Gordon & Ken’s Ivory-billed Woodpecker Search Adventure

Dispatch #1

February 17

   The weather in Ohio was bad as we set off early Saturday morning. Our spirits were high as we were working off the hypothesis that we would drive out of the weather as we headed south. That was a seriously flawed hypothesis. The weather never improved and probably deteriorated as we approached our destination for the night.

   Earlier, I had made arrangements to have a brief busman’s holiday with my friend and colleague David Imbrogno the Executive Director of Bernheim Forest just south of Louisville, Kentucky.

   Berheim Forest is an organization similar to The Wilderness Center, writ large. It was created by Isaac Bernheim, a gentleman who made his fortune brewing Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey. The forest is 14,000 acres; 22 square miles; 35 miles of firebreak roads; 30 miles of trails.

   Bernheim left a large endowment to the organization in addition to the land. For many years, the organization rested on its laurels and lived primarily off its endowment. However, when Dave became executive director, the organization awoke from slumber and conducted a multimillion-dollar capital campaign, revamped it programming, and increased its membership from 500 to 5,000 families.

   I wanted to visit with Dave to pick up any tips regarding his success story, but also I wanted to see the brand new “tree top walk” they had installed. For many years, I have been contemplating the concept of creating a tree top walk at The Wilderness Center.

   Dave was eager to show us around as the light faded and the snow continued. We drove through the forest on the non-public fire roads, toured their new visitor’s center and made our way up to the tree top walk.

   It was beautiful. Enjoy the photographs.

   Dave put us up for the night in Bernheim’s guesthouse. The accommodations were wonderful and better yet, free!

   While chewing the fat with Dave, we watched a coyote hunting mice outside his windows in the dusky light as snow continued to fall decorating the forest and silhouetting the coyote.

   Rotten weather; good day.

Gordon & Ken’s Ivory-billed Woodpecker Search Adventure

Dispatch #2

February 18

   As bad as the weather was yesterday, it was good today. We left Bernheim Forest about 7 a.m. The roads were clear and dry. We traveled south toward Nashville to pick up Interstate 40 west toward Memphis, Arkansas and Ivory-billed Woodpecker country.

   The sky brightened to clear blue. As the day progressed it gradually became warmer.

   It was a great day for highway birding especially if you like Red-tailed Hawks. We saw dozens including two Red-tails stooping on mice. We also saw Northern Harriers hunting a few fields.

   After passing through Memphis, we crossed the mighty Mississippi River. It was then we realized that we had entered the country we had come to visit. Cypress swamps were dotted along the road and we began to see more interesting birds. We added a Bald Eagle to the list and before long Snow and Blue Geese by the thousands. We observed many Great Blue Herons, dozens of Mockingbirds, Killdeer and American Kestrels.

   We paused twice in Brinkley, Arkansas to photograph the Ivory-billed Woodpecker Inn and a place offering Ivory-billed Woodpecker haircuts.

   The route to White River National Wildlife Refuge is south from Brinkley. The land is highly agricultural and flat as a pancake. The major crops appear to be cotton, rice, and others not yet identifiable but probably soybeans.

   The water is very high right now. Word is we’ll be in chest waders much of the time. Thank goodness the weather is much warmer.

   As we pulled into Redhead Lodge, our home for two weeks we are surprised to see an Eastern Phoebe.

   Tomorrow is training day.

   Beautiful day; beautiful weather; fine birds.

Gordon & Ken’s Ivory-billed Woodpecker Search Adventure

Dispatch #3

February 19

   Training Day was interesting and tedious at the same time. We spent the morning at an orientation talk, learning to use the GPS equipment, learning to use the video camera equipment, and discussing procedures.

   The GPS units are similar to the small handheld units we have at The Wilderness Center so that the technology isn’t unfamiliar. However there is a great need to use care because all the data must be downloaded to the project computers.

   We learned that only about 20% of the area (White River National Wildlife Refuge and Cache River National Wildlife Refuge) has been covered. There continue to be tantalizing sightings of Ivory-bills, but definitive proof eludes everyone.

