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G'day all
Rediscovery would be a very nice. Perhaps even
more so than discovery.
Without wishing to rain on anyone's parade, there
is now considerable doubt about the veracity of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker
sighting, with most experts agreeing that the bird in the footage is a similar
woodpecker; the Pileated Woodpecker. That much publicised footage, taken last
year, provides the only images which exist of what is supposedly the IB
Woodpecker. The only other evidence is a particular style of "double knock" (on
tree trunks)which is peculiar to that species in that locality. Problem is, two
other creatures could make a knocking sound almost simultaneoulsy, thus
producing the "double knock". Even trees rubbing together could do
so.
I have been following some more recent claims of
IB Woodpecker sightings which somebody is posting on a North American list of
late but this person has failed to come up with any recordings, images or
verification from other parties and will not divulge the exact location
(understandable perhaps). Many people in the States agree that there is a
reasonably strong chance of IB Woodpeckers remaining in small
enclaves around Virginia and Louisiana, possibly even Florida too, but to
date, nobody has yet come up with absolute proof. It's all a little like our
Tassie Tiger.
Keep in mind that the operation to find the IB
Woodpecker is code-named "Operation Elvis". Here's hoping and . . .
Happy birding
Ricki
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