Horicon Marsh Bird Club Unveils Passenger Pigeon Mount

(Horicon) The Horicon Marsh Bird Club will pay homage to an extinct species of bird that once filled the skies of Wisconsin.  On February 21st attendees will get to bear witness to the unveiling of a mounted Passenger Pigeon donated to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources by the family of Drew Pattee, to be on display at the Horicon Marsh Education and Visitor Center.

Believed to have been taken near Alto Wisconsin, this prized specimen is one of many birds that were passed from William Drew Pattee to his descendants, who decided in the fall of 2018 to donate them for public display.  The passenger pigeon was carefully cleaned and remounted by Curt Muche of Curt’s Taxidermy in Mayville in preparation of its official unveiling.

 

Following a brief unveiling ceremony, attendees will be treated to a presentation on “Lost Birds of Wisconsin” by Horicon Marsh Bird Club President, Jeff Bahls.  The presentation will cover the demise of a bird that once numbered in the billions along with information about other birds that are no longer found in Wisconsin.

 

The event is free and open to the public.  Interested parties can attend the ceremony and presentation on February 21st at 7pm at the Horicon Marsh Education and Visitors Center.  More information is available online at horiconmarsh.org or by calling 920-387-7893.