A stuffed male ivory billed woodpecker, is shown in this Monday, May 2, 2005 file photo taken in the main lobby at the New York State Museum in Albany, N.Y. The museum is uncertain about the date or place of acquision of this artifact or the female ivory billed woodpecker, which is also on display. Until recently the last sighting of the bird was in 1944. (AP Photo/Jim McKnight)
The judge is a pecker himself.
Presumably then I can claim to have seen a dodo pretty much anywhere where I want work to stop.
The other shoe finally drops on this story.
I remember reading last year about how hundreds of birders were out looking for this bird, and not finding it. I thought at the time that there would eventually be a ESA case at this location.
Want to make any bets that the kayaker who "saw" this thing opposes the irrigation project?
Is the project called "Morning Wood" by any chance? ;-)
The judge has exactly as much evidence that Bigfoot is loose in the same area.
I am curious about the statement that there is no proof whatsoever.
In April, I was channel flipping and found a satellite channel that was airing a lecture about this woodpecker.
The professor had a video clip of this bird flying off the side of a tree and into the woods. He went frame by frame pointing out various features that would distinguish this bird from the pileated woodpecker.
I'm no scientist, but I am an avid bird watcher on my own property, and I was quite intrigued. I could definitely see the differences. Of course, what I don't know whether the video itself is authentic.
Stop everything.
Now.
Looks like it would be fairly easy for an amature tomistake a Pileated woodpecker for an Ivory bill. I took this photo of a Pileated in the yard just a few weeks back.
http://www.worldisround.com/articles/54892/photo276.html
OH NOOOOOOO NOT AGAIN;
Planting Evidence? The discovery of a protected herb sparks accusations of sabotage
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1668452/posts
"Authorities said it is needed because the main aquifer beneath eastern Arkansas's soybean, cotton and rice fields is running out of water and could run out by 2015, causing economic hardship."
This is an aquifer, not an oil field. Is it really running out of water, or are they over taxing it by allowing too much farming?
Wilson, William Roy Jr.
Born 1939 in Little Rock, AR
http://air.fjc.gov/servlet/tGetInfo?jid=2612
Federal Judicial Service:
Judge, U. S. District Court, Eastern District of Arkansas
Nominated by William J. Clinton on August 6, 1993, to a seat vacated by G. Thomas Eisele; Confirmed by the Senate on September 30, 1993, and received commission on October 1, 1993.
Education:
Hendrix College, B.A., 1962
Vanderbilt University Law School, J.D., 1965
Professional Career:
Private practice, Texarkana, Arkansas, 1965-1966
Deputy prosecuting attorney, Miller County, Arkansas, 1965-1966
U.S. Navy Lieutenant J.G., 1966-1969
Private practice, Little Rock, Arkansas, 1969-1993
Race or Ethnicity: White
Gender: Male
Where are we going ... and what's this handbasket we're in ?
This country was not built on, nor does it operate on assumptions.
"Problem solved."
looks a lot like the pileated woodpecker 
Who knows what that kayaker saw?
Now how would they know? Have they consulted with the woodpecker? Did the woodpecker come to them and express concern about the project? I want to know what the bird thinks! This is a one sided opinion.
Yes, they have: Ivory-billed Woodpecker (Campephilus principalis) Persists in Continental North America