   In the afternoon, we suited up in our gear and went to a forested area in the White River NWR to practice using the GPS units in the field.

   While working we saw Red-headed, Downy, and Red-bellied Woodpeckers. There were Hermit Thrushes working the forest floor and a single Cedar Waxwing feeding on Mistletoe berries high over head.

   The volunteers seem to be a great group of people with a sincere desire to assist with the project. Ken and I expect to have a pleasant two weeks.

   This evening we will view a program on distinguishing nesting cavity holes and feeding sites. There is an overlap in the size of cavity entrance holes between Pileated and Ivory-billed Woodpeckers. In general, the Ivory-bill has a larger entrance.

Gordon & Ken’s Ivory-billed Woodpecker Search Adventure

Dispatch #4

February 20

   Today was our first day in the field actually searching for Ivory-billed Woodpeckers. We started late at 8 a.m. with an hour and a half drive to Tupelo Lake. This site was selected because someone had possibly heard Ivory-billed calls in the area.

   Our companions were Mel Boring and writer of children’s books and Marty Stack, a lawyer from Chicago. Mel and Marty were dropped at on area entry point. Ken and I unloaded at another.

   We entered the forest and spent the day quietly walking, sitting, listening and watching. The forest was beautiful along the margins of some lakes. There were many large trees, but part of the area was actually in the process of being logged when the Ivory-bill was found in the area. The logging stopped, but there was evidence of logging.

   We saw many species of bird: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Carolina Chickadee, Eastern Wood Peewee, Hermit Thrush, Orange Crowned Warbler, Brown Creeper, Red-bellied Woodpeckers and many more.

   Of particular interest were Pileated Woodpeckers. The White River National Wildlife Refuge has a high density of Pileated. As I walked through the forest, I could hear them blaring their maniacal calls. However, I could not spot a Pileated for anything. Then about 3 p.m. I saw six different Pileated Woodpeckers within a half an hour.

   It became clear to me that it will be a miracle if anyone manages to get another video of an Ivory-billed Woodpecker. At one point I observed a Pileated flying toward an open area over a pond. The bird was out of site before I could get my binoculars up, let alone turn on a video camera and focus it on the bird.

   Our two-week period has eight volunteers. All returned worn out but in good spirits by around 7:30 p.m. Nobody saw an Ivory-billed Woodpecker, but everyone felt they were lucky to have had the opportunity to search.

   Life at the lodge is busy upon return. Everyone fixes dinner and gives their data to the biologists to load into the computers.

   Tomorrow we search again.

Gordon & Ken’s Ivory-billed Woodpecker Search Adventure

Dispatch #5

February 21

Ken’s notes:

   Went down into my first bayou. Mel Boring and I canoed across the bayou and split up and went different directions. Gordon and Marty Stack stayed back on high land and split up for the search. The woods that I watched had four and five foot diameter trees, all hardwoods.

   My bird list consisted of everything from chickadees to Golden eagle. Six Pileated Woodpeckers kept me busy watching feeder trees, however Ivory-bills were absent.

   For those of you who think this is a fun trip need to think different. The temperature hit the low 70’s today, which sounds nice unless you have knee boots or chest waders on. You have your binoc’s hanging around your neck plus a video camera, which tries to choke you every time you lift the binoc’s up. Then you have a rather heavy GPS hanging from your neck or sticking in a pocket. Every pocket is filled to the top. Then you have a daypack filled with extra clothing, food, water bottles, lunch, notepad, pencils, cell phones, you name it and don’t forget the most important item, TP. The call of nature is a half hour project just getting ready for the event. After the event it takes another half hour just making sure you haven’t left or dropped something behind.

   Tell TWC Naturalist Carrie Elvie that I saw a snake that the locals call a Mud Snake. It was a rather colorful snake.

We usually get back to the lodge one to two hours after dark and then fill out reports and fix supper, shower and hit the sack.

See you later,

Ken

Birders: Ken and Gordon are not much interested in listing, but decided to submit lists for those who enjoy it.

