booming ben

•

The last known heath hen (Tympanuchus cupido cupido), a subspecies of the greater praire chicken, was last seen on this date on March 11, 1932.

Known as "Booming Ben," he was spotted on Martha's Vineyard, a small island off the coast of Cape Cod. Ben was on his traditional lekking ground between West Tisbury and what is today the airport.

After that date, Ben boomed no more. But he had been alone, the last of his kind, for several years.

•