Ivory-billed Woodpecker (formerly updates) (1 Viewer)

[TRE329]

Could you draw a sketch of the 2 birds that you observered and post them on this forum?

I am no artist but i will do so tomorrow going to bed now it is 11:00 here and im going out tomorrow.

 

[timeshadowed]

Thank you for the welcome,I think i will stick around a while.

Sorry if my questions upset you in any way. I was only trying to get more information on your sighting. I look forward to reading more posts from you in the future.

 

[TRE329]

I apologise

Sorry if my questions upset you in any way. I was only trying to get more information on your sighting. I look forward to reading more posts from you in the future.

I am sorry did not mean to give you the impression i was upset .I hope it did not come out that way just tired.

 

[timeshadowed]

I am sorry did not mean to give you the impression i was upset .I hope it did not come out that way just tired.

That's OK, Tre329. But just in case you have not read much of this thread yet, I just wanted to let you to know that this discussion thread can become very 'heated' at times between those who think that the IBWO is extinct and those that hold that the IBWO still exists. So don't let anything that may be posted here by some bother you. Again, I look forward to reading more posts from you.

 

[MMinNY]

I don't agree with a few of your premises or your version of history; those questions have been debated at length, so I won't rehash them, except to say that many people who think the IBWO survived think that breeding populations persisted in several states. There was some very speculative talk about a last survivor from Cornell (and the media), early on, but I don't think anyone is looking for "the last surviving Ivory Bill." The Auburn searchers certainly are not:

"Preliminary and cursory searches north and south of our study site have revealed foraging sign and large cavities that suggest Ivory-billed Woodpeckers might be widespread in this river system and might exist as more than a few isolated individuals. Large sections of this river basin appear to support old-growth swamp forest that may be suitable for Ivory-billed Woodpeckers."

http://www.ace-eco.org/vol1/iss3/art2/

In addition, I find it very odd that you claim the IBWO must be extinct, based on statistics and evolution, but go on to say the Luneau video is "inconclusive." Where's the logic in that?

Is this really the same thread - still alive?

Ivory-billed Woodpecker - extinct.

Luneau video - inconclusive.


What are the odds of a species remaining extant if they, for the last 60 years or so, have raised so few offspring that scientists looking for any sign of them within a very small (relatively speaking) area have come up empty-handed?

It takes numbers to survive the evolution game!

A species can't survive for over half a century if it doesn't raise broods that are, themselves, successfull in reproducing.

Forget about a couple sole survivors. The odds of some wannabe bird gods chuckling themselves into locating the last surviving Ivory Bill is ridiculous. Stats say you are deluded.

If the bird's population is self-sustaining then there would be more sightings.
If the bird's population is not self-sustaining then trying to convince people that you just happened to see one of the last Ivory-billed Woodpeckers on earth is going to take more than ambiguous and blurry images.

 

[Touche]

I am an Arkansas duck hunter.On 12/31/06 I was scouting for ducks on another refuge near WRNR and CRNR.I had a nearly 8 minutes encounter at about 35 yards with a possible IBW.I am now a believer and have since been in the area 2 more days looking around.It was an amazing experience.

Hello TRE329.

Thanks for taking the courage to publicise your sighting.

As I'm sure you're aware, whether the IBWO still flies, has caused much debate.

Whilst both the extant/extinct viewpoints are perfectly valid without irrefutable evidence, some of the discourse generated by some members of the BF community has been less than courteous (on both sides) so please be aware!

In any event, it would be a very good idea to alert the relevant authorities about your sighting (to allow the best chance of documentation/protection) - I'm sure regular BF IBWO aficionados will be able to advise on the best course of action.

 

[Edward woodwood]

In addition, I find it very odd that you claim the IBWO must be extinct, based on statistics and evolution, but go on to say the Luneau video is "inconclusive." Where's the logic in that?

It's dead simple, yeah?

take the video separately from the extinct debate - for the guy answering your question the bird in the video is not identifiable with any degree of certainty to any species. Even a PIWO. It's a blurry video of a bird. It has no bearing on whether IBWO is extant or extinct because the video is too poor for that guy to be conclusive.

It has no bearing on anything else in the world at all.

It is the very essence of logic. Please don't try and turn it all around. It's simple.

Tim

 

[TRE329]

sighting reported

I have reported my sighting to local game and fish who had me take them out there that day.They are very excited and have had other people from out of state including Cornell looking at the site.I also filled out the report on Cornell's website.This is a relatively small are but is seasonally flooded promoting tree kills and is made up of humungous cypress,oaks ,etc.I was going back out there today ,but canceled due to rain.

 

[MMinNY]

Great. Hope you'll be carrying a good still or video camera with you in the future. Good luck and thanks for posting!