Ken’s Bird List for the day:

Robin

Cardinal

Brown creeper

Red tailed hawk

Bald eagle

Flicker

Various warblers

Chickadee

Nuthatch

Pileated Woodpecker

Red bellied

Snow and blue geese

Mallards

Mockingbird

Brown Thrasher

Yellow-rump Warbler

Downy Woodpecker

Golden eagle

Coot

Blue jay

Rusty black bird

Winter Wren

Redheaded Woodpecker

White-throated sparrow

Yellow-bellied sapsucker

Titmouse

Wood ducks

Red-winged blackbirds

Barred Owls (I called one in)

Gordon’s notes

   I spent a large part of the day at high and dry forest between wetlands in the Prairie Lake Area. While working, you spend the day moving quietly and sitting quietly. You watch and you listen.

   We are also looking for tree cavities. Ivory-billed Woodpeckers create a distinctive cavity that is much larger than those used by other woodpeckers. There is a procedure you go through when you find a cavity that looks good. It includes photographing the cavity with a chart tacked to the same tree.

   About 10 a.m., I heard a woodpecker feeding. There was a loud irregular THUMP, THUMP, THUMP-THUMP from a long distance away. I decided to stalk this bird. Over the next 15 minutes I moved gradually closer alternately listening and moving. When I had moved within about 30 yards of the sound source, I stopped, waited and watched. Nothing moved. When I crept closer, I saw a large bird flush away at about the limit of my vision through the forest. It was probably a Pileated Woodpecker. This area has a very high density of Pileateds. Through the day I saw about six Pileated Woodpeckers including one at the end of the day getting ready to enter a roost hole. The bird obviously saw me and was reluctant to enter the hole. Eventually, it left without going to roost.

   Soon after that, a bat came out to forage for flying insects. He did little to deter the mosquitoes that were annoying me.

Gordon’s bird list for the day:

Swamp Sparrow

Bluebird

Northern Flicker

Snow Goose

Meadow Lark

Red-tailed Hawk

Carolina Chickadee

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Orange-crowned Warbler

Bald Eagle

Redheaded Woodpecker

Great Blue Heron

Pileated Woodpecker

Tufted Titmouse

American Robin
Cardinal

Mockingbird

Blue Jay

Downy Woodpecker

Common Grackle

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Eastern Phoebe

Brown Creeper

Red-shouldered Hawk

Hermit Thrush

White-throated Sparrows

Gadwall

Winter Wren

Yellow-rump Warbler

Barred Owl (I heard one but didn’t try to call it like Ken)

Gordon & Ken’s Ivory-billed Woodpecker Search Adventure

Dispatch #6

February 22

   Ken and I got in very late without much to report. We both saw mostly the same birds as on other days.

   Tomorrow mourning we will leave a 4 a.m. to go to Bayou De View. This is the place where the Ivory-billed Woodpeckers were rediscovered. Ken and I are slated to canoe with someone from one of the government agencies or nonprofit conservation groups who are working together to protect the birds.

   We’ll have a very long day and don’t expect to return to the lodge until 9 p.m. or so.

   Today we were in the Jack’s Lake area. Early in the day, I was in what I felt was poor habitat. The area had been logged and there wasn’t much old growth. After lunch I had worked my way slowly around to Wolf Bayou, a small creek with Bald Cypress trees growing in the water surrounded by mature oaks along the banks. This looked like prime habitat, but no luck.

   I did see many Red-headed Woodpeckers and Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. At dusk, when birds are due to return to cavities in trees for the night, I sat on a large tree cavity that was probably made by a squirrel. No squirrel, no birds.

   Big day tomorrow!

Gordon

Gordon & Ken’s Ivory-billed Woodpecker Search Adventure

Dispatch #7

   February 23 (Note skip to the end of these dispatches as we were required to keep mum about sightings until August 2007.)

   Ken and I had a long, memorable day at Bayou De View. You could say it was superfantastic!

