[TN-Bird] Ivory-billed Woodpecker: Lone Individual?

From: AHoodedWarbler@xxxxxxx
To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, bristol-birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Thu, 28 Apr 2005 15:11:33 -0400
It seems very unlikely the discovery of the Arkansas Ivory-billed Woodpecker 
will be limited to one individual.

This bird had to be born to two parent woodpeckers. There were probably 
siblings.  We will have to be less quick to dismiss sightings as cases of 
mistaken identity involving Pileated Woodpeckers, particularly if those 
sightings occur in proper habitat within this bird's historic range.

I also doubt any of these birds will be taken into captivity. From my reading 
about these birds, they seem unlikely candidates for captive breeding. That 
could be a good thing since protection of the habitat will become even more 
crucial.

It's still very early in this developing story, but it would be great to hear 
from knowledgeable experts about whether it is more likely there are fragmented 
populations of these birds or simply a few inconceivable relic survivors.

This is going to be a real challenge for a new century on a par with the 
Whooping Crane and California Condor.

I suppose we must  be concerned at the same time. Experiments with the Heath 
Hen and Dusky Seaside Sparrow certainly ended badly, and Hawaii has plenty of 
rare birds, some perhaps even more rare than the Ivory-billed Woodpecker will 
turn out to be.

It's still a triumph that, despite all the obstacles from "progress," the 
Ivory-billed Woodpecker has managed to endure into another century, most 
notably WITHOUT our assistance. These birds have got to be resilient. That 
quality, we can hope, will serve them well in the coming years.

I have always held a special affection for this woodpecker. I've loved reading 
about this bird. I once got to interview Nancy Tanner who, at the time, 
justifiably considered herself one of the few living people to have ever seen 
this woodpecker. I have heard a presentation by Rick Knight about the other 
search this century for the Ivory-billed Woodpecker, a search that he 
personally took part in.

It felt very surreal last night when, just before midnight, I noticed the 
postings on tn-birds about this amazing story. It still seems almost too good 
to be true.  

Finally, while it would be great to see this bird in the wild, I am sure the 
majority of birders are going to wait and get the "whole story" about the 
status of this bird. If saving this bird means we may not get to see it, well, 
we will still know that it exists out there somewhere. 

That's the really amazing news!

Bryan Stevens,
Hampton, TN








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[TN-Bird] Ivory-billed Woodpecker: Lone Individual?

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