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This article attempts to reassure Arkansas locals that documenting the Ivory-bill's presence won't substantially disrupt other land users in the area. This is a continual concern to some, especially as a lawsuit is pending over further construction of the Grand Prairie irrigation project which will likely impact IBWO habitat.
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Friday, February 17, 2006
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
-- Return To eBay --
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Paid another visit to eBay today checking on their current Ivory-bill wares:
http://search.ebay.com/ivory-billed_W0QQfromZR40QQsatitleZivoryQ2dbilled
Lot of artwork, books, trinkets etc., but the item that most caught my eye this time were some front license plates from artist Larry Chandler (9 available at $20/each). Handsome...
As folks may know, the State of Arkansas is offering 'conservation' plates featuring the IBWO to residents this year, but out-of-staters are out-of-luck on those. These are a nice alternative, but only legal in the following states that permit front bumper auto tags: Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Lousiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia. Worth a look if you reside therein.
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Paid another visit to eBay today checking on their current Ivory-bill wares:
http://search.ebay.com/ivory-billed_W0QQfromZR40QQsatitleZivoryQ2dbilled
Lot of artwork, books, trinkets etc., but the item that most caught my eye this time were some front license plates from artist Larry Chandler (9 available at $20/each). Handsome...
As folks may know, the State of Arkansas is offering 'conservation' plates featuring the IBWO to residents this year, but out-of-staters are out-of-luck on those. These are a nice alternative, but only legal in the following states that permit front bumper auto tags: Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Lousiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, West Virginia. Worth a look if you reside therein.
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Tuesday, February 14, 2006
-- DNA Evidence ? --
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The question of testing for the presence of Ivory-bills using DNA evidence has repeatedly popped up around the internet from time to time. Cornell says they have indeed been testing feathers pulled from suspicious bark scalings in the Big Woods and thus far all have proven to be Pileated. They are not able to get DNA from saliva (which birds don't have) or from "footprints;" they did not specifically mention beak gouges, but I suspect these likewise are not a suitable source for DNA. Further they note that it simply isn't "cost efficient" to test for Ivory-bill DNA by vacuuming up and checking material from the floor of interesting tree cavities (unless it is already visually known with high probability that IBWOs have used the cavity).
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The question of testing for the presence of Ivory-bills using DNA evidence has repeatedly popped up around the internet from time to time. Cornell says they have indeed been testing feathers pulled from suspicious bark scalings in the Big Woods and thus far all have proven to be Pileated. They are not able to get DNA from saliva (which birds don't have) or from "footprints;" they did not specifically mention beak gouges, but I suspect these likewise are not a suitable source for DNA. Further they note that it simply isn't "cost efficient" to test for Ivory-bill DNA by vacuuming up and checking material from the floor of interesting tree cavities (unless it is already visually known with high probability that IBWOs have used the cavity).
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Saturday, February 11, 2006
-- Encounters...? --
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Maybe they're feeling the pressure... after earlier indicating they would not report on non-definitive Ivory-bill enounter claims until the search season was over, Cornell has now posted a brief summary of IBWO claims since the winter effort began:
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/ivory/field/encounters
They cautiously report 6 possible sightings (from all the rumors, I'm a bit surprised it's not higher than that) and another 10 auditory encounters. Again, nothing definitive here, maybe just a morale-booster for those involved in the search, and always nice to get updates.
And Mike Collins has posted an interesting photo of some foraging sign in the Pearl area he is searching:
http://www.fishcrow.com/foraging.jpg
Unfortunately (does the ambiguity NEVER end) Pileateds are known on occasion to make these sorts of furrows, although I've never seen an example of this many in a single tree. It's difficult to deduce size from Mike's pic, but Holzman/Sykes have previously indicated that Pileated furrows are likely to be less than 3 ft. long, and anything over 3 ft. is highly suspicious (the top furrow looks over 3 ft. to my eye???).