   The famous video of the Ivory-bill was taken here. So Ken and I were optimistic, but guarded as there had not been any sighting at this location for quite a couple of years.

   We started at 4 a.m. with a hurried breakfast followed by a hour and a half drive to a house owned by The Nature Conservancy near Cotton Plant.

   Today was a big day for Ivory-bill searchers. There were people from many different government agencies and nonprofit organizations participating. Ken and I were slated to paddle upstream on the Bayou to a specific destination, spend the day and return just before dark.

   Shortly after we put in, we were flushing ducks ahead of our canoe. They were predominately Mallards and Wood Ducks.

   Early on we had one potential sighting but concluded that it must have been Mallards flushing near the point we glimpsed a Pileated Woodpecker. The flash of white on a Mallard’s tail gave us a little excitement as one of the characteristics you look for on Ivory-bills is white on the trailing wing edge. In poor light through thick trees all you get of any bird is just a microsecond glimpse.

   About 10 a.m. we decided to go ashore to get a close photograph of some fresh Pileated Woodpecker bark scaling. We ended up spending most of the day in this area. We slowly moved through cypress forest interspersed with slightly higher elevations with oak. It seemed to ideal Ivory-billed habitat.

   While sitting together on a log for lunch, a Bobcat walked past slowly enough for me to snap two photos. This was another big first sighting for Ken.

   We continued to our final destination but decided we should spend our “magic hour” (the last hour before dark) in the fantastic habitat where we saw the Bobcat and other things.

   We made it back to the pick up point as the final light of day faded.

   This was a great day for all the volunteer searchers. We returned to our lodge happy and exhausted.

   We saw a lot of birds, but only one new species for the trip was added to my list. I saw my first White-breasted Nuthatch!

Gordon & Ken’s Ivory-billed Woodpecker Search Adventure

Dispatch #8

February 24

   Saturday is a day off. The weather had been absolutely beautiful the entire week and Saturday brought rain and thunder. We slept late, 7 a.m.

   About 6 a.m. some of the volunteers were already awake and exchanging stories of the previous days, so “sleeping” is a relative term.

   We are working with a wonderful group of volunteers. Everyone is friendly and enthusiastic. We all enjoy each other’s company. There is lots of joking and laughing.

   After breakfast, we gradually gathered ourselves together to figure out what to do in the rain. Woodpeckers have enough sense to come in out of the rain even if birders do not. So Ronnie Smith, Ken and I decided to go birding at the Stutgart Airport. It is a small airport with a big runway. They encourage birding there as the open grassland habitat attracts many birds not seen elsewhere in Arkansas. Smith’s Longspur is a species that is common there and people come from all over to see it. As we arrived at the airport, a huge storm was arriving along with us. We signed their birders guest book and headed out across the runway to see if we could get a quick look. All we saw was Eastern Meadowlarks. The rain was increasing and it was obvious that if lightning arrived, we would be the lightning rods.

   We beat a hasty, well-timed retreat to the small airport lobby. About then Ken spotted a raptor flying across the runway. He said “Harrier” but when Ronnie and I looked, it was obviously NOT a Harrier. It was a Prairie Falcon!

   Tonight we are planning eat in St. Charles. There is a crawfish dinner there and some of us hope to try the local fare.

   It has been a fantastic week. The job is physically demanding but a huge joy for all of the volunteers to be a part of this project. There is really nothing better than working field biology.

Gordon & Ken’s Ivory-billed Woodpecker Search Adventure

Dispatch #9

February 25

   Since today is Sunday, the professional staff has the day off. As volunteers, we decided to take matters into our own hands and head off to a promising area where there have been Ivory-bill sightings.

   We departed about 9 a.m. arrived on site around 10:30 at a spot where a road crossed a bayou. Some of the crew headed north. I headed south on the east side of the bayou. There were spots with mature trees and it was easy to believe we were in good habitat. I observed all the area woodpeckers but one.

   The weather was fine once again. Yesterday’s rains brought the Resurrection Ferns back to beautiful green form. Resurrection Ferns are a species of Polypody Fern that grows as an epiphyte on tree branches. In dry weather it curls up and looks dead. During and following rains, it quickly unrolls and turns bright green.