I have reported my sighting to local game and fish who had me take them out there that day.They are very excited and have had other people from out of state including Cornell looking at the site.I also filled out the report on Cornell's website.This is a relatively small are but is seasonally flooded promoting tree kills and is made up of humungous cypress,oaks ,etc.I was going back out there today ,but canceled due to rain.

 

[Osprey_watcher]

Great. Hope you'll be carrying a good still or video camera with you in the future. Good luck and thanks for posting!

Yeah, thanks for posting yet another sighting with no evidence whatsoever.
Sorry if that sounds rude, it's not meant to be. But similar posts/claims are ten a penny on this thread.
Again the people who believe the IBWO to be extant will be raving about another sighting and the people who wish it to be true but want evidence will be rightly skeptical.

 

[MMinNY]

Yeah. It does sound rude, whatever your intentions. The poster is a newbie here. He deserves to be treated politely and with respect. Anything else is just more bullying by the self-appointed arbiters of what's acceptable on this thread.

The poster has done the responsible thing and notified the authorities. I appreciate that. Note that I encouraged him to bring a camera. I'm not raving about anything.

Yeah, thanks for posting yet another sighting with no evidence whatsoever.
Sorry if that sounds rude, it's not meant to be. But similar posts/claims are ten a penny on this thread.
Again the people who believe the IBWO to be extant will be raving about another sighting and the people who wish it to be true but want evidence will be rightly skeptical.

 

[Steven Astley]

This is one of my favourite monty python sketches. I am sure a few people on this thread will like it too

http://freespace.virgin.net/d.lambourne/scripts/montypython/argument.htm

Personally I think the IBW sightings whether false or not, aside from the over heated dabate is a good thing. The Loch Ness monster never did Scotland any harm.

 

[timeshadowed]

TRE329,

Thanks for the added information. I agree with MM - take a small still-camera with you next time, even if it is just one of those disposable types.

 

[Osprey_watcher]

Yeah. It does sound rude, whatever your intentions. The poster is a newbie here. He deserves to be treated politely and with respect. Anything else is just more bullying by the self-appointed arbiters of what's acceptable on this thread.

The poster has done the responsible thing and notified the authorities. I appreciate that. Note that I encouraged him to bring a camera. I'm not raving about anything.

Take care when getting off that high horse. The ground is quite hard if you slip.
Stop taking every post that questions the existence of IBWO as personal insult, I didn't mention you or your posts.

 

[MMinNY]

I'm not on any high horse. You quoted me, so how can you possibly claim not to have mentioned me.

Take care when getting off that high horse. The ground is quite hard if you slip.
Stop taking every post that questions the existence of IBWO as personal insult, I didn't mention you or your posts.

 

[Osprey_watcher]

I'm not on any high horse. You quoted me, so how can you possibly claim not to have mentioned me.

True did quote you, apologies for that.
But still stop taking everything personally, and yes you are on a high horse, believe me.

 

[MMinNY]

Thanks for the apology.

What I am is sick of being bullied. Long, long history here. If I overreact at times, that's the reason.

True, apologies for that.
But still stop taking everything personally, and yes you are on a high horse, believe me.

 

[Osprey_watcher]

Thanks for the apology.

What I am is sick of being bullied. If I overreact at times, that's the reason.

What is frustrating me, and I'm sure many others, is the fact that this one thread was started in May 2005 with promises of searches that would bring conclusive proof. And it's not even the oldest thread of it's type!
Now 18 months later all we see is the same thing over and over.

"I've seen/heard them but couldn't get a picture" etc.

Please realise that I would be delirious if this bird was not extinct, as I'm sure many other of the skeptics would be. But continuous posting of sightings that can't be proven only makes the frustration worse.

 

[bitterntwisted]

True did quote you, apologies for that.
But still stop taking everything personally, and yes you are on a high horse, believe me.

Osprey_watcher,

I think the IBWO is almost certainly extinct. I am unconvinced by any of the evidence presented. If I am on a side on this thread, it is the side of the non-believers, particularly those who highlight other conservation priorities.

Nonetheless, I believe that your first post to a new member of the forum was rude, insulting and inflammatory. Your follow-up posts directed at MMinNY were worse. Read them back and consider whether you would wish to be spoken to in a similar tone under similar circumstances. What kind of an apology is qualified with a further insult?

For better or worse, this thread is the entry-point for a number of new members of the forum. It saddens me see the poor impression it creates, and how it misrepresents the general spirit of BirdForum.

Regards,
Graham

 

[Heartlander]

WOW.
The guy posts that he has seen something he believes to be an Ivory-Billed, and gets knocked for it right out of the gate?
Are we just a little paranoid that it might actually exist?