Inquiry: Glen Chilton: THE CURSE OF THE LABRADOR DUCK: MY OBSESSIVE QUEST TO THE EDGE OF EXTINCTION

The Labrador Duck is the least known and most mysterious species that has gone extinct in North America in historical times. Shortly after it was discovered, it seemed it was gone. Unlike other extinct species like Great Auks, Passenger Pigeons and Ivory-billed Woodpeckers, there are only a small number of skins and mounted specimens of this legendary duck extant in the world. Some of these antique stuffed ducks have survived the bombing of Dresden and London, others have been stolen and illegally traded. All of them are coveted as rare treasures. Over the course of more than ten years, ornithologist and behavioural ecologist DR. GLEN CHILTON, made it his obsessive mission to go and see each and every specimen of Labrador Duck, as well as all the eggs and bones purported to exist and even visit the areas where the duck was seen and shot. This mission took Dr. Chilton to some of the great museums and collections of Russia, France, Britain, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Canada and the United States. What he learned on this odyssey of the extinct is the subject of tonight’s interview and his rollicking no-hold barred crazy memoir THE CURSE OF THE LABRADOR DUCK: MY OBSESSIVE QUEST TO THE EDGE OF EXTINCTION.