   At one point during the day, a Barred Owl flew low over my head. His shadow fell across me and gave me quite a thrill as I was hoping it would be an Ivory-bill. I maneuvered myself so that the low, setting sun was behind me as I made my way back to the jumping off spot. I had a tremendous view of the forest. I enjoyed a brief thrill when a large woodpecker popped up over the forest and cut behind me so that he was backlit by the low sun. I reversed course and stalked him to where he as disappeared in a treetop. Eventually I found him…Pileated. About the time I finally saw him he burst into his maniacal laughing call as if to mock me.

   One of the interesting skills we have all acquired while volunteering on the project is the use of the handheld GPS units. The land is flat. Relief between wetlands and “uplands” is a matter of inches. The wetlands are Cypress, Tupelo, and Water Locust. Move uphill six inches to a foot and you have Oaks, Hickories, and Ash. When you enter the woods you become disoriented within a hundred yards or so. Even using the GPS, it is important to pay close attention to the sun to be aware of your directions.

   Although we spend hours in the forest, it is never boring. We constantly scan for birds, check trees for cavities, try to either sit still and watch or move quietly from place to place and keep track of our location.

   As darkness fell, the volunteers assembled at the van and decided to head for Brinkley to enjoy an Ivory-billed Woodpecker burger and Gene’s Barbecue. The burgers were great and came with a certificate proving you ate the whole thing.

Gordon’s bird list for the day (not counting species seen while driving which included a Barn Owl):

Downy Woodpecker

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Barred Owl

Robin

Bluejay

Red-shouldered Hawk

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

Swamp Sparrow

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Great Blue Heron

Belted Kingfisher

Pileated Woodpecker

Gordon & Ken’s Ivory-billed Woodpecker Search Adventure

Dispatch #10

February 26

   Ken and I were separated today. Ken returned to a “hot spot” we had visited a few days before while I went to a nearby place called “The Black Swamp.”

   The Black Swamp is a beautiful place. There are many large trees and abundant wildlife. Wood Ducks and Mallards were extremely shy because duck hunting is a huge sport in this area. They would flush off the swamp almost before I could see them. It became a bit of a game for me to see how close I could get to them before the detected me. (I never got very close.)

   I saw several deer and toward the end of the day treed a young Raccoon. The Raccoon tried to climb a short dead tree when I saw him. He had no place to go so he flattened himself against the trunk and thought I didn’t see him. I didn’t get a photo because it was getting dark and I needed to get to the pickup spot on time. My GPS wasn’t reading the satellites too well because of all the huge trees. I needed to rely on my brain as much as the technology to find my way out of the swamp.

   While exploring the swamp I discovered a patch of habitat that looked very similar to a place where Ivory-bills have been seen. It had the added attraction of two huge oak trees that had gone down last summer. I could tell this because the leaves were still attached to the dead branches. I noted the location and they may be worth setting a remote camera on them as Ivory-bills are known to feed on beetle larva that grow under the bark of recently dead trees. As summer approaches beetles may get started on these trees attracting Ivory-bills.

   Part my day was also spent stalking yet another Pileated Woodpecker. I heard the heavy THUNK, THUNK, THUNK, of a large woodpecker feeding. To approach the sound I had to move directly into the sun. This was frustrating, as I'd planned my route to keep the sun behind me as much as possible.

   I kept slowly moving to try to flank the woodpecker. The woodpecker kept moving to keep the sun behind him. Eventually, he let out a series of calls so I knew it was no Ivory-bill. When I finally flanked him and sat on a log to watch for Ivory-bills he lost track me and eventually approached close enough for a photo. (Sorry, I had to rush 15 miles to the local community college to send the dispatch to The Wilderness Center and forgot my camera. I’ll send the photo with my next dispatch.

   It would be safe to say that Ken and I are running down. The long hours, early mornings and late nights are taking a toll. Still, each day brings more adventure with wildlife.