And HAPPY ANNIVERSARY everyone!! -- it was two years ago today that Gene Sparling, kayaking "in a magical place," noted seeing "a large woodpecker and the black-and-white pattern seems reversed." Cheers to all involved! We're now entering the heart of the breeding season, so with luck, additional interesting reports will be forthcoming...
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Addendum: 'Fangsheath' at BirdForum has posted the following links to examples of Pileated foraging not too unlike Mike's Pearl River find:
http://www.wellsgray.ca/pileated.jpg
http://www.startribune.com/stonline/images/news79/1wpecker07.l.jpg
http://www.cfl.forestry.ca/collections-cfl/malg/010197G.jpg
http://www.cfl.forestry.ca/collections-cfl/malg/010206G.jpg
http://www.cfl.forestry.ca/collections-cfl/malg/010218G.jpg
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Maybe they're feeling the pressure... after earlier indicating they would not report on non-definitive Ivory-bill enounter claims until the search season was over, Cornell has now posted a brief summary of IBWO claims since the winter effort began:
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/ivory/field/encounters
They cautiously report 6 possible sightings (from all the rumors, I'm a bit surprised it's not higher than that) and another 10 auditory encounters. Again, nothing definitive here, maybe just a morale-booster for those involved in the search, and always nice to get updates.
And Mike Collins has posted an interesting photo of some foraging sign in the Pearl area he is searching:
http://www.fishcrow.com/foraging.jpg
Unfortunately (does the ambiguity NEVER end) Pileateds are known on occasion to make these sorts of furrows, although I've never seen an example of this many in a single tree. It's difficult to deduce size from Mike's pic, but Holzman/Sykes have previously indicated that Pileated furrows are likely to be less than 3 ft. long, and anything over 3 ft. is highly suspicious (the top furrow looks over 3 ft. to my eye???).
And HAPPY ANNIVERSARY everyone!! -- it was two years ago today that Gene Sparling, kayaking "in a magical place," noted seeing "a large woodpecker and the black-and-white pattern seems reversed." Cheers to all involved! We're now entering the heart of the breeding season, so with luck, additional interesting reports will be forthcoming...
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Addendum: 'Fangsheath' at BirdForum has posted the following links to examples of Pileated foraging not too unlike Mike's Pearl River find:
http://www.wellsgray.ca/pileated.jpg
http://www.startribune.com/stonline/images/news79/1wpecker07.l.jpg
http://www.cfl.forestry.ca/collections-cfl/malg/010197G.jpg
http://www.cfl.forestry.ca/collections-cfl/malg/010206G.jpg
http://www.cfl.forestry.ca/collections-cfl/malg/010218G.jpg
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Thursday, February 09, 2006
-- And On a Lighter Note... --
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I received a note from a graduate of Arkansas State University reporting a small move afoot to change the name (and mascot) of the ASU sports teams from "Indians" (no longer politically-correct) to "Ivory-bills," an idea, as he says, that "would garner much free publicity for the school and do much to highlight the need for habitat preservation in the big woods located so close to the ASU campus." Possibly, there are folks out there (or ASU alumni) who want to get involved with this issue... but you'll have to convince folks to pass over such other suggestions as "Red Wolves," "Coyotes," "Snappers," "Farmers," and "Copperheads."
...Go, you fighting Ivory-bills!!!
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I received a note from a graduate of Arkansas State University reporting a small move afoot to change the name (and mascot) of the ASU sports teams from "Indians" (no longer politically-correct) to "Ivory-bills," an idea, as he says, that "would garner much free publicity for the school and do much to highlight the need for habitat preservation in the big woods located so close to the ASU campus." Possibly, there are folks out there (or ASU alumni) who want to get involved with this issue... but you'll have to convince folks to pass over such other suggestions as "Red Wolves," "Coyotes," "Snappers," "Farmers," and "Copperheads."
...Go, you fighting Ivory-bills!!!
