http://www.birdingamerica.com/Ivory...dwoodpecker.htm
Now, go find that woodpecker
I was at my parents getting some images the other day and was shooting a Redheaded Woodpecker. I described it to my Dad as I was shooting and he commented that he saw it frequently. I let him look in the Extend-A-View and he said that this was not the bird he had been seeing. He said the one he was referring to was larger, had the white shield on the back but had a red crest. I wanted to identify the one I was shooting so I got a book. My dad was looking with me and he pointed out the Ivory-Bill Woodpecker as the one he has been seeing. I got home and looked up this bird and according to what I have read, the last confirmed sightining was in the 1940s in North Louisiana, right next door to where we are located.
My sister lives about 100 yards from my parents. I was chatting on yahoo with her and mentioned that I wanted to get some woodpecker shots. She said there was a Pileated Woodpecker that came to the woods between our parents and her house. I didnt mention anything and snapped a shot from my guide that showed the pileated and ivory-bill. The names were not visible. She messaged back and said "it is the pilleated with the white on its back, the one on the left" , which is the Ivory Bill.
Would this be a significant find or has there been a change in the status of the ivory-bill that I am not aware of? Regardless I am going to visit often and try to get a photo. I asked my sister to try to get a shot for me when she sees it again.
It would definitley be a significant find and if you were able to photograph it, you would be famous in the bird world! There was a very ambitious expedition in search of the Ivory Billed several months ago. They got some audio recordings that they thought might be ivory billeds drumming, but it turned out that the sounds were gun shots. Here is a link to a really good website that has tons of info about the ivory-billed:
http://www.birdingamerica.com/Ivory...dwoodpecker.htm
Now, go find that woodpecker
This would be the most significant find in N. Am ornithology in recent times. Enormous amounts of time and money have gone into trying to find this species in recent years, it is currently presumed extinct. A photograph would probably provide you with enough revenue to retire on!
Spud