   While The Black Swamp did not yield up its Ivory-bills today, we enjoyed seeing a Barn Owl, a Short-eared Owl and another we couldn’t identify in the fading twilight as we left the swamp.

Gordon Maupin

Gordon & Ken’s Ivory-billed Woodpecker Search Adventure

Dispatch #11

February 27

Wattensaw Wildlife Management Area

   Our group of volunteers split up to better cover areas. Ken, Chris Rae from the professional staff, and I went to Wattensaw Wildlife Management Area. To me, this did not look like very good habitat. We parked along a road and stepped off into Post Oak, Black Jack Oak forest. It was high and dry. However, as I moved down slope I found a bayou with some Cypress trees. Apparently there had been a sighting in the area with some level of credibility.

   So, the three of us separated and spent the day in the woods. As we were concentrating on a relatively small area, I spend more time sitting in places that afforded a good view of mature timber near or in water.

   No Ivory-bills made an appearance. I did see some Pileated Woodpeckers and was able to photograph one.

   My bird list for the day Bewick’s and Carolina Wrens, which were both new species for this trip. In the early afternoon, I observed an Armadillo that jumped into a hole before I could take his photo.

   Overall, it was a great day in the woods. The weather was wonderful.

Bird list for the day.

Bewick’s Wren

Carolina Wren

Carolina Chickadee

Pileated Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Bluejay

Cardinal

Barred Owl

Turkey Vulture

Downy Woodpecker

White-breasted Nuthatch

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

American Crow

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Hermit Thrush

Robin

Golden-crowned Kinglet

White-throated Sparrow

On the drive to the site:

House Sparrow

Kestrel

Harrier

Red-tailed Hawk

Shoveler

Wood Duck

Mallard

Gordon & Ken’s Ivory-billed Woodpecker Search Adventure

Dispatch #12

February 28

Today we revisited “The Black Swamp.” It was an early morning day, so we loaded the van and left for the swamp at 6 a.m. The plan was to finish by 2 p.m.

The morning was a little on the chilly side…about 40°F. The first half-kilometer into this section of the swamp was a chest wader walk. Fortunately the water never reached critical midpoint saturation level, but it was too deep for knee boots. Ken and I mis-communicated about the chest waders and I left one set back at our original lodge.

Ken gave me the waders and decided to work the edge of the swamp.

After about an hour, I progressed into some good-looking habitat and sat down to watch the area for an hour. After about 15 minutes, birds that had flushed at my approach began to return. I sat and tried to remain as still as possible. Red-bellied Woodpecker returned followed by Downy Woodpeckers, White-breasted Nuthatches, and my first Hairy Woodpecker of the trip.

I held my place as a Pileated Woodpecker was gradually working toward me. I knew that if I made much movement he would spot me and take off. I was determined to attempt to video a Pileated so that I’d know the skill if lightning should strike and an Ivory-bill approached me.

Sure enough, the bird came close enough for a photo and two short videos. True to form, however, I moved too much trying for good pictures and the bird took off.

I returned to my vigil and before long a Barred Owl landed nearby. I snapped a photo while he was looking away from me. Then I stood to try for a video. His head swiveled around and looked at me. I froze. I didn’t dare move while he watched. We waited staring at each other for about 15 seconds before he figured me out and took off.

This area seemed ideal for Ivory-bills, but the problem is that there seems be more good habitat than Ivory-bills to occupy it.

Following lunch, I was starting to make my way back toward the van when I saw Ken coming through the forest. He had borrowed hip boots from another volunteer who had returned to the van a early due to a cold. We talked a little and decided upon separate routes back to the van.

On my way back I discovered some very interesting bark scaling on a dying Sweet Gum tree. It bore all the indications the biologists look for in Ivory-billed Woodpecker workings. I noted the location on the GPS and the search team might possibly set a remote camera on it to record any woodpecker that returns to work the tree.

No one saw an Ivory-bill on this day.

We have been very fortunate with the weather. It’s still too cool for the mosquitoes, but not so cold as to be unpleasant.