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Wednesday, February 08, 2006
-- Cornell's Luneau-Clip Analysis --
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Cornell has posted their promised in-depth analysis of David Luneau's film clip here:
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/ivory/rediscovery/support/
--- fairly lengthy, extensive analysis; much of it repeats info presented in the original Science paper but in much greater detail; best part may be the more extensive use of actual film/photos of Pileateds in pertinent positions/poses. I think this presentation will be quite convincing to a great many folks, although still leaving room for doubt among hardened skeptics. Will be interesting to see if a planned skeptical rebuttal to the original Science paper is still published (or yanked), as it will now have to address this further analysis.
Personally, I still find it troubling that SO much weight has been placed on the Luneau video from the start --- 7-16 sightings by credible, credentialled observers should be convincing enough (and would be for any species other than the IBWO); the video is simply one additional piece of data.
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Cornell has posted their promised in-depth analysis of David Luneau's film clip here:
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/ivory/rediscovery/support/
--- fairly lengthy, extensive analysis; much of it repeats info presented in the original Science paper but in much greater detail; best part may be the more extensive use of actual film/photos of Pileateds in pertinent positions/poses. I think this presentation will be quite convincing to a great many folks, although still leaving room for doubt among hardened skeptics. Will be interesting to see if a planned skeptical rebuttal to the original Science paper is still published (or yanked), as it will now have to address this further analysis.
Personally, I still find it troubling that SO much weight has been placed on the Luneau video from the start --- 7-16 sightings by credible, credentialled observers should be convincing enough (and would be for any species other than the IBWO); the video is simply one additional piece of data.
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-- Birder's World Input --
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Birder's World Magazine has posted an article with 5 professional ornithologists commenting on J.Jackson's 'Auk' article with varying opinions (not clear how they selected this particular group of 5). Other Ivory-bill links on their site also available at bottom of this page.
http://www.birdersworld.com/brd/default.aspx?c=a&id=626&cc=DA3qqe
On a side note, as if the pot wasn't stirred enough, word has it that the Sibley, et. al. critique (rebuttal) of the Cornell Arkansas data may be out in an upcoming Science issue.
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Birder's World Magazine has posted an article with 5 professional ornithologists commenting on J.Jackson's 'Auk' article with varying opinions (not clear how they selected this particular group of 5). Other Ivory-bill links on their site also available at bottom of this page.
http://www.birdersworld.com/brd/default.aspx?c=a&id=626&cc=DA3qqe
On a side note, as if the pot wasn't stirred enough, word has it that the Sibley, et. al. critique (rebuttal) of the Cornell Arkansas data may be out in an upcoming Science issue.
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Tuesday, February 07, 2006
-- This, That, & 'nother Thang --
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Bobby Harrison is posting his own updates on the current Arkansas search courtesy of Eagle Optics at:
http://www.eagleoptics.com/index.asp?pid=4523
He has yet to see the bird this year but with sponsoring/funding from Eagle he's still hoping to get the killer video.
Meanwhile, Ivory-bill searcher Mike Collins continues his search in the Pearl River area where he believes he heard the bird years ago, and may have seen one just last week. You can follow his updates at:
http://www.fishcrow.com (click on the Winter 2006 search)
Finally, a Cornell student has posted a response regarding the nature of science and J.Jackson's 'Auk' article
here (a bit philosophical, but I think on the mark):
http://p6.hostingprod.com/@mclarson.com/blog/?p=11
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Bobby Harrison is posting his own updates on the current Arkansas search courtesy of Eagle Optics at:
http://www.eagleoptics.com/index.asp?pid=4523
He has yet to see the bird this year but with sponsoring/funding from Eagle he's still hoping to get the killer video.
