Ivory-Billed Woodpecker Sighted and Recorded

Science Daily ^ | 04-29-2011 | Naval Research Laboratory

[Red Badger]

Dr. Michael Collins, Naval Research Laboratory scientist and bird watcher, has published an article titled "Putative audio recordings of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker (Campephilus principalis)" which appears in the March issue of the Journal of the Acoustical Society of America. The audio recordings were captured in two videos of birds with characteristics consistent with the Ivory-billed Woodpecker. This footage was obtained near the Pearl River in Louisiana, where there is a history of unconfirmed reports of this species. During five years of fieldwork, Collins had ten sightings and also heard the characteristic "kent" calls of this species on two occasions.

Scientists working independently in three states have now published articles that report multiple sightings of and various forms of evidence for this elusive species, which is extremely difficult to observe and photograph due to its rarity, wariness, and tendency to roam over wide areas in remote swamp habitat. The two previous articles present findings from Arkansas [Fitzpatrick et al., Science (2005)] and Florida [Hill et al., Avian Conservation and Ecology (2006)].

During two encounters with an Ivory-billed Woodpecker, Collins heard high-pitched calls that seem to match the description of an alarm call that was reported by James Tanner in the 1930s but was never recorded. On both occasions, the calls came from the direction of the bird and began at a moment when the bird was alarmed. Several of these calls were captured in the first video, which received a positive assessment from an independent expert, Julie Zickefoose, whose paintings of Ivory-billed Woodpeckers have appeared on the covers of a leading ornithology journal and the leading contemporary text on this species. ...

[Red Badger]

The ivory-billed woodpecker was thought to have duck-like flaps in which the wings remain extended throughout the flap cycle. One of the videos revealed radically different flaps in which the wings are folded completely closed in the middle of the upstroke. The images from the video show the wing motion from two angles. The photo in the upper right, which was obtained by James Tanner in 1939, shows an Ivory-billed Woodpecker in flight and contains a clue suggesting that there had been a misconception about the flap style. (Credit: Dr. Michael Collins)

[cripplecreek]

Looks a lot like a Pileated woodpecker.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Too cool!

[Osage Orange]

I hope this bird is still around.....

I like to watch Woodpeckers....

[paddles]

They’re great in gumbo.

[Red Badger]

Note the ‘ivory bill”.....................

[Red Badger]

In some places you could be arrested for that...................;^)

[cripplecreek]

I’ve got about 5 different species that come to my feeders during the winter.

[calex59]

Looks a lot like a Pileated woodpecker.

Yes, they closely resemble each other in looks.

[libertarian27]

Looks a lot like a Pileated woodpecker.

It does alright....
I've got a few in the yard and boy do they rip the trees apart.

Those fellas are huge.

[chuckles]

No more drilling within 1000 miles of La. That ought to just about do us in.

[TheOldLady]

I Can Haz Monthly Donors?

Donate monthly, and a sponsoring FReeper will contribute $10
Or give what you can

Lazamataz needs you!

[CodeToad]

But they make for really skinny piano keys.

[cripplecreek]

Pileated woodpecker.

[redpoll]

Thanks for making my day.

[The Cajun]

No more drilling within 1000 miles of La. That ought to just about do us in.

Damn, you beat me to it!

[Red Badger]

You have some affinity for Ivory Billed Woodpeckers or birds in general?..............

[Red Badger]

Just right for Cajun accordions................

[redpoll]

Birds in general... my wife and I are avid birders.

[Oratam]

Okay. On to bigfoot.