Tomorrow we may be working from canoes again.

Gordon & Ken’s Ivory-billed Woodpecker Search Adventure

Dispatch #13 (A summary of the day and a soapbox rant.)

March 1, 2007

   Today was an early day. We departed at 6 a.m. and arrived at our jumping off place by about 6:30 a.m. The only problem was problematic weather. There were tornado warnings despite blue skies.

   We were to canoe into a bayou hot spot where there had been some credible sightings. Murphy’s Law came into play and we lost time dealing with faulty equipment. Our trolling motor didn’t work, so we had to return to the van to get another.

   As we entered the bayou, the weather began to deteriorate. A cell phone message warned us NOT to get too far away from the put-in point.

   Ken and I moved to a couple of spots that looked like good habitat. Our plan was so sit and try very hard not to move in hope that an Ivory-bill would come to us.

   At the first spot, we had had several of the usual species approach, but nothing interesting. At one point I heard an interesting sound reminding me of Ivory-bill KENT calls. Later I determined that most likely it was the sound of Wood Duck wings as they took off. The sound was distant and distorted by wind.

   After about an hour at our second spot it began to rain lightly and looked like it would get worse. As we headed back, thunder boomed over our heads. According to the weatherman, it was a narrow band of thundershowers, so we decided to wait it out and return to the bayou. There is no point in looking during the rain because woodpeckers have enough sense to come in out of the rain. They enter their tree cavities and wait for things to improve. After about an hour, the rain stopped and we returned to the bayou and resumed waiting and watching in good habitat. I managed to get a little video of a Pileated Woodpecker that approached our canoe.

   At another point, a Red-shouldered Hawk circled screaming his Blue Jay-like call for all to hear.

   Ken and quietly speculated that life in the swamps and bayous could be hard for Ivory-billed Woodpeckers. Over the two weeks we had observed many Raccoons, Barred Owls, and Red-shouldered Hawks. All of these guys would be more than happy to dine on woodpecker. Squirrels and Flying Squirrels would have no problem eating bird eggs from a tree cavity. In warm weather, Black Snakes often climb trees in search of eggs and nestlings.

   However, these are all dangers that Ivory-bills have faced throughout time. They must be well adapted to deal with such dangers. What they can’t deal with is habitat destruction. Around World War II, the last of the great swamp forests was cut by the Singer Corporation. An effort was made to purchase the famous Singer Tract in Louisiana where Ivory-bills and many other species such as panthers were making a last stand. The efforts to purchase the land was rebuffed and the great forests were cut.

   The greatest threat the birds face now is partly caused by their extremely shy nature. If searchers fail to obtain unequivocal images of living Ivory-bills, this lack of “proof” will probably become a justification to abandon efforts to save the birds.

   There are powerful interests waiting on the sidelines to extract resources from public lands. Logging was stopped on the refuge when the Ivory-bills were found. (Yes, the government sells natural resources on National Wildlife Refuges. There is big money in timber harvests in the Big Woods.) Politics, money and human greed are threats Ivory-bills are ill-adapted to confront. There was talk of a pork barrel water pumping project that would affect the swamp ecosystem and Ivory-bill habitat.

   While our experience in Arkansas led us to believe without question that Ivory-bills live. Proof will be almost impossible to obtain. The average sighting lasts only a few seconds. In those brief seconds, one must power up a camera, train it on the bird, zoom the lens to the max, and snap the photo. It is impossible to do with a flying bird…impossible.

   The Big Woods has the highest density of Pileated Woodpeckers ever measured. All the searchers saw several every day. The last few days to the search, I attempted to photograph Pileated Woodpeckers. I could get a photo on less than 10 per cent of the birds I observed. Pileated Woodpeckers are tame compared to Ivory-bills. However, Pileated Woodpeckers flee the instant they become aware of humans. Often they move to the far side of a tree and drop off to fly away with the tree blocking your view.

