Ivory-billed Woodpecker (formerly updates) (2 Viewers)

[HASnyder]

Most people seem to have missed this update from Cornell earlier this month:
http://www.pawprint.cornell.edu/docs/FP_April_1_web_06.pdf

 

[Goatnose]

Search Trusten Holder WMA Arkansas

April 8th.Trusten sits on the Arkansas River at the mouth of the White River. Near Arkansas Post the habitat was different in that I saw no Bald Cyprus within my three mile search today. There were large Sycamore (very large), large Cotton Wood and some large Gum and Tupelo Gum. Pileated sign was limited and scaling, that may be possible IBWO was not seen. Pileated were seen however, Flickers and Red Bellied also.
I attempted to take the WMA road over to Jack's Bay (10 miles) on the WRWMA but the gate was closed. This area of WRWMA South Unit did look promising and several Pileated were heard from the gated road.

 

[timeshadowed]

Here is a newspaper write-up about a local becomming searcher in AR.


http://nwanews.com/bcdr/News/33366/

"We (the volunteers) even agree that Cornell owns the copyright to any photos or videos we take, even if the photo was taken with our own cameras."

I find that comment very interesting. Perhaps that is why no big name University is interested in Mike's video - they can't claim copyrights to his film. It may be more about money rather than interest in 'the bird' after all!

TimeShadowed

 

[olivacea]

I find that comment very interesting. Perhaps that is why no big name University is interested in Mike's video - they can't claim copyrights to his film. It may be more about money rather than interest in 'the bird' after all!

...or it could mean that no one with credibility believes that Cinclode's video is an Ivory-billed, that wing beats rates can accurately be estimated from one second samples, that his audio recordings are nothing that could not be heard in many backyards, that no field marks are noted during his observed fly-overs... But, you're right, it's probably just about money... Sure!

olivacea

 

[Russ Jones]

...or it could mean that no one with credibility believes that Cinclode's video is an Ivory-billed, that wing beats rates can accurately be estimated from one second samples, that his audio recordings are nothing that could not be heard in many backyards, that no field marks are noted during his observed fly-overs... But, you're right, it's probably just about money... Sure!

olivacea

Mike's video is compelling to say the least... Are you saying that you are 100% certain that Mikes footage is a pileated? Please explain how you eliminated the possiblility that it could be an ivorybill because it sure looks like it could be one to me...

All the best,

Russ

 

[timeshadowed]

National Wildlife April/May 2006, vol. 44 Issue

Here is a very nice article in the current issue of National Wildlife

Making Dollars and Sense in Ivory-Bill Country
By Roger Di Silvestro

http://www.nwf.org/nationalwildlife/article.cfm?issueID=104&articleID=1315

 

[humminbird]

...or it could mean that no one with credibility believes that Cinclode's video is an Ivory-billed, that wing beats rates can accurately be estimated from one second samples, that his audio recordings are nothing that could not be heard in many backyards, that no field marks are noted during his observed fly-overs... But, you're right, it's probably just about money... Sure!

olivacea

Since no one is underwriting Mike's efforts - he is funding it, to the best of my knowledge entirely on his own- I fail to see how you could make such a rediculous claim.

 

[Jesse Gilsdorf]

What we see is what we have always seen. If the person making the report is not in the "In crowd" the report is ignored. Too bad that the experts haven't read Tanner's work and noted that it may take a local to bring a person to the bird.

As for the money, Cornell is in it for the money. This is what they do for a living. It's not a regular job, but if they don't get publicity they don't get $$$. And once the $$$ dry up few people are willing to sink time and money into a no payout project.

This is not cheap. I conservatively estimate that I have spent at least $7,000 in the last year on searches between airfare, gas, equipment, and hotels. I run a tight ship and limit the costs as much as possible, but I find it all worth it knowing that the Ivory Bill is still around. I don't have to sit around waiting for someone else to bring me a photo. I would love to get a clear photo so that other people who cannot search would have the ability to see this bird still alive.

When I think that this started with the goal of finding information to use for searching for imperials I am amazed. One thing at a time I guess.