Meanwhile, Ivory-bill searcher Mike Collins continues his search in the Pearl River area where he believes he heard the bird years ago, and may have seen one just last week. You can follow his updates at:
http://www.fishcrow.com (click on the Winter 2006 search)
Finally, a Cornell student has posted a response regarding the nature of science and J.Jackson's 'Auk' article
here (a bit philosophical, but I think on the mark):
http://p6.hostingprod.com/@mclarson.com/blog/?p=11
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Monday, February 06, 2006
-- Foraging Sign Webpage --
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As they used to say in the 60's, "groovy": Steve Holzman and Paul Sykes have summarized some of their preliminary woodpecker foraging groove information at their own webpage here:
http://www.coastalgeorgiabirding.org/misc/grooves.htm
Much of this info has already been previously reported, but nice to have a single reference page now to point to.
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As they used to say in the 60's, "groovy": Steve Holzman and Paul Sykes have summarized some of their preliminary woodpecker foraging groove information at their own webpage here:
http://www.coastalgeorgiabirding.org/misc/grooves.htm
Much of this info has already been previously reported, but nice to have a single reference page now to point to.
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Friday, February 03, 2006
-- Zickefoose Tutorial --
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Self-taught artist Julie Zickefoose has an interesting step-by-step post from Thur. detailing how she went about painting an Ivory-bill "booking through Bayou de View" for the cover of last month's edition of "The Auk" journal. Interesting read, and this is just her first installment on the story, so there may well be more coming today.
http://www.juliezickefoose.com/blog/2006/02/making-ivory-bill.html
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Self-taught artist Julie Zickefoose has an interesting step-by-step post from Thur. detailing how she went about painting an Ivory-bill "booking through Bayou de View" for the cover of last month's edition of "The Auk" journal. Interesting read, and this is just her first installment on the story, so there may well be more coming today.
http://www.juliezickefoose.com/blog/2006/02/making-ivory-bill.html
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Thursday, February 02, 2006
-- Continued Debate --
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A bit more of the back-and-forth debate between Cornell's John Fitzpatrick and a skeptical Jerry Jackson is found in today's Cornell Daily Sun edition; a nice read, though it won't settle anything. Interestingly, Fitzpatrick does mention a new website Cornell is designing to buttress their case by showing detailed analysis of the Luneau video with multiple comparative views of Pileateds in flight.
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A bit more of the back-and-forth debate between Cornell's John Fitzpatrick and a skeptical Jerry Jackson is found in today's Cornell Daily Sun edition; a nice read, though it won't settle anything. Interestingly, Fitzpatrick does mention a new website Cornell is designing to buttress their case by showing detailed analysis of the Luneau video with multiple comparative views of Pileateds in flight.
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Wednesday, February 01, 2006
-- Luneau/Sparling Field Notes --
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David Luneau and Gene Sparling have now posted some additional field notes to an online Nature Conservancy journal that David first posted on a couple weeks back:
http://www.nature.org/ivorybill/fieldnotes/
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David Luneau and Gene Sparling have now posted some additional field notes to an online Nature Conservancy journal that David first posted on a couple weeks back:
http://www.nature.org/ivorybill/fieldnotes/
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Tuesday, January 31, 2006
-- Cornell Lab Update --
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The latest official update on the winter search from Cornell Lab of Ornithology is available at:
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/ivory/...ml/bulletin_jan
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The latest official update on the winter search from Cornell Lab of Ornithology is available at:
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/ivory/...ml/bulletin_jan
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Monday, January 30, 2006
-- Southern Indiana History --
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A couple weeks back Steve Sheridan added an addendum to his webpage detailing 2 Ivory-bill sightings in southern Indiana by a Robert Creviston back in 1970 ( the same year Steve believes he first saw the species in S. Indiana -- outside its traditionally-defined range). Scroll down near the end of his page for the new info, or if you've never visited his site before you'll probably want to start at the top and read all the way down.
