One of the problems is that the ivory-billed wood-pecker is known to live among the treetops of old growth forest, making it very hard to observe from the ground. Some researchers have used drones to record stretches of forest from above and come up with very suggestive images. Still. the “experts” are quite sure of themselves, as usual.
I have read that there is a Caribbean Woodpecker that is also very large with similar plumage and is not unusual for one to be seen along the Gulf Coast from time to time, especially after storms or hurricanes. These people could be seeing that one and thinking it is an Ivory Billed one...................
Yep, saw a show where they went loo,ing for them using drones, and had some compel,ing video- hard to tell though- could be the pilated woodpeckers they are seeing.
The best way to sort it all out is to shoot every woodpecker one sees, to see if it’s the ivory or the pilated - then we’ll know, and can create laws protecting them again. (I joke, i joke)