   Now, in the Big Woods of Arkansas, the world is getting a second chance to save the largest woodpecker in North America…The Lord God Bird. People should not let the short-term greed of a few take away this second chance. The spin doctors of the media are already starting to mold a scientific debate over the quality of the proof into an excuse to deny the bird’s existence. Make no mistake; there is big money for a few people riding on the existence of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker.

   What is sad is that the Big Woods area is economically depressed. A healthy population of Ivory-bills has long term potential to help the area by attracting additional tourism. It already has. Most of the local folks we with spoke with seem to understand that finding the Ivory-bill will help the economy of their region. However, most of those folks are of modest means and in no position to influence the policies of federal agencies or purchase favorable laws. Don’t let politics and greed take away our second chance to save the Lord God Bird.

Gordon & Ken’s Ivory-billed Woodpecker Search Adventure

Dispatch #14

March 2, 2007

   Our last day was an early riser. We were on the road headed for the White River by 5:15 a.m. It was a cold frosty morning. At about 6:15 we launched the boat for a COLD half-hour ride to the drop-off point.

   Due to high water, we were dropped off farther away from our assigned area than anticipated. For me it turned into a 3 kilometer march in chest waders to reach the assigned area. To add insult to injury, I the destination was directly east so I had to walk directly toward the rising sun. Visibility was poor.

   By the time I arrived at the recommended area, I had relatively little time on site before having to make the return hike.

   Along the way, a Barred Owl landed nearby and almost cooperated for a photo.

   This was the final day of the adventure. No Ivory-bills were sighted, however Ken found an outstanding cavity that met all the Ivory-bill criteria.

   Gordon and Ken are still willing to give programs about this experience seeking the rarest of birds. We were honored join the search team. The other volunteers and staff are a great group of dedicated people. The experience has been rewarding and successful beyond our wildest dreams.

   Searching for Ivory-bills is physically demanding, but emotionally rewarding. Our time in Arkansas has been the experience of a lifetime.

   The Ivory-billed Woodpecker lives! The few and the fortunate may find one in the Big Woods of Arkansas.

The Sighting-by Ken Schlegel

Location: Arkansas Swamp, February 23, 07, 10 a.m.

   Standing in swamp with my back to the sun. From south a bird flies in a straight flight pattern heading due north. Lands in right fork of hickory tree approximately 40-45 yards away. Large woodpecker, red crest, black, white, black. Bird goes behind trunk. Bird flies to left trunk approximately 15 feet revealing white tips to wing feathers. Bird comes into sight from left side of trunk. Pecking away, bird reveals black chin. Continuing to feed, the bird faces away with it’s back revealed. Large woodpecker, red crest, black back, large white V (tips of wing feathers), black tail feathers. Bird drops off trunk and flies due north in a straight flight pattern revealing trailing white wing feathers. We got us an Ivory billed Woodpecker. Sighting: approximately 30-35 seconds.

  Ken is modest about his sighting. We were separated by about 100 yards. He called me over the walkie-talkie. When I arrived, Ken was looking down, walking in circles and talking to himself. His hands were visibly shaking. Since we both needed to see the bird for the sighting to officially count for Cornell’s scientific papers I followed the bird in the direction Ken indicted. I was quickly cut off by deep water.

Ken sat down to write his field notes before the details could fade or be distorted by talking with others. When he finished his notes and report, he brought the canoe so we could follow the bird. However, Ken’s blood sugar dropped when the adrenaline rush wore off so we had to sit on a log for an early lunch. That was when the bobcat walked past.

   Upon returning to the put-in place, we discovered that Mel Boring saw an Ivory-bill just after they put in. Ronnie Smith heard it call the distinctive “KENT.” It is interesting to note that their sighting corresponds with a possible earlier sighting by Ken and me. That sighting was so brief that we would not have reported it. For that sighting, I saw a large woodpecker with possible white drop off a tree trunk. It was backlit and brief. I told Ken to look in that direction and he had a second similar brief sighting. As we entered the woods where Ken saw the Ivory-bill, we were actually joke with each other that these brief glimpses would be the only possible encounter in our two week adventure.