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Approaching winter when the leaves will be gone from the trees making for better IBWO searching, with a new breeding season beginning early next year …but then, hahh, I’ve probably been saying all that for the last 15 years :((
Again, plenty of review and historical/speculative banter continuing around the IBWO for now (and could easily continue for another 10-15 years), but little really new claims so I suspect USFWS will go ahead with its “extinction” recommendation by year's end (despite internal debates, and hey, maybe they’ll surprise me). All the arguments are pretty well-known by now, and pretty well-worn... one suspects that some in key positions at USFWS just aren’t buying it. Whatever credibility the agency loses by NOT declaring the IBWO extinct will be far surpassed by the egg-on-their-face, if they declare extinction, only to have the iconic species then re-appear; a bit of a roll of the dice for them. Que sera sera.
Louisiana’s Matt Courtman continues to do Monday night (8pm EST) Zoom meetings on IBWO topics. The last one I see uploaded to YouTube is here (a more recent one isn’t up yet, but probably soon):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ly6chrq0B_Y
Update: the more recent one is now up here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvfeJ6gQ6-M
(…or follow his “Louisiana Wilds” Facebook page for updates from him, if you're not already:
https://www.facebook.com/TheLouisianaWilds
Again, remember the comment period to USFWS is open 'til Nov. 29, here:
...AND, the actual USFWS "5-year review" of the IBWO case upon which the decision to 'declare extinct' is based, is here, if you wish to read it (H/T to Matt Courtman):
...and in case I don't have occasion to post again before Thanksgiving, a Happy Holiday to all.
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