04-18-2022, 06:56 PM (This post was last modified: 04-18-2022, 06:57 PM by Michigan Swamp Buck.
Edit Reason: Added extra comments
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Quote:Formerly “extinct” woodpecker still alive and pecking in Louisiana forests
April 15, 2022
Last year, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FSW) declared the ivory-billed woodpecker extinct. That, however, proved to be a premature move. That’s according to a team of researchers, bringing a new glimmer of hope for the bird’s existential status after reporting the woodpecker alive and pecking in the forests of Louisiana.
Still hanging on
The elusive bird had its last widely accepted sighting in 1944. The new series of pictures and observations from the research team shows that the evasive species is still hanging in there, according to the research.
The quest to find the woodpecker took almost three years and involved researchers spending days upon days walking through the woodlands of Louisiana observing birds and taking audio recordings. To take pictures of the bird, the scientists used a drone, as well as trail cameras to capture images on a time-lapse.
It's nothing short of amazing how often member of extinct populations show up alive and well, I suppose because no one bothred to tell them they don't exist any more.
Tasmanian tigers, Eastern timber wolves, eastern panthers (confirmed in Florida, but not limited to there, unless you ask your local game and fish commission about them locally), the list goes on and on.
When I lived in NC, a sheep farmer shot a timber wolf prowling his flock. game and Fish came in, but could not identify it, and brought in a local expert who identified it as a timber wolf... but there ain't no timber wolves left in NC, according to Fish and Game.
When I lived in the next county over, one morning on my way to work I saw a timber wolf in a meadow. Big sucker, he was about 5 feet long from the tip of his nose to where his tail met his body. But they don't exist there, either, so clearly I was mistaken, possibly misidentifying a cloud of swamp gas or a weather balloon.
On another morning, again on my way to work, I saw a black panther just a couple hundred yards from where I had seen the timber wolf. But, since according to Fish and Game, no panthers live here any more, and black panthers do not exist anywhere, i was clearly mistaken again. probably just more swamp gas or a misidentified weather balloon.
They did say the elk I saw there were real, though, not swamp gas or weather balloons.
People don't know what they don't know, and I would venture to guess that folks see critters every day that don't exist, and just don't realize what they are actually looking at.
In the end, the wild will win.
.
Diogenes was eating bread and lentils for supper. He was seen by the philosopher Aristippus, who lived comfortably by flattering the king.
Said Aristippus, ‘If you would learn to be subservient to the king you would not have to live on lentils.’ Said Diogenes, ‘Learn to live on lentils and you will not have to be subservient to the king.’
I laughed when I read the announcement because I had first heard and then seen one the very same day! "Experts" aren't exactly smart these days!
"As an American it's your responsibility to have your own strategic duck stockpile. You can't expect the government to do it for you." - the dork I call one of my mom's other kids
There had been a lot of folks who said they had seen/heard the IBW over the years. Of course, the wildlife "experts" will poo-poo that because that's what they do.
For anyone who has dealt with these types, the experience is pretty much the same.
- I saw an X.
- No you didn't.
- Yes I did. Here is a picture.
- Doesn't prove anything. Do you have a permit for any and everything? Please sign here.
Many people misidentify the Pileated Woodpecker with the Ivory Bill as they are very close in appearance and habits. This is the most common problem with people proving evidence as eye witnesses or in photos. Apparently the vocalizations aren't any help in identification either. So ultimately the Pileated is close enough to not have lost too much as far as the extinction of the Ivory Bill goes. I admit it's terrible that lumbering and agricultural uses have killed off the Ivory Bill into virtual extinction, but as I have stated in my profile signature "greed kills". Besides extinction is the rule for the majority of Earth's history and we aren't immune, no vaccine for that.
(04-18-2022, 08:05 PM)Ninurta Wrote: It's nothing short of amazing how often member of extinct populations show up alive and well, I suppose because no one bothred to tell them they don't exist any more.
Tasmanian tigers, Eastern timber wolves, eastern panthers (confirmed in Florida, but not limited to there, unless you ask your local game and fish commission about them locally), the list goes on and on.
When I lived in NC, a sheep farmer shot a timber wolf prowling his flock. game and Fish came in, but could not identify it, and brought in a local expert who identified it as a timber wolf... but there ain't no timber wolves left in NC, according to Fish and Game.
When I lived in the next county over, one morning on my way to work I saw a timber wolf in a meadow. Big sucker, he was about 5 feet long from the tip of his nose to where his tail met his body. But they don't exist there, either, so clearly I was mistaken, possibly misidentifying a cloud of swamp gas or a weather balloon.
On another morning, again on my way to work, I saw a black panther just a couple hundred yards from where I had seen the timber wolf. But, since according to Fish and Game, no panthers live here any more, and black panthers do not exist anywhere, i was clearly mistaken again. probably just more swamp gas or a misidentified weather balloon.
They did say the elk I saw there were real, though, not swamp gas or weather balloons.
People don't know what they don't know, and I would venture to guess that folks see critters every day that don't exist, and just don't realize what they are actually looking at.
In the end, the wild will win.
A variation of Hillary's quote, except it's from those who officially state these things. 'We Came... We Never Saw, It Must've Died'!
04-21-2022, 09:47 AM (This post was last modified: 04-21-2022, 09:48 AM by BIAD.)
(04-21-2022, 04:50 AM)Michigan Swamp Buck Wrote: Many people misidentify the Pileated Woodpecker with the Ivory Bill as they are very close in appearance and habits. This is the most common problem with people proving evidence as eye witnesses or in photos. Apparently the vocalizations aren't any help in identification either. So ultimately the Pileated is close enough to not have lost too much as far as the extinction of the Ivory Bill goes. I admit it's terrible that lumbering and agricultural uses have killed off the Ivory Bill into virtual extinction, but as I have stated in my profile signature "greed kills". Besides extinction is the rule for the majority of Earth's history and we aren't immune, no vaccine for that.
I can see what you mean.
The Pileated Woodpecker with the Ivory Billed Woodpecker.
(04-21-2022, 04:50 AM)Michigan Swamp Buck Wrote: Many people misidentify the Pileated Woodpecker with the Ivory Bill as they are very close in appearance and habits. This is the most common problem with people proving evidence as eye witnesses or in photos. Apparently the vocalizations aren't any help in identification either. So ultimately the Pileated is close enough to not have lost too much as far as the extinction of the Ivory Bill goes. I admit it's terrible that lumbering and agricultural uses have killed off the Ivory Bill into virtual extinction, but as I have stated in my profile signature "greed kills". Besides extinction is the rule for the majority of Earth's history and we aren't immune, no vaccine for that.
I can see what you mean.
The Pileated Woodpecker with the Ivory Billed Woodpecker.
I've never compared pictures of the two birds like that. The Ivory Bill is very handsome, also the amount of white on the wings, the "ivory" bill and that black on the head crest is the biggest differences I can see. If you had close up hi-res pictures, then identification would be assured I should think. The pileated looks like the Ivory Bill's younger punk brother.
![[Image: Tiny-Ducks.jpg]](https://i.ibb.co/10JR2fC/Tiny-Ducks.jpg)
