Birders: Here is new information on the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker that I am sharing from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology that TN. Birdwatchers might be interstead. Shane Adams East of Hamblen County Morristown, TN. 37813 Greetings Lab members and friends, With the new field season underway in Arkansas, we're all excited about chances for more clear sightings of our good friend, the Ivory-billed Woodpecker. We're going to keep you abreast of search developments so you can be a part of the action. Also in this edition: a top honor for one of the Lab's online birding resources, and updated information about the so-called "bird flu." New Ivory-bill Search Has Begun The 2005-2006 field season is underway as you read this. It runs from November 1 through April 30, and there are many high hopes that this will be the year for the stunning visual close-ups (and photos) of the bird we'd all love to see. The Cornell Lab of Ornithology has assembled a crack team of paid and volunteer searchers. Sites already searched will be reviewed and new areas scouted. The areas being searched include the Cache River National Wildlife Refuge and the White River National Wildlife Refuge, among others. Soon we'll unveil our updated ivory-bill web pages, describing the activities that will be taking place in more detail. You can also learn more about the exceptional group of people spearheading the Ivory-billed Woodpecker Research Project. We plan to post updates from searchers on the web site, passing along their first-hand impressions of life as an ivory-bill seeker, so you can feel like you're part of the search without ever getting your feet wet! Hear the Experts on Ivory-bill Evidence In August, researchers from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology shared results about the Ivory-billed Woodpecker with their colleagues at the annual meeting of the American Ornithologists' Union. Now if you have broadband Internet access, you can see and hear their talks online, including a special plenary session by Lab director John Fitzpatrick about the history, conservation, and evidence for the ivory-bill. "Bird" Flu Furor All the news about the spread of the so-called "bird flu" is causing some concern among birders. There is absolutely no danger in continuing to watch and feed birds as you have always done. Since January 2004, the known human cases of avian flu have all occurred in Southeast Asia. Almost all of these infections were contracted by people who handle chickens. Migratory waterfowl and shorebirds can carry avian flu; infected birds have been found in Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Russia. However, according to Alfonso Torres of Cornell's College of Veterinary Medicine, "When experts look at the maps of the areas affected by avian influenza in Asia and they look at the flying pathways of migratory waterfowl, there is not an overlap. Waterfowl are not the culprit for what is happening in Asia." Visit the Cornell Chronicle for a five-part series on avian flu. We also have more information on this topic on the Project FeederWatch web site. Top Tech Award for All About Birds We're thrilled that ScientificAmerican.com has named the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's All About Birds site as a winner of its 2005 Science & Technology Web Awards! Each year the magazine's editors review countless web sites and choose a select number they feel are the most innovative, creative and valuable as science and technology resources. You can read the write-up here. The All About Birds web site is a continually growing interactive resource for birders of every skill level. We thank all of you who have helped make this possible through your support of the Lab! Project FeederWatch Begins This Week! Project FeederWatch begins November 12! Participants this year will enjoy improvements to the Data Entry web pages, new paper data forms, and an electronic newsletter. The FeederWatch team has also streamlined the summary page, making it easier to see current and past data. All participants are welcome, so sign up today! To sign up in the U.S. click here or call the Lab toll-free at (800) 843-2473. In Canada visit Bird Studies Canada online or call (888) 448-2473. Thanks for all your continued good wishes and support! No virus found in this incoming message.