-- Big Woods Happenings --

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For awhile now, Jackson Roe, with his dad, has been independently searching a Big Woods area (Arkansas) known for previously-followed-up-on IBWO claims, and now reports on his blog (Thur., Sept. 30 post) what he believes was a sighting of 2 Ivorybills:

http://saveaspeciescorp.blogspot.com/

Jackson was kind enough to send along some additional details to me via email (since ironically I had recently written a post about "copious" details being needed for any claim), and of course I can only wish Jackson well in trying to further document the birds. The report is not unlike many previous reports of brief encounters, except for the claim that a pair of birds (male and female) were present... sightings involving pairs are fairly unusual.

...and the beat goes on.

[11/2/10 Addendum: sighting later retracted as being Red-headed Woodpeckers.]
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-- Mammal Study Lends Readers Hope --

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Readers send along this news release of research from Aussie scientists predicting that a third of "extinct" mammals may yet be rediscovered:

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/09/a-third-of-extinct-mammals-may-still-be-alive/

"It turns out that rumors of the extinction of more than a third of these species have turned out to be premature, the scientists report in Proceedings of the Royal Society B Sept. 29. At least 67 species — a little more than a third of those presumed to be extinct — were later found again. And in most cases, these were animals that had been hardest hit by habitat loss.

"...If the main cause of decline was habitat loss, you are quite likely to be wrong if you say that it’s extinct, unless it was restricted to a very small area.”

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-- ...more difficult than ever --

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Somewhat oddly I've had about the same number of stray Ivory-bill sighting claims arrive in my email box this summer as in the past; none very detailed or persuasive, yet they come. It's a bit frustrating that after all this time a lot of people still don't understand that you can't just say you've seen an Ivory-bill, and you looked in a book so you know that's what it was, and be taken very seriously.

It has sometimes been hypothesized that a lot more birders think they have seen an Ivory-billed Woodpecker than have ever reported it, because BIRDERS do understand how difficult it is to be taken seriously; how grinding the questioning will be; and even the stigma attached to such a report. But for those who still don't 'get it,' if you're going to send in a claim that you've seen Ivory-bills you need to, at a minimum, fill in these details:

1. Where, when (approximate dates/time-of-day) did you see the bird(s)? and how far was it from you?
2. Describe what the bird was doing (perched, flying, on ground, pecking, etc.etc.), and how long did you see it for?
3. What makes you believe the bird seen was an Ivory-bill and not a Pileated Woodpecker?
4. Very roughly, how many Pileated Woodpeckers would you say you've seen over the years?
5. Did anyone else see the bird with you, or do you know of anyone else who has ever seen the bird in the same area?
6. Did it make any sounds?
7. Describe what you can of the woods or general habitat of the area it was seen in.
8. Are you a birder and if so for how many years? how would you describe your level of birding experience?
9. And exactly where do you purchase your moonshine?... NO, NO just kidding!!

These are the prelims... depending on answers to these basic questions I (or anyone you contact) may have another whole series of questions to follow up with. (...Understand that your report has been preceded by a couple thousand similar ones that haven't panned out.)

And I'm a patsy (who still believes the species is not dead, but just pining* ;-))... many others by now will barely even consider a lone verbal report, especially from a non-birder, that isn't accompanied by photographic or other evidence (...and I've had 'kent' sounds sent to me as well, but never one that sounded IBWO-like to my ear).
In short, though I'd like to encourage everyone who honestly thinks they've seen this bird to report it, they need to do so with the understanding that a 2 or 3 or 4 sentence report isn't even in the ballpark of adequacy... so if you can't stand the heat, you may as well stay out of the Ivory-bill kitchen; reporting you were abducted by a UFO will be as plausible to many folks.

One might've hoped that 5+ years after this whole venture began it would've become easier to credibly report encountering an Ivory-billed Woodpecker... in fact of course just the opposite has transpired, and it is now more difficult than ever. A report unaccompanied by a clear photo or video needs copious, copious details... lacking such it barely constitutes being a report at all.

* apologies to John Cleese
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-- New Sibley Post --

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David Sibley has a new post up at his blog better fleshing out his explanation of "wing-twisting" in bird flight in general, and with specific reference of course to the Luneau video. I'm sure there was some discomfort for David even re-visiting this whole issue at this late date, so I'm very thankful that he chose to take the time to do so, as it will help some better understand his position. I also realize his post won't end the frame-by-frame debate over just what is being seen in the Luneau bird, and I'd prefer to not get into an extended discussion here of specific frames that folks feel don't fit with David's rendering of matters, since the two interpretations simply don't seem resolvable. Given USFW/Cornell's rather dismissive take on David's position, I simply think it good that he has re-stated it:

http://www.sibleyguides.com/2010/09/wing-twisting-explained/

(...As a sidenote, I will say that I think some of the confusion over this matter stems from the use of the perhaps overly-vivid term "wing-twisting" for what seems to me to be a more subtle turning, tilting, or bending of the wings, along with the 'curvature' David describes.)

