-- Ivory-bill Habitat --

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Pulliam has been diligently, patiently employing Terraserver to search out areas of Ivory-bill potential in the 9 primary southern search states. He has now summarized his results at his website below. Good reading (especially if you live in one of these states):

http://bbill.blogspot.com/2006/03/potential-ivory-billed-woodpecker.html

This is just one person's attempt operating from a computer screen -- as he indicates in his post Bill won't mind hearing ideas from other folks directly familiar with these areas; if you think he's left a prime locale out somewhere let him know, or included an area that actually is much poorer, inadequate habitat than might appear on Terraserver, let him know that. The importance of such surveys (besides suggesting areas of interest) I think is in conveying just how much potential little-explored habitat is out there which easily explains how this species could stay out of frequent sight for 60 years and still be with us.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-- Congaree --

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
A nice article on the Ivory-bill search now underway in the Congaree National Park of S.C.:

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/14027457.htm
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

-- Jaded or What??? --

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Over the years there have been 100's of Ivory-bill reports turned in, including outright hoaxes, innumerable mis-identifications, and many simply unconfirmable claims. With the advent of the internet any such report can now shoot around the birding community in lightening speed. But with all the current controversy have we now arrived at such a jaded "boy who cried wolf" state that sightings no longer command much attention unless accompanied by a close-up/clearcut photo or video???
I ask because I confess to being surprised at the paucity of interest shown across the Web in Mike Collins' Pearl River IBWO claims, especially the lack of coverage on the Louisiana and Mississippi Bird listserv groups (instead there have been a few harsh, caustic comments)? Because of previous historical IBWO claims for the Pearl and the Stennis region it makes sense for this area to be of interest, and one would think many involved with the unsuccessful 2002 Pearl search in particular would love to see that past effort vindicated. Are individuals who might otherwise show an interest simply too involved with the current Arkansas endeavor to divert attention to Louisiana right now? Or has the lack of minute detail in Mike's accounts hurt his credibility? The video is weak and ambiguous, but on close examination has enticing elements, or do doubters find it worthless??? Or, is there possibly more interest/activity being shown locally in the area than I am aware of?
I'd be interested to hear (either comment section or email) from folks, especially those closest to the scene in LA. and MS., as to the seeming shallow degree of follow-up to Mike's report, or correct me if there IS more happening -- (and I don't want simplistic verbal slamming of Mike, just civil, thoughtful opinions, please).

Here, BTW, is another one of Mike's ('cinclodes') posts from BirdForum this weekend:

http://www.birdforum.net/showpost.php?p=540235&postcount=3080
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

-- Georgia --

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Georgia and Alabama don't get as much publicity for potential Ivory-bill habitat as other southern states, yet both are almost certainly possibilities. The following article reports on plans that have received Federal funding for an upcoming search of Georgia's Okefenokee Swamp, likely the bird's last known habitat in the state. Interestingly, it is also suggested that searchers will be on the lookout for Bachman's Warbler, another presumed extinct species -- it has often been suggested previously that ANYone searching for Ivory-bills should be on the listen and lookout for the Bachman's which formerly shared the IBWO's habitat.

http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/news/local/13995061.htm?source=rss&channel=macon_local

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-- Ultralight Use --

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interesting article here on the employment of ultralights in the Big Woods area to fly over and attempt to flush/photograph Ivory-bills from above (an idea initiated some time back by Bob Russell of U.S. Fish & Wildlife).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-- Cornell Update --

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Cornell has posted another update on their IBWO site, quoting AR. Deputy Sec. of the Interior Lynn Scarlett as thanking Cornell for helping "confirm the sighting of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker," and mentioning the $2+ million of Federal funds that the recovery effort may get for the new fiscal year beginning next Oct. 1.

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/ivory/latest/DOIgrants

Another recent news article on the search is here:

http://www.arktimes.com/Articles/ArticleViewer.aspx?ArticleID=9da2f0c9-8471-4e92-9ba1-e5046e194b23

In the meantime, Cornell's Ron Rohrbaugh is scheduled to speak tonight in Annapolis, Md. on Cornell's findings, and Jerry Jackson, who has recently searched in both Florida and Arkansas, will be speaking in Memphis, TN. on March 15.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

-- Ivory-bill Art --

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you're into both Ivory-bills AND art, Mary Scott is now offering at her site the long-promised print by artist Wil Goebel commemorating Mary's 2003 sighting of an Arkansas IBWO ($175, approximate size 22" x 34):

http://www.birdingamerica.com/goebelprint.htm
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-- Mike Collins Update --

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mike Collins has possibly another month or so to explore in the Pearl River area, while working at nearby Stennis Space Center -- he continues to post occasional updates at his own webpage, where he has also summarized all his February Ivory-bill encounters to this point (or, if you want to view his many world birding reports over the last 10+ years go here.) This recent entry (response) of his ("Cinclodes") on BirdForum, describing search techniques, is also worth reading.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-- Zickefoose Cover Art --

