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The search for the Ivory-billed woodpecker goes on.27/06/2006 00:00:00 Following the possible rediscovery of the Ivory-billed woodpecker, the holy grail of American birding, in 2004, and a proposed funding of over $2m to help with the search, no further traces have been found. All winter over 100 researchers and volunteers spent many thousands of hours searching the Arkansas "Big Woods", and although there were several possible sightings, none could be confirmed.It is proposed that next year the search continues in other southern US states and possibly Cuba. The bird historically has preferred expansive areas of mature riverine or swamp forests with embedded patches of large dead and dying trees. Because of the scarcity of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, much remains to be learned about this bird. Scientists do know, however, that its diet is largely dependent upon wood-boring beetle larvae found in recently dead and dying trees, although it is known to feed on other arthropods and vegetation during certain times of the year. A judge in the US has ordered a halt to a US army engineering scheme that would have taken billions of gallons of water from the swapms where the Ivory-billed woodpecker is thought to be clinging on. More. $10,000 reward for Ivory-Billed woodpecker proof. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission are offering a $10,000 reward for information that leads a biologist from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission or The Nature Conservancy to an ivory-billed woodpecker nest, roost cavity or feeding site in Arkansas. Get your Binocs out! Details.
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I was camping at Stephen C. Foster State Park this weekend, in the Okefenokee Swamp. On Saturday morning I paddled out the canal, turned right in Billy's Lake and paddled half way to the trail leading to Minnie's Lake. To my right, far out on the land, I heard bird calls, including one that sounded like the tin whistle sound of the Ivory Billed Woodpecker. I'm not an expert, but it seems to me that the birds would be moving around the swamp to find new nesting sites because of the fires this year. It might have been a mockingbird, because there was no reply, but if so, the mockingbird must have heard the call. Being 700 square miles, I think the Okefenokee Swamp would be the most likely place to find the Ivory Bill and wish some experts could go there soon to check it out.
Posted by: Peggy Murdock | 13 Dec 2011 14:36:58
To whom it may concern. I live in Tampa, FL. Who do I contact with pictures of this ivory billed? there is a pair that lives in the great oak in the back yard. They had some offspring this summer thats why the pics... but they are quite different from the pileated being as the babies and the female (i think) where only black and white.
Posted by: Michael Brown | 25 Sep 2011 01:54:49
Is anyone out there looking for the Imperial Woodpecker?
Posted by: Steve McQueen | 21 Sep 2010 11:13:27
I recently spend 4 weeks in Cuba and visited the far eastern end of the island - staying a couple of nights in Baracoa. The area west of Baracoa and south of Moa would be very interesting for an expedition to search for the Ivory Billed, and also the Cuban Snail Kite. However it looks to be very impenetrable with few roads and rugged mountains and rivers. My suggestion is to get in there and have a good look !! My trip was with cacti folk so not much birding but we did visit a very nice forest reserve at Loma de Banao between Sancti Spiritus and Trinidad, the wardens there said the Cuban Solitaire was present to my surprise ! Nice parrots as well. Cheers Mike
Posted by: | 07 Apr 2010 14:44:21
yes i agree that this is a great site,if it closes it would be a great loos indeed.Where i live in southern British Colunbia Canada,i have feeder's out and i have a veriety of bird's that visit on a dayley bacese from finch's all the way to pileated woodpecker,humming bird's ext,the humming bird's have since migrated on,these small bird's are the most reasileant that there is,it is hard to belieave what they do to servive,the woodpecker how ever stay all year and have been visiting my feeder's for three years,they come at sun up and return in the evening's,i have even shot video of them .i know that it will be a sad day when i will have to leave this beuitiful place,but i will bring with me all the memory's,as once again there habitat is being distroyed so i doint know how long they will be coming to my feeder's.
Posted by: mike kowalchuk | 01 Sep 2009 16:54:09
It is really a fantastic site about the information and new fo the wildlife. I am too passionate about having the latest news on the wildlife. Please dont close it and let others also have their participation if they want to write in your site only on the topics of the wildlife. I do have a vast knowledge about the birds found in Pakistan. How can I write in your site? Tell me.
Posted by: Javaid Akram | 13 Jul 2009 15:32:04
Wow, 2 million dollars to research a few misconstrued Pileated Woodpecker sightings? That strikes me as a massive waste. If the Ivory-bill clings on anywhere it will be in understudied Cuba, not surveyed-to-death USA!
Searches for extinct species are exciting and fun but look pretty ridiculous when species which could be saved from extinction are allowed to slide due to lack of funds: how much funding goes to Mississippi Gopher Frogs for example?
Posted by: Mark | 29 Jun 2009 00:10:25