Human predation contributed to the extinction of the Australian megafaunal bird Genyornis newtoni ∼47 ka

Abstract

The impact of humans on megafaunal extinction is Australia is unclear. Here, the authors show burn patterns on eggshells of the extinct megafaunal bird, Genyornis newtoni, created by humans across Australia, suggesting that human predation contributed to the extinction of this bird around 47 thousand years ago.