Mike has taken an awful lot of bashing (here and elsewhere on the net), and he doesn't deserve it. The recent discussion is an improvement over what went on a few months ago, but I think there's still a subtle casting of aspersions that is unfair and inappropriate.
As the person who was 'selling' Mike's DVD, I want to reiterate that I too did not make a dime. When Mike first obtained the footage and was still in the midst of his search, I offered to help him in any way I could. He asked me to distribute the DVD and suggested I charge $10 for my time and expenses in doing so. As it turned out, I did not come close to covering my costs (for duplication, postage, not to mention my time), but I didn't expect to. . .well, full disclosure, Mike did take my wife and me to dinner when we met him last month, so I suppose that might put me up a few dollars. . .Still, it's unfair to imply that this was a commercial venture.
I also showed the DVD to an "expert" and got another to review the fishcrow.com website. One was convinced, and one was not. Neither would go on record; the IBWO has long been a loaded subject, more so now, and it's unfortunate but not surprising that many people are unwilling to commit themselves. If someone wants to offer an honest, serious, detailed analysis and critique of Mike's footage, that would be welcome. If someone can make a compelling case, on the merits, that Mike's bird is a pileated, let him/her do so. Deriding his footage or rejecting it without analysis serves no one. All of us (Mike included) agree that the quality of the video is poor, but at this point, the worst anyone can say is that it's inconclusive
At the very least, Mike's sightings deserve serious follow-up, which is what he has been seeking all along. I can understand the desire for field notes, but I don't think Mike is particularly interested in records committees. Moreover, I suspect that many of those who doubt him would doubt him even if his field notes were 'perfect'. Mike himself deserves respect and appreciation for his monumental efforts, regardless of whether a person finds his evidence convincing; constructive criticism has its place; patronizing comments and insinuations about his integrity (and mine to a much lesser degree) do not.