fate of the passenger pigeon is a cautionary tale-- proof that people need to pay attention and not take the natural world for granted."

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