https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/jg8we7/us-wildlife-officials-declare-23-species-extinct

On Wednesday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the extinction of 23 wildlife species.

Novice and professional birders alike can attest to the excitement they feel when tracking an elusive bird. There’s the rush of adrenaline at the blur of a red-tipped wing and the dogged concentration that pushes them through brush with held breath. But for conservationists tracking endangered birds and fish, this cautious optimism can be replaced with dread as species go years and decades without sightings. Now, those fears have been confirmed.