Hi. A bit late to the other thread's party (12 pages, closed) which was begun by Mike Collins. He is right; the IBWO does exist, and I would like to clarify some issues mentioned, and to also mention some "next-gen" search methods that it seems the thread audience is not aware of. I will be brief, to-the-point, use logic, and will reply to comments that make sense. Since I understand that this is just a comment on a forum, my hope is that perhaps it will sway some opinions of people who can help with the search, either through personal effort, ideas, or funding.
I've been a focused student of the IBWO for over a decade (and my professional background is natural science for 45 years) and have corresponded with all the known-name searchers and writers on the topic.
1. For the layperson birder who compares the search to Bigfoot, the answer here is simple-- the more you read about Bigfoot evidence, the less you believe. The more you read about IBWO evidence (Collins, Mark Michaels, Cornell, Auburn with Geoff Hill, Dan Mennill acoustic data, Bobby Harrison, Tim Gallagher, Martjan Lammartink, people involved in the Cuban efforts, sorry if I am leaving anyone else out), the more you believe. So a person commenting in this regard would need to know a lot to say the least.
2. The IBWO is a rare, low-density semi-nomadic species with a flee distance of about 100 meters that lives in heavily wooded areas, has great vision, and uses trees to hide behind. Enough said with difficulty to photograph.
3. Perhaps the most telling theme of the comments from the last thread is how unaware interested people are of current efforts and reports.
a. Mark Michaels of Project Principalis (formerly Project Coyote) has teamed with the National Aviary and is or will be using ARUs this season to triangulate a nest location, in an area with much IBWO evidence, in Louisiana USA.
b. Matt Courtman, former President of Louisiana Ornithological Society, is devoting full-time efforts to educate potential searchers, and to begin his own efforts to search.
c. To those who had mentioned the value of various peer-reviewed-or-not modes of publishing, I find it highly ironic that, after monitoring many IBWO writing sites over a number of years, most action, in terms of new possible reports, now seems to be on a Facebook page. This in some ways is inevitable since it is not just scientists or birders that encounter the IBWO. This page has suggested IBWO concentrations on the Peace River, Florida, and the Aucilla River, Florida.
d. My own interests and efforts began after a possible encounter with an IBWO at Manatee Springs State Park in Florida. After reading of IBWO encounter history, I quickly concentrated on ways to get closer to the bird, which of course could result in a definitive photograph. Here is what I believe now--
i. Do not use a human silhouette. Use a kayak, canoe, tree stand, camo, blind etc. There are reports from observers in parked cars and on horses. Do not hike while searching.
ii. Do not use double knock sounds. There is evidence these are territorial and will cause interest but not close approach.
iii. Do not search in "likely habitat." There is evidence that IBWOs are more generalized feeders, and more adaptable to habitat including trees, than generally believed. And, they are very rare. So, follow up probable sightings and concentrate on these spots.
iv. There is evidence that "single knocks" for IBWOs are positional for family units. Use these sporadically, and listen for responses or watch for sightings.
v. Use a video camera, not still photography (as per Collins). There is more of a chance of capturing a still image here, and it can show motion and thus behavior to help ID.
vi. IBWOs react like birds (stating the obvious), so it is possible that they will automatically react to the right stimulus, i.e. "forced behavior" as Matt Courtman calls it. An obvious possibility is a juvenile begging call which may have an instinctive component to stimulate an approach. No recorded begging calls exist for the IBWO, but they do for the related (in taxonomy, niche, and latitude) Magellanic Woodpecker. Playing this call, especially in a "hormonal" month, may elicit an approach.
I have field-tested the begging call hypothesis in an area known for possible IBWO and in two separate trips, a total of six field days, had one probable and two other possible sightings.
And, I might add, that with up-to-date search technology (ARUs, drones, other) and careful study and adaptation from historic search methods... it's only a matter of time.
John Williams
Long Island, NY, USA
I've been a focused student of the IBWO for over a decade (and my professional background is natural science for 45 years) and have corresponded with all the known-name searchers and writers on the topic.
1. For the layperson birder who compares the search to Bigfoot, the answer here is simple-- the more you read about Bigfoot evidence, the less you believe. The more you read about IBWO evidence (Collins, Mark Michaels, Cornell, Auburn with Geoff Hill, Dan Mennill acoustic data, Bobby Harrison, Tim Gallagher, Martjan Lammartink, people involved in the Cuban efforts, sorry if I am leaving anyone else out), the more you believe. So a person commenting in this regard would need to know a lot to say the least.
2. The IBWO is a rare, low-density semi-nomadic species with a flee distance of about 100 meters that lives in heavily wooded areas, has great vision, and uses trees to hide behind. Enough said with difficulty to photograph.
3. Perhaps the most telling theme of the comments from the last thread is how unaware interested people are of current efforts and reports.
a. Mark Michaels of Project Principalis (formerly Project Coyote) has teamed with the National Aviary and is or will be using ARUs this season to triangulate a nest location, in an area with much IBWO evidence, in Louisiana USA.
b. Matt Courtman, former President of Louisiana Ornithological Society, is devoting full-time efforts to educate potential searchers, and to begin his own efforts to search.
c. To those who had mentioned the value of various peer-reviewed-or-not modes of publishing, I find it highly ironic that, after monitoring many IBWO writing sites over a number of years, most action, in terms of new possible reports, now seems to be on a Facebook page. This in some ways is inevitable since it is not just scientists or birders that encounter the IBWO. This page has suggested IBWO concentrations on the Peace River, Florida, and the Aucilla River, Florida.
d. My own interests and efforts began after a possible encounter with an IBWO at Manatee Springs State Park in Florida. After reading of IBWO encounter history, I quickly concentrated on ways to get closer to the bird, which of course could result in a definitive photograph. Here is what I believe now--
i. Do not use a human silhouette. Use a kayak, canoe, tree stand, camo, blind etc. There are reports from observers in parked cars and on horses. Do not hike while searching.
ii. Do not use double knock sounds. There is evidence these are territorial and will cause interest but not close approach.
iii. Do not search in "likely habitat." There is evidence that IBWOs are more generalized feeders, and more adaptable to habitat including trees, than generally believed. And, they are very rare. So, follow up probable sightings and concentrate on these spots.
iv. There is evidence that "single knocks" for IBWOs are positional for family units. Use these sporadically, and listen for responses or watch for sightings.
v. Use a video camera, not still photography (as per Collins). There is more of a chance of capturing a still image here, and it can show motion and thus behavior to help ID.
vi. IBWOs react like birds (stating the obvious), so it is possible that they will automatically react to the right stimulus, i.e. "forced behavior" as Matt Courtman calls it. An obvious possibility is a juvenile begging call which may have an instinctive component to stimulate an approach. No recorded begging calls exist for the IBWO, but they do for the related (in taxonomy, niche, and latitude) Magellanic Woodpecker. Playing this call, especially in a "hormonal" month, may elicit an approach.
I have field-tested the begging call hypothesis in an area known for possible IBWO and in two separate trips, a total of six field days, had one probable and two other possible sightings.
And, I might add, that with up-to-date search technology (ARUs, drones, other) and careful study and adaptation from historic search methods... it's only a matter of time.
John Williams
Long Island, NY, USA
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