[TN-Bird] Re: Curious Ivory-billed Woodpecker controversy ?


For anyone out there who hasn't read "The Grail Bird" by
Tim Gallagher, I definitely recommend you read it.

Nice details on the search for the bird that lead to the
discovery in Arkansas but the real story is the absolute
egotistical lunacy that has delayed "rediscovery" and
conservation of this bird for over 40 years.  The treatment
of George Lowery and others who have brought forth much
more convincing evidence than the video of the Arkansas
birds is disgraceful.  One of the saddest parts to read
was when Van Remsen of LSU admitted that when the person
who gave the IBWO photographs to Lowery in 1971 offered to
take him to see the birds, Van declined because of fears his
career would be ruined and he would be labeled a Bigfoot
chaser (not that I blame him given the way Lowery and
others were laughed out of the AOU).

The number of reports of this bird over the past 40 years
which, when re-evaluated with an open mind seem obviously
credible but at the time were ridiculed and laughed at,
is both encouraging (for survival of the species) and
extremely discouraging (regarding the nature of our own
species).

Sadly, I must end by saying that, until a couple of months
ago, -- though hopeful -- I figured the Pearl River sighting
was just a big April Fools' joke blown waaay out of proportion.

Dean Edwards
Knoxville, TN


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