http://www.sheridanzoo.com/ivorybill.htm
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A couple weeks back Steve Sheridan added an addendum to his webpage detailing 2 Ivory-bill sightings in southern Indiana by a Robert Creviston back in 1970 ( the same year Steve believes he first saw the species in S. Indiana -- outside its traditionally-defined range). Scroll down near the end of his page for the new info, or if you've never visited his site before you'll probably want to start at the top and read all the way down.
http://www.sheridanzoo.com/ivorybill.htm
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Sunday, January 29, 2006
-- Possible December Sighting --
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An article in an Illinois newspaper today details a Dagmar refuge Ivory-bill sighting by 2 fellows (independent of Cornell, but reported to them) back in December -- interesting (...but read with the usual caveats in place).
http://www.herald-review.com/articles/2006/01/29/news/local_news/1012728.txt
(...thanks to a BirdForum poster for calling this to my attention)
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An article in an Illinois newspaper today details a Dagmar refuge Ivory-bill sighting by 2 fellows (independent of Cornell, but reported to them) back in December -- interesting (...but read with the usual caveats in place).
http://www.herald-review.com/articles/2006/01/29/news/local_news/1012728.txt
(...thanks to a BirdForum poster for calling this to my attention)
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Friday, January 27, 2006
-- L. Erickson's Summary --
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Laura Erickson has a summary, with lots of interesting/helpful tidbits, from her recently-completed sojourn in the Big Woods here, with more pics and details to follow later.
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Laura Erickson has a summary, with lots of interesting/helpful tidbits, from her recently-completed sojourn in the Big Woods here, with more pics and details to follow later.
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Thursday, January 26, 2006
-- S. Carolina Search Planned --
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If you're interested in searching for Ivory-bills in South Carolina below is a link to a fairly detailed listserv post from US F&W seeking volunteers to join a search in the Congaree/Santee areas starting around Feb. 20.
You just may want to keep in mind that there have been many IBWO rumors out of S.C. over the years, it was one of the last locales Tanner himself believed supported the species, and Bob Russell rates the Congaree SECOND in his list of top 10 potential IBWO sites.
http://www.surfbirds.com/phorum/read.php?f=24&i=13588&t=13588#reply_13588
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If you're interested in searching for Ivory-bills in South Carolina below is a link to a fairly detailed listserv post from US F&W seeking volunteers to join a search in the Congaree/Santee areas starting around Feb. 20.
You just may want to keep in mind that there have been many IBWO rumors out of S.C. over the years, it was one of the last locales Tanner himself believed supported the species, and Bob Russell rates the Congaree SECOND in his list of top 10 potential IBWO sites.
http://www.surfbirds.com/phorum/read.php?f=24&i=13588&t=13588#reply_13588
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Wednesday, January 25, 2006
-- Update, Sort-of --
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Laura Erickson casually mentions in a post at her site today that Bobby Harrison now claims 5 IBWO sightings!!?? Cornell has basically intimated that any current anecdotal (non-definitive) sightings or auditory claims for the bird this winter, will not be released 'til the end of the search season in May (to avoid anymore of the controversy they are already embroiled in). It is less clear to me if they are saying that even a definitive video, if obtained, would also be held back for release 'til May or might be announced earlier??? In short, from all the hints/rumors out there, there seems little doubt that additional sightings and claims are being turned in, but whether a nest/roost hole will be found and photographic/video evidence attained, remains the critical question.
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Laura Erickson casually mentions in a post at her site today that Bobby Harrison now claims 5 IBWO sightings!!?? Cornell has basically intimated that any current anecdotal (non-definitive) sightings or auditory claims for the bird this winter, will not be released 'til the end of the search season in May (to avoid anymore of the controversy they are already embroiled in). It is less clear to me if they are saying that even a definitive video, if obtained, would also be held back for release 'til May or might be announced earlier??? In short, from all the hints/rumors out there, there seems little doubt that additional sightings and claims are being turned in, but whether a nest/roost hole will be found and photographic/video evidence attained, remains the critical question.
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