Deep in the Swamp, an 'Extinct' Woodpecker Lives

New York Times ^ | 4/29/05 | James Gorman, John Files

[BradyLS]

I thought there was a fairly reliable report of a sighting in south Mississippi a year or so ago, near the Pearl River.

I could have been mistaken, but I thought I saw one in the woods of Ft. Stewart, Georgia. This would be back in 1987

[Bellflower]

Praise the LORD! I always hoped they were still in existence. Are they sure it is not a Pileated Woodpecker? They look similar.

[neverdem]

FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list. The pic of the peckers was qualified by the following:

Associated Press
An artist rendering of the ivory-billed woodpecker, as provided by the journal Science.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

...had proposed to spend $10 million in federal money for research, habitat protection and law enforcement efforts to protect the bird.

What the heck are they going to do, give it Secret Service protection?

[PAR35]

I could have been mistaken, but I thought I saw one in the woods of Ft. Stewart, Georgia. This would be back in 1987

Although not very common, it would not be unusual to spot a pileated woodpecker in that area. They are similar in size and appearance to the slightly larger Ivory Bill. The main differences are in the color of the bill and the Ivory Bill has more white on the wings. (I'm no expert, but I have seen a Pileated, and I have my Peterson's handy.)

I Googled up the Pearl River event. It apparently was in 19999, but a followup in 2002 could not confirm the bird.

[cajun-jack]

bet there was a lot of cuddling going on in their tent that nite

[lainde]

bttt

[Ole Okie]

I too enjoy nature and am inclined to think that protecting some habitat for truly endangered species may not be a bad idea......?

Saw an estimate yesterday that 200,000 acres need to be set aside as habitat (a Latin word meaning house or home. Wonder what language the Romans used to overawe people?).

200,000 acres is 555 square miles which must be protected from any development.

For a danged woodpecker?

[Archon of the East]

I think you misunderstand me, I tend to be pragmatic about these issues and fully recognize that species come and go, well at least go. And I don't sob about it. Is that land useful otherwise? Does somebody own it? It looks like moslty swamp land? My point is if it possible why not save it. One of the beauties of America is it's beauty, I have no desire to see it turned into a perpetual urban area. Just because the environMENTAL movement is certainly political, foolish, and unscientific in most cases doesn't mean we as Conservatives have to take the extreme opposite end for the sake of opposition. 90% of the envirornmental movement is crap but there are some issues that deserve thoughtful consideration. Well thats about as mushy as I ever get unless talking about the Constitution.

[Ole Okie]

I tend to be pragmatic about these issues and fully recognize that species come and go, well at least go.

I suspect that you and I have the same outlook on this.

The thing that astounds me is the huge amount of acreage that the environmentalists immediately holler must be set aside: 200,000 acres for an estimated eight ivory billed woodpeckers.

The Nature Conservancy is one of the outfits in on this one. They bought a big bunch of ranchland up in Osage County, Oklahoma and set it aside as a "Tallgrass Prairie Preserve". We're preserving the tallgrass, you see. Still looked like Osage County ranchland to me.

This woodpecker was spotted in the Cache Creek Nature Preserve in Arkansas, and it's probably swamp. If so, they can set aside 200,000 acres and I won't care.

But if it includes a lot of farmland that can no longer be farmed by farmers who suffer a taking without compensation, then I do care.

[Archon of the East]

I do believe you are right in that we have similar thoughts on this. Take the ridiculous wetlands law well OK not really a law by legislation but by Judicial fiat, A freaking water puddle can be declared off limits to use, that is not pragmatic! Nor is taking land from people at unfair pricing or against their will.

But in general your are correct most if not all of the environmental groups demand beyond what is needed or pragmatic. Heres to tallgrass Okie! May you never have to cut it.

[HankReardon]

Why in the world do they need $10 million of taxpayer money to allow this bird to live? It seems that it has even survived for 50 years without their knowledge. What would they spend this money on?

[SunkenCiv]

This topic was posted 04/28/2005, just adding, not pinging.