ON JUNE 3, 1844, the last great auk was killed in Iceland. A large, flightless bird with a black grooved bill, the great auk had once been plentiful along both coasts of the North Atlantic, particularly in Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. The birds nested on low ledges in rocky coastal areas, which is why they were vulnerable to attack by predators, including humans.

Unable to escape by flying, the birds were easy prey for early explorers and mariners, who killed thousands at a time for food. The bird was also hunted for its feathers, which were used as stuffing for pillows and beds, and for its carcass, which could be rendered for cooking oil.

Because the female great auk laid only one egg at a time, the bird's population plummeted due to overhunting. Finally the great auk vanished from the earth.

Hunting has adversely impacted many...