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Julie Zickefoose's blog today has a final installment describing how she completed her painting of an Ivory-bill for the cover of the Jan. "Auk" issue. I guess the only question remaining is whether her bird is flying over the Cache River or the Pearl!???

http://www.juliezickefoose.com/blog/2006/02/everything-but-bird.html
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-- March SCIENCE --

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Rumor has it that one of the upcoming March issues of Science Magazine will carry the long awaited/postponed rebuttal by David Sibley et.al. to Cornell's original IBWO Science article, and one would assume to the latest online Luneau film analysis as well. Indeed it will be interesting to see just how much time is spent in rebuttal of the film clip, which I still consider to be of only tangential importance anyway, versus the rest of Cornell's body of evidence.
At least the month ahead probably won't be boring... and the phrase "March Madness" just might refer to more than b-ball this year!!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-- Pearl Video --

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The following article talks about the official Ivory-bill search due to get underway in southeast Texas late this year:

http://www.southeasttexaslive.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16197293&BRD=2287&PAG=461&dept_id=512588&rfi=6

For any who haven't been following the IBWO discussion on BirdForum (...if you missed the weekend posts you'll have L-L-LOTS of catching up to do -- around 200 entries over the weekend), a couple of folks have posted renditions of part of the video which Mike Collins took at Pearl River that has been the subject of much discussion, and I believe folks over at LSU are currently working on it as well. Take a gander and manipulate as needed to get your best looks, depending on what sort of screen and software options you have available -- people can certainly state their opinions, but I'd like to avoid drawn-out back-and-forth verbal matches from people seeing different things with different pieces of equipment and software; nothing will be definitively resolved here; but if you feel you have an important or new insight to make by all means bring it up! :

http://home.att.net/%7Efangsheath/mike2.avi

http://www.birdwatch.plus.com/cinclodesflight.htm


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-- White Pileated In Big Woods --

----------------------------------------------------------
As if the waters weren't muddy enough (metaphorically speaking) Cornell has documented a mostly whitish (leucistic) Pileated Woodpecker at the White River Refuge in AR. as well as at least one other PIWO with additional white on a wing as had been reported earlier.

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/ivory/field/from_field_html/whitePIWO

Worth reading for both the pictures and interesting commentary. While these birds don't look anything like an Ivory-bill they will certainly open the question among skeptics of whether there might exist a sibling or offspring (among the MANY Big Woods' PIWOs) that is marked in a more IBWO-like manner.
----------------------------------------------------------

-- Searching Tips --

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Today a BirdForum participant posted a list of tips for searching in IBWO country that I thought was interesting and worth passing along (in very slightly edited version below):

"1.Move slowly 10 steps... look around with your eyes - then your head.... then move again.. Don't bother looking around while you are moving.. LOOK WHILE YOU ARE STILL - you will see more..... WHEN YOU are moving look at where and what you are putting your feet on.. ie. branches, leaves etc...don't splash... walk in 3 or 4 step patterns.. ONLY humans walk in 2 step patterns...... 2 step walking alerts ALL animals to human presence.... It is painstaking to move like this.. particularly if you have never done it... BUT.. it is necessary...you'll be amazed at how much closer to birds and other wildlife you will get....
1.A.. when you stop it is best to have your sillouette broken up by a large tree or bush... stop in the shadows if you can..
1 B. before you move.. Locate your next stopping point.. and closely analyze the steps to getting there..... look for and plan for obstacles..
1.c.IF you are patient... you can step through weeks worth of dry leaves and still sound natural. poke your foot in with your toes..slightly wiggle your foot and CREATE A HOLE... DON'T go traipsing through sounding like a frosted flakes commercial...

2.wear a hat.... doesn't have to be camo.. but NO bright colors...

3. minimize unneccesary movement.. smoking, pointing with your hands at everything you see... describe it... sort of like... 2 o clock midway up that gum tree....

4. do the scratch test on everthing you wear..... scratch it with your fingernail... if you can hear it... YOU HAVE THE WRONG CLOTHES>> forget them.. start over.....

5. lay out all of your gear in the sunshine.... anything reflective.. replace it or leave it.. unless you can paint it.... this includes paddles.......

6. you may get wet.. but wear shoes that you can walk comfortably and quietly..... what's a little water? I mean really above 65 degrees is not at all uncomfortable....

7. whisper... don't talk loudly..... if at all. the human voice carries a great great distance.... and despite how much you like them... few wild animals/birds like us.....

8. tape loose ends of your clothing and gear... an untimely snag can ruin a lot of hard work..

9. if you have light skinned cheeks... camo face paint... in vertical stripes.....forehead and the backs of your hands too.... or better yet.. wear like mesh gloves....

10. and most importantly MOVE INTO THE WIND......looking back at nearly every reliable IBWO sighting..... the people were moving into the wind or across the wind.. why.... well... ALL predators move into the wind... the reasons are many.. but in our case here... sound is carried away from our target and not TO them... so moving into the wind minimizes your sound and scent pollution.(Based on what I know... ..about waterfowl and IBWOs... they use their sense of smell MUCH MUCH MORE THAN WE REALIZE...) additionaly.. if you are moving into the wind..you will see MUCH More wildlife than you usually do.. trust me....that always cracks me up when i see birders.. they generally just amble off..... hunters on the other hand... always approach from the downwind side....(well good hunters anyway)..

