Joe --

For my thirty years of birding, I have always heard "extirpated" used to
mean a species no longer occurred in a specified region (perhaps had been
totally driven out?) as opposed to "extinct". Regional species lists
frequently list species that are alive and kicking somewhere else but are
"extirpated" in that region. I have always heard the Passenger Pigeon
described as "extinct", never as "extirpated".

Mary Ann Chapman
Seattle

At 06:58 PM 6/6/2005, Joemeche at aol.com wrote:
>All,
>
>Someone has to step forward and put this thread into proper perspective.
>OK, I'll do it!
>"Extirpation" means total loss or destruction or extermination; e.g., the
>extirpation of the Passenger Pigeon.
>This discussion is more about species that have been displaced from parts
>of their historical ranges for one reason or other and the possibility of
>reintroduction. If the birds you're talking about have been "extirpated,"
>we're not having this discussion. We cannot reintroduce that which has
>been extirpated, unfortunately.
>
>Cheers,
>Joe Meche
>Bellingham, WA
>_______________________________________________
>Tweeters mailing list
>Tweeters at u.washington.edu
>http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters