-- Cornell Scaling Back in AR. --

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Arkansas Public Radio segment here confirming that Cornell will be scaling back it's efforts in Arkansas this coming season (although efforts by other agencies will continue). No mention made of the specific search plans for other states at this point.

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-- West Virginia Tragedy --

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Still no major IBWO news (...Bobby Harrison does report, after almost a year wait, finally getting permission to utilize decoys in the search for IBWO). Most of what I've been reading lately about birds in general, especially on the conservation front, is extremely pessimistic stuff, even though often quite predictable. For one rather more unpredictable and bizarre story, this dispiriting news item out of West Virginia:

http://www.timeswv.com/westvirginia/local_story_274113358.html
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-- Physics --

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Again, off on a NON-Ivorybill tangent today. This will probably be of interest to only a small percentage of you, but still feel it is too good not to pass along: The Large Hadron Collider, recently 'switched on' in Europe, has been the focus of much science news of late, and on "bloggingheads.TV" Sean Carroll (from Cal Tech) and science writer Jennifer Ouellette elucidate some of the particle physics and cosmology involved that make this such a momentous science story (before wandering into miscellaneous math and probability toward end). Hour-long video presentation from two excellent science communicators for anyone who finds modern-day physics fascinating.
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-- Old Reading Material --

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A couple of emailers in last month have suggested that an official extended summary report of last season's Ivory-bill search might not be publicly released this year. Don't know if that's true or not --- and if true, don't know if that would be a reflection of a paucity of significant findings from last season, or rather because the quick burst of cynicism that now follow such reports make it less worthwhile to issue one (I'd think however, that legally, this type of Federally-sponsored work requires routine public disclosure in summary form).

In any event, while awaiting such a report, or the start of 2009 searching, LAST year's summary can be viewed here (as a pdf). I imagine any summary from this year will read quite similarly in its conclusions, though with dwindling funds, a smaller number of state areas may be included for future study efforts.

And the much longer (180 pg. pdf.) "Draft Recovery Plan" is available here, if you need more reading material to review while awaiting news.
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-- Collins Back in Louisiana --

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Mike Collins has returned to Stennis Space Center, in pursuit of indisputable documentation for Ivory-bills' persistence in Louisiana's Pearl River region (...well, I s'pose he'll do some Gov't. work while there too ;-). His new "2009" search season log here.
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-- IBWO Foundation Update --

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Bobby Harrison's Ivory-billed Woodpecker Foundation blog has now been updated after an extensive lapse, here. Bobby is continuing to focus on certain areas with additional signs/sounds from Arkansas, while reviewing images captured by automatic cameras. Thanks for the update, Norma.
The official IBWO Recovery Team apparently met in Atlanta the first week of this month in preparation for the upcoming search season.
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-- Hoping I'm Wrong --

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This coming week a further short-term search of prime habitat in South Carolina gets underway. Over the past two years various key Ivory-bill researchers have pointed to S.C. as having the best, oldest, largest stretch of habitat (primarily the Congaree, but other areas as well) suitable for Ivory-billed Woodpeckers anywhere in the United States. Several signs/sounds of possible IBWOs have been reported in the state (more than publicly disclosed), and of course S.C. was one of the last bastions where Tanner himself believed the species held on 60 years ago.
Having said all that, and for a different set of reasons, I've never personally held out great hope of Ivory-bills being documented in S.C., or at least not ahead of other states. Of course, I'd be thrilled to be wrong. GOOD LUCK to all involved.

For further inspiration, this recent story of the elusive Okapi (ehhh, not exactly a tiny creature) finally being caught on film in the wild for the first time in 50 years:

http://www.itv.com/News/Articles/Unicorn-captured-on-camera-321272489.html
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-- Science At The Edge (OT) --

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Sorry, not IBWO, nor birds, nor nature today, but feel like I oughta post something pre-weekend (in case we all get sucked into a Black Hole from CERN's Large Hadron Collider by then --- not that THAT would be a BAD thing) --- so this clip of one of Jill Bolte Taylor's talks about the experience of her own brain stroke at age 37 (18 mins. long, but worth reaching the end). She's the neuroanatomist author of the bestselling "My Stroke of Insight" that describes what she learned about the left and right brain hemispsheres, and herself, from that personal experience. (And actually, truth be known, I'm not so sure that there isn't a smidgen of applicability submerged in all this, to the whole IBWO debate.) Enjoy....





