Amen to that Scott. Many communities interested in the natural world
face similar dilemmas. In primates Miss Waldron's Red Colobus is
similarly debated. After years of searching one recent skin was brought
to the attention of researchers; shot by helpful locals after they heard
the scientists were interested. This is the grim end to multiple sorties
by multiple biologists funded by multiple sources. Could well be the
last one was shot.
And woodpeckers and monkeys are large charismatic animals with well
heeled, well funded devotees who have access to the media. Those of us
recording nature are capturing soundscapes we are fast loosing. That
frog may no longer exist when we next switch on the recorder.
Marc
wrote:
>
>
> This has been a hotly debated issue on a number of cyber forums and a
> controversy that we should avoid. The biggest problem for everyone has be=
en
> the lack of any definitive evidence that can be distributed to the birdin=
g
> and scientific community. The fact is that the bird(s) have been very
> seldom
> reported considering the man hours of searching that have been logged.
>
> I know several of the people that have documented sightings and there is
> absolutely no reason to question them any more than one would over any ra=
re
> bird. This is a Campephilus woodpecker, not an Empid, and there are too
> many
> reliable sight reports from qualified observers now to dismiss this out o=
f
> hand. We should encourage anyone willing to take this further - there has
> been too little positive focus in the media on endangered species in the
> past 20 years. Anyone who knows the nature of bird distribution and
> nidiology knows that, even if the birds exist, they would face an extreme
> uphill battle to survive in the long run. Good luck to anyone who dares t=
o
> dream and, please, get some audio.
>
> Scott Connop
>
>
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