Jesse

 

[Goatnose]

This is not cheap. I conservatively estimate that I have spent at least $7,000 in the last year on searches between airfare, gas, equipment, and hotels. Jesse

Jesse, thanks for your post. I myself has spent $$s and worn out a hundred dollar pair of boots in my independent searches here in Arkansas. However many believe that I should not be searching. They believe that I am contaminating the search of the pros, the Cornell’s and the folks that Cornell has "invited" to search as volunteers. They believe that I am, "in fact, crashing the party". The message that I am getting is "if you ain't been invited then stay away". Well I am staying away, I have not ventured onto Dagmar, except during the IBWO festival, and that was with 20 other birders. I did impose on the "Brown Shanty area" when I hear a rumor that a nest cavity had been found there., but that was a trip to prove that there was birder/volunteer activity there to help confirm the rumor. There was not activity that I could detect. I guess that what I am trying to point out here is that independent searchers with good intentions as yourself need to be searching and must search if we are to get an answer to our question in a timely manner. Time is ticking and the coming of the not helping summer months is upon us. Search Jesse when you can and sometimes when you can't. There are many miles of good stuff that has not been searched between Dagmar and Brown Shanty and below, I know, I have been out there since last May and I have not ran into othere birders or even footprints.

 

[choupique1]

What we see is what we have always seen. If the person making the report is not in the "In crowd" the report is ignored. Too bad that the experts haven't read Tanner's work and noted that it may take a local to bring a person to the bird.

As for the money, Cornell is in it for the money. This is what they do for a living. It's not a regular job, but if they don't get publicity they don't get $$$. And once the $$$ dry up few people are willing to sink time and money into a no payout project.

This is not cheap. I conservatively estimate that I have spent at least $7,000 in the last year on searches between airfare, gas, equipment, and hotels. I run a tight ship and limit the costs as much as possible, but I find it all worth it knowing that the Ivory Bill is still around. I don't have to sit around waiting for someone else to bring me a photo. I would love to get a clear photo so that other people who cannot search would have the ability to see this bird still alive.

When I think that this started with the goal of finding information to use for searching for imperials I am amazed. One thing at a time I guess.

Jesse

Jesse your reports are not ignored....

 

[Jesse Gilsdorf]

I was speaking of historical accounts. I personally could care less if I am ignored. I'm just interested in finding the bird. Thanks, though.

Jesse

 

[fangsheath]

In wading through the morass of opinions and speculations about this bird I am always struck by how few of them come from people who have actually been in the Big Woods, ever. These come from Edge Wade, a recent search team member:

"I'm recently returned from 2 weeks on the search team. The area is
long, the area is often very narrow. The bird(s) may wander. The
forest is dense. Even in leafless winter, a silent bird could spend
an hour within 50 yards of a human being and not be seen. To
appreciate fully the magnitude of the search and the inherent
difficulties, one should spend a couple of days (or weeks) searching
the swamp at ground/water level.

Comments without direct experience are purely speculative and often
amusing--as long as they are not misleading, no harm is done.

No, I don't "know it all" and don't mean to sound that way. I just
find comments (by search critics not on this listserve) that sound as
if spotting an Ivory-billed Woodpecker should be as easy as finding a
Mourning Warbler in May in a city park to be amusing, and, given the
conditions of the swamp, expectations of professional quality videos
of sitting birds to be outlandish--to the point of hilarity."

 

[steveholz]

FYI:

"Tim Gallagher, whose sighting of an ivory-billed woodpecker in the swamps of Arkansas in 2004 helped launch an intensive search that confirmed the bird’s existence, will speak about his sighting and sign copies of his book, “The Grail Bird: Hot on the Trail of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker on Friday, April 28. Gallagher’s presentation is scheduled at 7 p.m. at Southern Illinois University’s Lesar Law School Auditorium in Carbondale. The event is free and open to the public."

http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/illinois/press/press2389.html

 

[Jesse Gilsdorf]

In wading through the morass of opinions and speculations about this bird I am always struck by how few of them come from people who have actually been in the Big Woods, ever. These come from Edge Wade, a recent search team member:

"I'm recently returned from 2 weeks on the search team. The area is
long, the area is often very narrow. The bird(s) may wander. The
forest is dense. Even in leafless winter, a silent bird could spend
an hour within 50 yards of a human being and not be seen. To
appreciate fully the magnitude of the search and the inherent
difficulties, one should spend a couple of days (or weeks) searching
the swamp at ground/water level.

Comments without direct experience are purely speculative and often
amusing--as long as they are not misleading, no harm is done.

No, I don't "know it all" and don't mean to sound that way. I just
find comments (by search critics not on this listserve) that sound as
if spotting an Ivory-billed Woodpecker should be as easy as finding a
Mourning Warbler in May in a city park to be amusing, and, given the
conditions of the swamp, expectations of professional quality videos
of sitting birds to be outlandish--to the point of hilarity."

