According to wikipedia:

It is estimated that there were as many as five billion passenger pigeons in the United States at the time Europeans arrived in North America[1]. They lived in enormous flocks, and during migration, one could see flocks of them a mile (1.6 km) wide and 300 miles (500 km) long, taking several days to pass and probably containing two billion birds.[2][3] Over the 19th century, the species went from being one of the most abundant birds in the world to extinction.[4]

P-C, have you seen any of the footage from the Planet Earth miniseries showing megaflocks of millions of birds moving across the African plain? The narration noted that these megaflocks can take up to six hours to pass.

I haven't seen that. Ooooh. So many birds.

Ayiyi, this is fucked up:

A particularly cruel method of killing was to blind a single bird by sewing its eyes shut using a needle and thread. This bird's feet would be attached to a circular stool at the end of a stick that could be raised five or six feet in the air, then dropped back to the ground. As the bird attempted to land, it would flutter its wings, thus attracting attention to other birds flying overhead. When the flock would land near this decoy bird, nets would trap the birds and the hunters would crush their heads between their thumb and forefinger. This was the origin of the term stool pigeon. [8]

I don't get why you need to sew the bird's eyes shut.

Over the 19th century, the species went from being one of the most abundant birds in the world to extinction.

This is what happens when you have no natural predators. Now aren't you glad for that Samuel L. Jackson movie where he selflessly demonstrates that sharks are our natural predators??

I really liked Vertigo, because it was so freaky-bright and because of the Vertigo Camera Move (tm). I am personally of the opinion that you're not allowed to use that camera move unless you are working in an expressionistic or otherwise oneiric text, because "Scared the shit out of Frodo on the way to Bree" is not dramatic enough a justification for that camera move.

It's so standard these days, though. I didn't even notice it was used in it until I, uh, was listening to the commentary on the Reno 911 movie this weekend.

How about "Totally figured out who killed a bunch of kids on a bus AND raped you a couple years ago"?

Made in Paris just came on the TV. TCM, I think. I just watched the brilliant, seven minute, dialogless opening sequence with Ann-Margret and Chad Everett. Magnificent.

Also? Young Ann-Margret?

I'll be in my bunk.

Sharks would be our natural predators if we were living in the ocean. Under "natural" circumstances one is extremely safe from attacks.

Now, I can see how humans got to apex predator status. After all, we kill stuff all the time.

Pigeons? How do they end up with no one eating them? They're not quite predating themselves, are they?

Under "natural" circumstances one is extremely safe from attacks.

Unless you're Samuel L. Jackson in the middle of a monologue.

There's nothing natural about Samuel L. It's why we can love him so.