If you are paddling.... sound proof your paddle... have a towel to place your paddle down on so that it doesn't clang everytime you stop... also put foam pipe insulation at the points where it may hit the boat... and.... while paddling through prime zones.. ONE PERSON PADDLES WHILE THE OTHER PERSON LOOKS.. if by yourself.. 3-5 strokes.. drift and watch........

now.... a couple other points..... some things I always bring with me....
1. a whistle.... IF by some chance you need to contact other people.. whistles work much better than you screaming... and you expend a lot less energy.
2.a clean pair of socks......
3. a roll of duck tape.
4. a SHARP knife.
5. brush cutter shears (make blinds, shelter and clear paths).
6. hunter orange vest( I only wear it if I know there are deer hunters or hunting in the area and generally.. I see other hunters LONG before they are aware of me, I am an exception and not the rule......) but in an emergency hunter orange may save your life if people are looking for you...
7. bug spray... don't have it don't go.. even in winter.......
8.10 feet of rope.......
9..OH>. and your camera..... in a zip loc bag.. also ziploc your wallet, phone and always keep an extra zip loc....."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

-- 'nother Get-together --

-------------------------------------------------------------------
"The Call of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker Celebration" begins tomorrow for 3 days in Brinkley, AR. with several of the now usual IBWO presenters participating. We'll see if anything new or noteworthy emanates therefrom.

If you're not already following the discussion of Mike Collins' ("Cinclodes") efforts in the Pearl at 'BirdForum' you may wish to check it out at:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=33968&page=1&pp=30 (may need to 'refresh' page)

info, updates, and general thoughts are more frequent there than at Mike's own webpage (also worth checking daily).
-------------------------------------------------------------------

-- More From Mike C. --

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mike Collins has posted some audio files and video frames of a Pearl River bird at his website:

http://www.fishcrow.com/winter06.html (Feb 20 entry)

Will probably require some expert technical analysis to say much about this preliminary evidence (certainly nothing earth-shattering yet), but with luck better material may be forthcoming.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

-- Pearl Anniversary! --

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Somewhat appropriately, today was the 4-year anniversary since release of the final report of the 2002 Zeiss/LSU Pearl River Ivory-bill search team following their month-long effort:

http://www.zeiss.de/C1256BCF0020BE5F/Contents-Frame/BCF8F0B8837639FB85256CC60078F4EE

Under the circumstances just thought it might be timely to refer readers back to that search (and there's more about it on the web than this one official summary page), especially for any new readers who might not be fully aware of that study, or why the Pearl is an area of such interest. Several of the major players in that endeavor are of course also involved in the current Arkansas search.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

-- IVORY-BILLS IN THE PEARL!! + Jackson Searches --

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mike Collins is officially reporting having located a pair of Ivory-bills in a remote part of the Pearl River region he has been searching! Here is part of his post announcing his find:

"...I can now say with certainty that ivorybills exist in the Pearl. There is at least one pair. I am asking everyone to show the same restraint that you have shown in Arkansas. Please don't come here now. Wait until more is known about ivorybill populations. Wait until a blind is set up at a nest or roost so that ivorybills can be observed without disturbing them. Better yet, go find other populations of ivorybills. Coming here would be potentially detrimental to the birds. It would almost certainly be a waste of time. The Pearl is a vast area. The birds are in a remote location that is difficult and dangerous to reach. Even if I disclosed the location, it would be extremely difficult to locate the birds...."

His entire post is under "Feb. 18" at: http://www.fishcrow.com/winter06.html

A bit anti-climactical under the circumstances, but also worth reporting, that Jerry Jackson is actively searching the Fackahatchee Preserve area in Collier County, Fla. which he believes to be some of the best available habitat for the species. See:

http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060218/NEWS01/602180510/1075

Addendum: In response to some questions, Mike C. added a few more details to his info in a BirdForum post, as follows:

"There are two birds together. I don't yet know if they are a mated pair. Of course, I have attempted to get a photo and will continue to do so. I have invited two of the most well-known ornithologists. It is important that they act quickly. I thought hunting season was over, but some hunters remain in the area. Gunshots went off nearby when I heard the two birds together. Turkey season begins soon. It could very well be that these birds have had nest failures every year due to disturbances from human activities. The ornithologists have the power to ensure they are protected. In fact, they have that responsibility in my opinion. It would simply be a matter of closing the small area where a nest is suspected."

GOOD LUCK IN THE DAYS AHEAD MIKE!!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

-- IBWO Recovery Planning --

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Cornell has posted a new page summarizing current thinking about a recovery plan for the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, the result of an earlier February meeting of 70 members from the Recovery Team in Brinkley. Hope is that a "final" plan will be in place by June of 2007 after much study and public discussion. Of course much depends on just how many locales/states the species is eventually found in, and how many individuals or pairs can be located.
---------------------------------------------------------------------