THE IVORY-BILLED WOODPECKER
(The Vanishing Bird)
Lauren Chun Bio-227 Fall 2017
Ecology and Description:
The Ivory-billed Woodpecker, also known scientifically as Campephilus principalis was originally found in the old forests of the southeastern United States and in Cuba. This bird fed on insects, mainly beetle larvae, and occasionally fruits and nuts. This bird is named after its enormous ivory colored bill that allows them to strip bark from dead trees to get their food (the beetle larvae). To survive, these woodpeckers need a vast habitat of mature, developed forests with many dead trees with bark that can easily be peeled off. Compared to many other woodpeckers, this species cannot fly as well. Their flight is rather strong and direct. There have been few studies of this species, but many ornithologists ( bird experts) believe that the birds are nomadic. This means that they are always in search for new, suitable habitats instead of staying in one location. Ornithologists also speculate that these special woodpeckers may live as long as 20-30 years! This species is so rare to find that, fun fact: it hasn’t had any pictures taken of it since the 1930’s and there are now only a few pictures of it today! Many thought that the species was already extinct years ago! (birds.cornell.edu)
Geography and Population
The Ivory-billed Woodpecker once ranged from east Texas to North Carolina, from southern Illinois through Florida, and south to Cuba. Many believed that there was no longer a population of these birds around anymore, but in 2004 a shocking discovery was made. In 2004, a single male woodpecker was found roaming Cache River National Wildlife Refuge in the Big Woods region of Arkansas. Today, less than 10 percent of Arkansas’ original 8 million acres of forested wetlands remain. Because of the little resources left, it is unknown if the Campephilus principalis are alive and if so, where they dwell. (birds.cornell.edu) Below is how the Big Woods is today. 
Listing Date and Type of Listing:
Since 1944(with no specific date), this species was thought to be critically endangered or even extinct. Currently the Ivory-billed Woodpeckers are listed as “critically endangered” and “possibly extinct” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The American Bird Association lists the Ivory-billed Woodpecker as a class 6 species. This is a category that is defined as “definitely or probably extinct.” Although many believe that this woodpecker no longer exists, it is still an intriguing and ongoing theory. There have been at least 10 recent reported sightings/hearings of the Ivory-billed woodpecker, but no one has officially confirmed any of them. (nrl.navy.mil) Bellow is an image of what some researchers may believe could be an Ivory-billed woodpecker.
Cause of Listing and Main Threats to its Continued Existence
There here has been a reduction of suitable nest trees as well as an indirect destruction of their food source because of scaled logging and conversion of their forest habitats. There were many hunters, trappers, and commercial collectors during this time. The direct hunting and killing of Ivory-billed Woodpeckers could have been the primary cause for their decline. (fws.gov) Although it has been seemingly endangered for a while, no one really counted it as endangered/possibly extinct until the 1960s. This means that there has not really been a huge effort to protect this species as much as there has been for other endangered species. Today, one of the main threats to the species existence is the swampy habitat that these birds are assumed to be located. Because there are no longer mature forests and dead trees for the birds to get beetle larvae from, this species, if it still exists, is in extreme danger.
Description of Recovery Plan
The current strategy is to focus on locating and confirming the presence of individuals.Then, knowledge will be added about the ecology and biology of the species, providing a feasible approach to habitat protection. The goal of this recovery program is to locate, protect, and increase the hopefully existing population until it is no longer endangered or threatened and ultimately removed completely from the Federal list of threatened and endangered species. The total estimated cost of recovering this species is unknown at the time because of the limited knowledge concerning its occurrence, distribution, and long-term actions(fws.gov).
What can you do to help?
Because the existence of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker is unknown, it is difficult to already have ways for the interested citizen to participate in its recovery process. But, something that could always be done is donations. Many different organizations (such as the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the Naval Research Laboratory) and scientists are still trying to find individuals and helping to finance these searches is the current most effective way to help this cause. Another thing you can do is make sure you are always up to date with the search teams evidence and analysis so that you can be aware and inform others around you about this cause. Below are some websites that will help you gain knowledge about the ghost bird: the Ivory-billed Woodpecker.
Citations
“Cornell Lab of Ornithology.” Ecology and Behavior — Ivory-Billed Woodpecker, 1 Nov. 2005, www.birds.cornell.edu/ivory/aboutibwo/life_ivorybill_html.
“Extinct or Not? New Study Claims 'Extinct' Ivory-Billed Woodpecker Is Still Alive.” Fox News, FOX News Network, www.foxnews.com/science/2017/01/25/extinct-or-not-new-study-claims-extinct-ivory-billed-woodpecker-is-still-alive.html.
“NRL Researcher Studies Rare Ivory-Billed Woodpecker.” NRL Researcher Studies Rare Ivory-Billed Woodpecker - U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, www.nrl.navy.mil/media/news-releases/2006/nrl-researcher-studies-rare-ivorybilled-woodpecker.
Great blog! It was very professional looking and each section was summarized really well so that it was easy to read and understand without getting bored or confused. I like that you added in the websites for the "What you can do to help" section. Good job!
ReplyDelete-Amanda Braga
I think it's really cool that you chose a species that there's so little known about (and might not even be around anymore, unfortunately) - you did a great job finding out a lot of information about it and your images were great too! I also like how you mentioned donating to ongoing research as an option to help; it's something that's super quick but can have such a big impact!
ReplyDelete- Cody Capella
It's really interesting that there are so little images on this particular wood pecker species. One would think that with the technological advances this would be the opposite. It just goes to show how our advances have also hindered so many cool species. Good job!
ReplyDelete~Ryanne Browers
I think it is so cool they use their beak in so many different instances. The pictures were great, especially the one with its wings extended. The organization was great and the recovery plan was informative.
ReplyDelete-CB
I think you did a good job at summarizing each category and effectively presented the information. The blog was put together well and presented in a very organized manner.
ReplyDelete-Jackie Campos
This blog was easy to read and follow along with, good job with that! Its so interesting how this bird is so rare that scientists are unsure if it is extinct or not! The additional links were helpful in gaining new insight as well.
ReplyDelete- Ashley Chen
I liked that you included pictures of not just the animal but of its habitat as well. Very interesting choice of animal I was not familiar with it before reading your blog but your blog was very informative and full of information.
ReplyDelete-Andrew Cisterman