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-- Putting Phantoms On Your Radar --

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Bill Pulliam weighs in with one last "call to action" here:

http://tinyurl.com/2vcpp4r
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-- Another Look Back... and Forward --

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Just another nostalgic look-back today at a 3-year-old "Birder's World" article that covered the Arkansas sighters who started this whole venture:

http://tinyurl.com/2wm8xge

...and in news of the Not-quite-so-extinct-afterall Dept., a couple of readers have sent along this link to a recent find in Spain:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_9008000/9008585.stm
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-- More "Ghost Bird" --

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Interviews with Scott Crocker, producer of "Ghost Bird," have been all over the internet for the last couple months as his independent, award-winning documentary makes its way around the country. Here's another recent example:

http://tinyurl.com/2cxcjf2

If you haven't yet seen it, you can go here to see if there is a screening scheduled in your area:

http://ghostbirdmovie.wordpress.com/screenings/
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-- "Ambivalence Permeates..." --

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"When I start thinking about ivory-billed woodpeckers, I find it hard to stop. They hitch and flap and peck around in my head; they make me think about large issues, like extinction, and small things, like the look in their eyes, the gloss of their feathers."

I'm feeling a tad nostalgic today, so just a link back to one of Julie Zickefoose's wonderful pieces written over a decade ago (before Sparling, before Cornell, before Auburn, before Kulivan) that most of you have no doubt already read:

http://www.juliezickefoose.com/writing/ibw.php?id=1
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-- 2006 Article, + Addendum --

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"Concolor" sends along this link to a 2006 article (pdf) from Czech professor Jan Swart that attempts to summarize the IBWO situation and also hypothesize about the IBWO's mobility (as an explanation for the scarcity of findings):

http://www.kirtlandbirdclub.org/pdf/ibwobyjanmswart.pdf

ADDENDUM: Dr. Swart has sent along a link to further (updated) comments from him clarifying his current view of the IBWO situation (including pessimism over the species' likely persistence):

http://staff.utia.cas.cz/swart/IBWO.html

(thanks Jan for taking the time to update us)
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-- A Viewpoint From Arkansas --

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Joe Neal posts today on the Arkansas birding listserv (a view shared by many):

http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/ARKS.html#1282830726
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-- Tweeting Across the Pond --

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I've mentioned before here the desire to see some major independent wildlife expedition/film group (ala David Attenborough) do a search for the Ivory-bill in place of 'academia-types' and see what happens...

Lo-and-behold (at this late stage) I see on Twitter some chap (Brit) named "Thomas Thynne" is promoting the same notion, and has tweeted to Bill Oddie, Chris Packham (of the BBC), Sir David himself, and the editors of "Birding Magazine," urging such an excursion. He admits they probably think he's "an idiot," but can't hurt to ask; and gotta believe (even without a finding) it would make for a great nature TV special (Attenborough's British accent alone would make for more spellbinding viewing than Fitzpatrick's east coast intonations ;-))

Not sure whatever has happened (if anything) with BirdLife International's earlier plans to incorporate an IBWO hunt as part of their search for several worldwide endangered species, but if any of you blokes across the pond know more details about any of this let us know.
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-- More History --

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Nice article (in Sept. issue of Smithsonian Magazine) from naturalist Stephen Lyn Bales, who's book "Ghost Birds" is due out soon:

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/A-Close-Encounter-With-the-Rarest-Bird.html
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-- PLoS Piece --

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Wow, VERY surprised to find Jerry Jackson authoring a lengthy review (entitled "Ghost Bird – The Ivory-billed Woodpecker: Hopes, Dreams, and Reality") of Scott Crocker's "Ghost Bird" documentary for the latest edition of PLoS Biology's open-access science journal:

http://tinyurl.com/2dp6pxj

Jerry doing film reviews... who'd-a-guessed it! ;-) I didn't even realize PLoS did film reviews! Anyway, a peculiar feeling for me reading this (there are a great many reviews of Crocker's film on the Web, but this is different).
There is nothing in the piece that Dr. Jackson hasn't already expressed in some form over the last few years... but an odd format for doing so now; seeming to use the Crocker film as a vehicle to get in a few final swipes at possibly the most bizarre episode in the history of American ornithology. Perhaps it is his way of bringing some closure to the whole affair for himself (even vent a bit at the end of a long process), or perhaps someone simply appealed to him to do a review of the documentary for the journal??? I don't know.

Dr. Jackson always ultimately hedges his bets on the Ivory-bill's existence, but makes it clear here (as well as other correspondences) that he thinks the chances close to nil now for its persistence. Dr. Jackson is one of my ornithological heroes, and of all the "skeptics," the one I most respect. So there is something both sad and ironic in seeing the man who most prominently argued for this bird's possible continued persistence for so many decades (when everyone else rolled their eyes at the mention of IBWO existence), now be cast in the role of one of it's most prominent critics. And how ironic it would be if, as some of us believe, he turned out to be right back when most everyone thought him wrong, and now wrong when so many think him right! Worth noting, as an aside, that there are various long-term underlying schisms in the ornithological community which may also impinge on all that has transpired over the last few years (this has definitely been more than a story about mere scientific process).

