-- USFWS.... AWOL? --

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USFWS looks increasingly like a timid deer in headlights in it’s public indecision over what to do about the Ivory-billed Woodpecker (…I presume an indication of the level of infighting/disagreement amongst staff?). Some claim there will be a decision before the end of the year, though we already seem well-passed the point that the Agency's own bureaucratic requirements (as well as common sense) would’ve expected a simple yay-or-nay decision.

Unlike many, I’m not overly worried about it, as the IBWO is already either functionally or in actuality, extinct, OR (as I and others believe) has survived the last 80+ years with its own wiles, and can continue to do so. The habitat it lives in is already largely protected for many reasons other than possible Ivory-bill persistence.

But what does concern me is the whole lousy decision-making process…. which consisted of individuals publicly submitting evidence to USFWS, while staffers sat there, like lumps on a log, simply listening…. asking no questions, making no comments or statements, bringing in no outside ‘experts’ to publicly review the submissions, or interrogate the submitters. In short, nothing terribly scientific about the faux process (that the public is privy to); more like very weak show-and-tell than science. If there is 'science' going on behind the scenes, well there's little sign of it? And so (not surprisingly) most of the public submissions were clearly evidence (including pictures) of Pileated Woodpeckers, duhhhh; yet no mention even of that from USFWS, in what at least could’ve been a decent teaching moment. And again, the few submissions that hinted at the possibility at least of extant IBWOs facing no direct challenges/questions/rebuttal/clarifications/peer-review etc. "Science" stripped of its potency and give-and-take.

It all makes me lose a lot of confidence that USFWS is even up to the task. And I recently finished reading a 2023 book (that I recommend), “A Wing and a Prayer, the race to save vanishing birds” by Anders and Beverly Gyllenhaal, who toward the end likewise find fault/weakness with the current-day USFWS:

“The primary federal agency responsible for birds has yet to rise to the occasion. Instead, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seems content to manage the declines. It’s been unwilling to take significant steps to confront the loss of a third of North America’s birds, or even to address some of the most pressing contributors that so obviously merit action….

“These failures symbolize the inadequate current policies of the Fish and Wildlife Service.  By keeping a low profile on these issues, the agency is missing an opportunity to provide a voice on behalf of birds at a crucial time. With research, technology, and knowledge for understanding birds reaching new heights, the agency should be making the most of these advances. Even insiders who’ve devoted their careers to the agency say they’re frustrated with what they’re seeing. Don Barry, the former chief counsel at U.S. Fish and Wildlife, who helped shape the agency’s laws and enforcement for years, is direct about it: ‘Unfortunately over the last twenty years, the Fish and Wildlife Service has grown increasingly timid.’ Dan Ashe, director of the agency for almost a decade during the Obama administration, says, ‘They just don’t have the depth of field that’s necessary to deal with the challenges they’re facing.”

Yes, from a subjective outside-observer point-of-view, "depth of field" definitely appears to be lacking. We live in an age of a lot of pressure to shrink government, even widespread simplistic anti-government sentiment.... the problems/flaws of the USFWS are shared by many Federal agencies. The onus for settling this whole IBWO issue will be, more than ever, on the few believers who continue to actively search for the species, without much help from USFWS -- and 'settling' the issue can only arise by documenting the bird conclusively; it is not currently possible to prove extinction.

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ADDENDUM  7/7/23:

A decent interview (~26 mins) with Steve Latta about their Louisiana findings. Though largely re-hash of re-hash of re-hash, it's worth hearing if you’ve never heard Steve verbally state his case before:

https://www.upr.org/show/undisciplined/2023-07-06/undisciplined-first-sighting-in-70-years-researchers-say-theyve-seen-extinct-ivory-billed-woodpecker

(...and I think one of the most important points, of several, that he makes here toward the end, is that if the IBWO persists -- as they're convinced it does in one sector of Louisiana -- then, rather than this being a last stand, there are numerous other locales across the Southeast where small populations may be holding out as well.)