FreeLists / birdky / [birdky] FW: Partners Establish Protocol to Report Sightings of Ivory-Bil led Woodpecker

["Ciuzio, Elizabeth (FW)" <Elizabeth.Ciuzio@xxxxxx>]

Just in case you see one, you know what to do!

Elizabeth Ciuzio
KDFWR
Frankfort, KY

-----Original Message-----
From: Tom_MacKenzie@xxxxxxx [mailto:Tom_MacKenzie@xxxxxxx] 
Sent: Thursday, June 16, 2005 2:13 PM
To: fws-southeastnews@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [fws-southeastnews] News Release: Partners Establish Protocol to
Report Sightings of Ivory-Billed Woodpecker

********************************************************************
This is a News Release from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Southeast
Region.  While you can't reply to this message, you can call me at (404)
679-7291, or send me a separate e-mail to:   tom_mackenzie@xxxxxxxx 

      Thanks,  Tom MacKenzie, Chief, Media Relations
*******************************************************************

.For Immediate Release - June 16, 2005
Media Contacts:    Kyla Hastie, Fish and Wildlife Service, 404-679-7125
             Blaine Friedlander, Cornell University, 607-254-8093
                                    Connie Bruce, Cornell Ornithology
607-254-2491

Partners Establish Protocol to Report Sightings of Ivory-Billed Woodpecker

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and Cornell Laboratory of
Ornithology announce the establishment of an e-mail address (
ivorybill@xxxxxxxxxxx) and associated web site (
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/ivory/story17.htm) to report sightings of the
rediscovered Ivory-billed Woodpecker.

"Since the announcement in April that the Ivory-billed Woodpecker has been
confirmed at Arkansas' Cache River National Wildlife Refuge, we've had
numerous calls reporting sightings," said Sam D. Hamilton, Southeast
Regional Director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  "We need to
gather this information so biologists can explore any promising leads."

Because the Ivory-billed Woodpecker looks very similar to the more common
Pileated Woodpecker, biologists urge the public to carefully review the
information on the web site, including range maps, habitat descriptions,
field marks, and photos of both birds, before reporting sighting
information.

People who believe they've seen an Ivory-billed Woodpecker should fill out
the form available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/ivory/story17.htm and
send it to ivorybill@xxxxxxxxxxxx Those without Internet access may request
the form by calling the Cornell Lab of Ornithology at (800) 843-2473.

"We've had reports of Ivory-billed Woodpeckers in people's backyards from
Michigan to Maine," said Ron Rohrbaugh of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
"These observations are well outside of the Ivory-bill's historic range, but
even within the range it's unlikely that someone would encounter one in
their backyard.  Rather, the birds sighted in these situations are almost
certainly Pileated Woodpeckers.  We urge the public to carefully study the
differences between an Ivory-billed and Pileated woodpecker before reporting
a sighting. This will help us focus on those reports that are most
credible."

The Service has established a second e-mail address, ivorybill@xxxxxxx,
where the public can submit questions or comments about the recovery of the
Ivory-billed Woodpecker.  The public may also write to: Ivory-billed
Woodpecker Recovery Team Leader, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 1875 Century
Boulevard, Atlanta, GA 30345.

The Service and Cornell Lab of Ornithology will work closely with partners
including The Nature Conservancy, state fish and wildlife agencies, and
university researchers throughout the Southeast to investigate credible
reports of Ivory-billed Woodpeckers.

The partners hope that hunters, birders, hikers, kayakers and others who
spend time exploring the bottomland hardwood swamps of the Southeast may be
able to help in the search for the bird.

"It was kayaker Gene Sparling that led us to the confirmed Cache River
Refuge sighting," said John Fitzpatrick, director of the Cornell Lab of
Ornithology.  "We hope that more Ivory-billed Woodpeckers are out there,
just waiting to be seen."

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency
responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and
plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.
The Service manages the 95-million- acre National Wildlife Refuge System,
which encompasses 545 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands
and other special management areas.  It also operates 69 national fish
hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices, and 81 ecological services field
stations.  The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the
Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores
nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat
such as wetlands, and helps foreign and Native American Tribal governments
with their conservation efforts.  It also oversees the Federal Assistance
program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes
on fishing and hunting equipment to State fish and wildlife.

The Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology is a non-profit membership institution
with the mission to interpret and conserve the earth's biological diversity
through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds.  From its
headquarters at the Imogene Powers Johnson Center for Birds and Biodiversity
in Ithaca New York, the Lab leads international efforts in bird monitoring
and conservation and fosters the ability of enthusiasts of all ages and
skill levels to make a difference.


                                                                       XXX
For more information, visit http://www.fws.gov/ivorybill,
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/ivory/
http://www.ivorybill.org
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