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-- Whatever --

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Summary of recent new species discoveries here.


A couple of folks emailed me last week asking if I knew any more about Bill Smith's purported Florida Ivorybill book... I certainly have no special knowledge of the book Mr. Bill has dangled before folks for 2 years (...and I prefer not to be emailed about it or his claims). I do know that he continues to post regularly on at least one aquarium group website (a subject about which he actually appears to have at least some first-hand knowledge, and puts aside plenty of time for... the IBWO, uhhhh, nnnot so much).
Some folks believe the supposed IBWO volume will NEVER appear, and some think it will eventually appear, and easily be categorized, like many other monthly releases, as fiction (ought we dare say 'science' fiction?).
I'm guessin' that given the miniscule interest he has generated, Bill must be insanely jealous of the Georgia yahoos who received weeks of international attention for their inane Bigfoot hoax. Some folks have all the luck...
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Request For Volunteer

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The following not-terribly-cryptic message/request for a volunteer appeared on a bird listserv today in case any reader has particular interest:

"Permitted research project on Picidae [woodpeckers] in prime habitat in SC is looking for one volunteer to complete a 6 man team for 6 days starting Monday, Sept. 15 and ending Sat. the 20th. Should know all field marks, calls and knocks/drums of E. Picidae, be able to camp and meet others in SC if possible. Project being done in cooperation with non-profit and govt. entities. Send contact info to NBP@comcast.net"

-- Whazzup? Not Much --

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Sorry for lapse of posting, but warned earlier on that I wasn't expecting much to report on through the summer months, prior to USF&W issuing a final summary report from last season, or the next winter search season getting underway. For the moment, am occupied with other things as well, but to keep folks entertained in the interim go ahead and play with this film clip if you like, or have only seen it 922 times before:



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-- More Notes --

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Duly noted... I only recently discovered (though it's been around for almost a year) Scott Weidensaul has his own blog going at:

http://ofafeather.blogspot.com

Hmmm, David Sibley was blogging for awhile; now we just need to get Pete Dunne blogging (I mean the guy writes about 10 hours a day anyway, doesn't he?).
Speaking of Pete, he will be the keynote speaker at the Georgia Colonial Coast Birding and Nature Festival coming up in October. The times they are a changin': this, and other yearly birding festivals are no longer including Ivory-bill themes or presentations as was almost obligatory a couple years back. Let's hope the upcoming search season changes all that, but then again don't be holdin' your breath.

Last year USF&W released their summary of the prior search season before the end of Sept. Given a slightly more restricted search this past season and less to report maybe the release date this year could be a tad earlier...
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-- Side Notes --

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I've previously mentioned the newly-revised Peterson Guide to Birds of North America, but only this weekend saw and held it in my hands. Very handsome, wonderful volume. Call me old-fashioned, nostalgic, or clinging to the past, but I still find Peterson's artwork unmatched in field guide circles (and these are of course mostly the same old depictions already published numerous times) --- simple yet alive; not too minimal, and not too detailed; just right. The text is, as always, succinct but instructive. The images are enlarged (for us ol' codgers I guess ;-) I still think this is potentially the best guide for beginning and intermediate birders. (For those who don't know, this new version combines the earlier Eastern and Western editions into one volume, and is almost as large as the original Sibley guide, but not quite as unwieldy.) The cover is fittingly a beautiful portrayal of yellow-shafted flickers, the bird that started it all for Roger. With all the new bird field guides flooding the market in the last few years, nice to see this old friend still holding its own.

