Heath hens once ranged from the southern tip of Maine to Virginia. But by 1870, hunting by European settlers had reduced the population to a few hundred birds on Martha’s Vineyard. Efforts to save them were enacted, but wildfire, disease and the unfortunate arrival of predatory goshawks ravaged the remaining population. 

In 1929, a hopeful male named Booming Ben was witnessed calling out to others of his kind, but there were none left to hear his plea. He was last seen on March 11, 1932.