That was so obviously the biggest pile of BS outside of a feedlot that has come down the pike in many many years. I seriously doubt it was a case of mistaken identity, they got what they wanted, lots of money.
As for a breeding population, if there was one bird it had to come from parents, and none have been seen in far too many eyars to legitimize this. It was a grab for money and power. I don't know if they finally prevented the dam they were trying to eliminate to cut out the farmers.
So you're theory is that they spraypainted a woodpecker
just to get the funds and then couldn't make any better recordings then one short fragment? Most things biologists do is NOT for money..if we wanted that we would have become laywers.
I don't think you have a clue what you are talking about.
This was no BS...
The video was shot by some Arkansas forestry people. many sightings have been reported but this was the first evidence.
The only reason for the interests is that the bird was thought to be extinct, in spite of reported sightings by fishermen and hunters. The location is North Central Arkansas on a refuge. There is no political goat roapin going on. This is not Washington State or Klamath. There is no money or what ever you have dreamed up. It was reported to gain public interest and get more information out in the public on bird.
Sightings are often confused with other varieties of woodpeckers because the public does not know what to look for.
Any BS that ever develops out of it is unintended consequences of a effort by the Arkansas Forestry Dept. They wanted people to look at the footage and invited comment.