'Rip' Lyttle reports a couple of partially leucistic Pileated Woodpeckers in the part of South Carolina he is searching (additional white on wing/back area). He has posted a few pics on the Ivory-bill Researchers Forum site (you need to be a member to access pics I believe) -- nothing that would be readily mistaken for IBWO. Still awaiting for someone to capture on film one of these birds having symmetrical patterning across the wings that actually mimics an Ivory-bill's large patches (Noel Snyder claims to have seen one years ago, but no pic). Even statistics for the number of significantly leucistic Pileateds that are recorded across the southeast would be interesting to know. But for now this is just auxiliary information. [SEE comment/clarification below]
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-- N. Carolina Ivorybill Position --

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Audubon is advertising for a field technician to head up the search for the Ivory-billed Woodpecker in southeastern North Carolina (stationed in Wilmington):

"The North Carolina Ivory-billed Woodpecker Search Field Technician will be responsible for implementing standardized protocols developed for systematically searching for the presence of Ivory-billed Woodpecker in the swamp forests and associated woodlands of southeastern North Carolina. Simultaneously, the field technician will survey the study area to assist in research pertaining to the North Carolina Important Bird Areas program. The study locations include the Waccamaw River bottomlands and associated tributaries, selected areas along the Lumber River, and other site TBD. Search efforts will require long days in remote locations and will be physically demanding. After each search day, the field technician will be required to download and enter field data, and maintain all field equipment. Other duties will include: camping, use of canoe or motorized boat, organizing and training volunteers, use of audio and video recording equipment."

The position is currently funded for one year; more details given at the above link.
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-- Cody and Britney --

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For your weekend entertainment...

No rhyme or reason for this post whatsoever, except that I love shelties:





please adopt from your local shelter and rescue groups whenever possible...
(p.s. - for more info on shelties visit sheltienation.com)

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-- In Other News --

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Here's Bill Pulliam's take on a story that's been widely-reported recently about the latest population census for lowland gorillas.

Meanwhile Chuck Hagner, of Birder's World Magazine, reports that the Ivory-billed Woodpecker doesn't even appear as a topic on the program for the American Ornithologists' Union, at their annual meeting in Portland, Oregon this week.
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-- ? Imperial ? --

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Recently, an unusual number of hits to the blog have come from folks who've googled "imperial woodpecker" and been directed to my site (because of past posts on the Imperial here). Also, a couple of emailers have made inquiries to me about the Imperial. Don't know for sure why the subject is suddenly arising, though it may be in part due to a recent post (8-3-08) by Mike Collins which ran as follows:

"There exists footage of an Imperial Woodpecker, and the bird is in flight according to what I have heard. Why haven't the details been made public? The flap rate, flight speed, and flap style might shed light on the ivorybill."

I've occasionally heard/seen very loose vague glimmers about a possible Imperial sighting months ago, but nothing substantive or that I give any credence to at this point. I think Mike's reference may actually be to a supposed brief film of an Imperial in flight from the 1950's, which I believe is in the possession of Cornell. Whether they have utilized it in any way, or have any reason not to release it, I don't know.

May be worth pointing out that the Imperial Woodpecker was MUCH larger than the Ivory-billed. So even though the two species are from the same genus, the IBWO is probably actually closer to the Pileated in both size and mass (i.e. not sure if analysis of Imperial flight pattern would be all that helpful in drawing conclusions about IBWO flight pattern or not --- not to mention that it's difficult to generalize from a single short flight clip of any bird; but still, I understand Mike's interest in the clip if it exists).

Anyway, that's as much (next to nothing) as I know, so no need to inquire further here. If someone does know more about such putative ;-) Imperial footage and wants to pass info along for posting here to enlighten others, feel free.
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-- Housekeeping --

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As many know by now there was a major problem accessing this and LOTS of other blogs over the weekend due to problems with Microsoft's Internet Explorer (surprise, surprise); actually, the problem related back to changes at "Sitemeter," a blog traffic tabulator, but seemed to only affect IE, and should now be remedied.
At any rate if you are STILL using IE as your main web browser, please get with the program and switch over to Firefox (or almost anything other than the Microsoft product).
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