Bravo!! I can state that one day I drove through the gravelled roads of the Big Woods by St. Charles. Note what I said. One DAY of driving. Rather slowly, but the area is very large, buggy, and beautiful to say the least.
I doubt that people walking are going to equal me at 10 mph. This was a survey trip to find out what I was up against. And believe me it didn't take long to realize that it would take a lifetime and luck to do a proper search.

8x10 glossies? Nice, but realistic? Again, I had one chance and wasn't fast enough. The camera was on, strapped to my neck, lens in place, and it just couldn't happen. One viewing in over a year of work, and no photo to show. This is not an easy proposition. I am not a know it all, either. In fact, I admit I know little to nothing other than what I have observed.

Jesse

 

[Curtis Croulet]

FYI:

"Tim Gallagher, whose sighting of an ivory-billed woodpecker in the swamps of Arkansas in 2004 helped launch an intensive search that confirmed the bird’s existence, will speak about his sighting and sign copies of his book, “The Grail Bird: Hot on the Trail of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker on Friday, April 28. Gallagher’s presentation is scheduled at 7 p.m. at Southern Illinois University’s Lesar Law School Auditorium in Carbondale. The event is free and open to the public."

http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/illinois/press/press2389.html

I'd imagine this talk will be similar to the one he gave in San Diego on March 20 (see p.149 of this thread for my write-up). The Nelson Boys picked up the last paragraph of my March 20 post and quoted it in their blog, providing much fodder for like-minded skeptics, but ignoring the rest of my comments. I'll be interested to know if the fellow/gal who introduces Gallagher in Carbondale openly expresses his/her skepticism as did Philip Unitt in San Diego.

 

[Goatnose]

Search WRNWR

Sunday afternoon April 16th, 90+ degrees wind south 15, blue skies. I was able to spend a few hours out north of Cutt Bluff on The White River NWR. I realized that I have turned a full year in that memories of low light conditions midday, hovering insects, poison oak and ivy reminded me of my initial searches, last year when the news broke. I was enlightened when I came across fresh people prints(first I have seen since October 95) because I felt that maybe the volunteers or professional search groups had been searching but maybe just prints of Turkey hunters. Spent the time staked out on a Sycamore with 5 old nest cavity looking holes and 1 new fresh cavity looking hole. Only Flickers were seen using the tree, not that Flickers are not nice birds to observe. I am rethinking in that instead of actually invading the woods maybe just floating down the current of the White with video camera on in a Jon boat may be the search method of choice this summer. Less intrusive and less wear on the searcher. Let someone else feed the insects.
Looking forward to high water conditions.

 

[Goatnose]

Dagmar Endangered Habitat Article

http://dailyheadlines.uark.edu/8513.htm
FYI....Please comment

 

[fangsheath]

I think the estimate of 5000 hectares (about 12,000 acres) globally is low; nevertheless, old-growth cypress/tupelo is indeed a relative rarity today. Many areas have small patches of old-growth within a larger matrix of heavily timbered forest. Small-diameter cypresses do not necessarily mean second-growth forest; cypress growth is highly dependent on the hydrologic regime. In my experience, cypress/tupelo swamps that have seen the saw, even decades ago, almost universally show the evidence clearly, as cypress stumps are incredibly resistant to decay.

 

[Goatnose]

Hopes

I hope you folks are not loosing inspiration. Yes we are not hearing good news, no new sightings, etc. However I must tell you that I have been out on the WRNWR and I have not seen people foot prints but on two occasions. I have not run into any birders since May 2005. Perhaps the professionals are being very diligent in their searches, remaining in one area until exhausted. Personally looking forward to this next Sunday when I can get back out there and spent a half day searching. However, my search area has not produce say 1 scare since October 2005. Prior to that time 5 separate scares from May to October. Scare defined: "A sighting that may have been an IBWO". My belief is that a low percentage of the WRNWR has been searched. If you were me this coming Sunday, yes I am begging, where on the WRNWR would you search? Brown Shanty? East Lake? Curt Bluff? Maddox Bay? Jack's Bay?, just to name a few, where would you search, based on gut instinct. Reply. Note: My belief is that the professionals have already wraped it up for the summer and have gone home thus the whole Refuge is open without imposing on the pros.
Thanks

 

[Curtis Croulet]

I hope you folks are not loosing inspiration.

The skeptics are going to have a field day. "I told you so! Bigfoot doesn't exist, and neither does the Ivory-bill." My expectation is that Cornell's final report will not be as bad as we fear (they will have seen and heard something), but not as good as we'd wish. No nests, no glossy 8x10 photos.