....possibly, I'll add to this post later, as I've written more, but not sure how much, if any, I want to put into print.
Meanwhile, for now, the searches continue, the claims continue, and the implacable disagreements over interpretation of the accumulated evidence continue.
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-- New Idea? --

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A reader, "John D. Williams," sends in some ideas in the comments section to prior (8/5) post from his analysis of the IBWO history/situation. One idea that he mentions in the context of trying to acoustically 'attract' Ivory-bills is intriguing to me:

"Another avenue for this acoustic attraction is the observation that woodpeckers seem to be able to detect their beetle larvae prey remotely on the tree -- presumably by hearing them. Modern science could quantify these vibrations. Perhaps amplified, they would prove irresistable to an IB miles away."

I suspect that amplifying such sounds might distort them enough to make them less attractive to IBWOs, but the possibility of recording and playing them at closer to normal levels in areas where IBWO are claimed or indicated I do find quite interesting... any further thoughts? (read Mr. Williams' 2 back-to-back comments below).
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-- And the Beat Goes On --

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There's long been a bit of a dichotomy in American birdwatching (despite substantial overlap) between what I'll call the 'pure birders' or 'top-notch birders' and the 'ornithologists.' By top-notch birders I mean not just 'rock stars' like Sibley, Dunne, Kaufman, but also, those who may be lesser known to the public, but are huge in the birding world for their accomplishments/abilities, if not for their writings. These are excellent, experienced birders, highly knowledgeable as well as instinctive; they'll make a living out of birding if they can figure out a way to turn their recreational love into a vocation. The ornithologists, on-the-other-hand, are birders as well of course, but more academic in focus, with specialized interests and pursuits, and a lot of 'book-learning,' with the act of birding more of a side-endeavor. The two sides certainly overlap greatly, yet their focuses tend to differ. Pure birders may be more attentive to 'life-lists,' identification, hotspots, field gear, and the like. 'Ornithologists' take a more scientific and academic interest in birds, including bird behavior and conservation/habitat issues as well.

Any readers who are members of the American Birding Association (ABA) know that it is going through a transition right now and trying to determine just what it's focus will be in the future --- again, it is largely a debate between those who want a recreational/hobbyist focus on pure birding, and those who definitely want the organization involved in conservation/political/scientific issues that relate to birds. It is interesting to watch it play out.

I mention all of this because one of the most fascinating aspects of the IBWO debate over these years has indeed been the 'birder' vs. 'ornithologist' debate in the form of David Sibley vs. Cornell (over the Luneau video). In point of fact, David has a large slew of 'ornithologists' or academics who side with him on this issue, believing the Luneau bird to be a Pileated (and for that matter a significant number of 'birders' side with the Cornell ornithologists in their interpretation of the video as an IBWO).

With the exception of Roger Tory Peterson (and maybe Audubon himself), America has rarely had a birding figure as esteemed, experienced, respected, renowned, multi-talented and iconic as David Sibley. Thus when he speaks (even if he didn't have the backing of others) the birding community stands at attention. If David had said the Luneau bird was an Ivory-bill, I suspect the doubts of Jackson, Prum, Bevier, Collinson, and so many others, would've largely been muted in the birding community; such is his influence. But of course, David said otherwise, and the entire weight of the debate turned.

Yet David's position (though not that of all the critics) relies on his assertion of "wing-twisting" in the downbeat of a Pileated Woodpecker's flap (a motion that Cornell claims cannot be detected on any comparable available videos of Pileateds in flight). It's odd to me that David's idea of wing-twisting flaps hasn't been definitively proven or disproven by now... we have quite precise knowledge of the movement-pattern for the wings of a hummingbird flashing at 50 beats/sec. --- can't we determine to everyone's agreement the precise movement-pattern for the wings of a cruising (lumbering, by comparison) Pileated Woodpecker (to what degree for example, did Jeffrey Wang's animated analysis of a Pileated-in-flight, exhibit twisting wings)??? While the Luneau video is fuzzy and blurry and brief, can modern day technology not decipher where the white shown is coming from? That, by itself, wouldn't end this debate (and the claim for the existence of IBWOs rests on a LOT more than the Luneau clip), but at least this one narrow argument might attain some conclusion.

There is NO POINT in having those who have already taken a public stance on the IBWO, further analyzing the Luneau clip and re-stating their cases, but I do wonder if somewhere out there, there isn't a group of excellent, experienced, detached wildlife videographers (with the Smithsonian, National Geographic, the BBC, or any number of other possibilities), who have not taken a stand, and who would be viewed as objective and supremely competent to pass judgment on what is seen in this video (and on PIWO videos) --- a group, BTW, that requires little expertise in birding, but keen, seasoned expertise in film-making and analysis.
....and I say all this as someone who thinks we've already spent waaaaaay too much time on a single silly 4-second clip of accidental video!
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