Orthological celebration: 60 years after being designated as an extinct species in the USA, a rare species of woodpecker resurrected and surprised researchers
James Gorman, Haaretz, Walla News!
Ivory-billed Woodpecker. The largest in the USA, with a wingspan of 75 cm
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The ivory-billed woodpecker, considered a long-extinct species, was spotted more than a year ago in a swamp near the Cache River Wildlife Refuge in Arkansas, but the announcement of its discovery was made public by scientists only last Thursday, after the discovery was finally confirmed.
Ornithologists, government agencies and conservation organizations, who took part in the rediscovery of the woodpecker, avoided revealing the details of the discovery for more than a year, during which they tried to confirm the discovery definitively and protect the bird's habitat. The announcement they made on Thursday was received with great joy among bird lovers, for whom the ivory-billed woodpecker is considered the "holy grail" bird. It was also called the "God" bird, apparently because this is the surprised exclamation that came out of the mouths of those who encountered the woodpecker.
The ivory-billed woodpecker is considered the largest woodpecker in the US. The wingspan of the woodpecker reaches about 75 cm, its feathers are black and white, and the male has a crimson feather crest. The 18th century American orthologist and painter, John James Audubon, described the ivory-billed woodpecker as "the great leader of the woodpecker tribe".
The rediscovered woodpecker used to be a bird that dominated the forested area in the south of the country. But the number of its specimens dwindled due to deforestation in the area, and the last specimen of this species was photographed in Louisiana in 1944. The efforts to protect it from extinction were among the first conservation attempts in US history. The lack of success of the attempts made the ivory-billed woodpecker a symbol of failure.
However, the ivory-billed woodpecker survived like a ghost. Several people claimed to have seen him, and rumors of his existence clouded the stories. Although many research expeditions have been in the area, no sightings have been confirmed until February 11, 2004. On that day, Gene Sparling, a resident of the area who was visiting the Cache River Preserve, saw a great red-crested woodpecker.
Tim Gallagher of the Orthology Laboratory at Cornell University saw Sperling's report on a website, in which Sperling described a kayaking trip. Within two weeks, Sperling, Gallagher and his colleague Robbie Harrison went canoeing in the reserve. Gallagher prepared for a week's journey, but after only one night, on February 27, the two explorers saw a large woodpecker flying in front of their canoe.
The two researchers wrote separate reports on the bird and compared the reports. The comparison verified the assessment, according to which the two saw a woodpecker that is considered an extinct species. Harrison was stunned by the discovery. He started sobbing excitedly and repeated: "I saw an ivory-billed woodpecker." Gallagher was also shocked. "I couldn't get a word out of my mouth," he said.
Gallagher convinced Dr. John Fitzpatrick, director of the laboratory at Cornell, to go on a new expedition. The expedition discovered seven more woodpeckers and even recorded one of them on video. The researchers analyzed the size and flight form of the recorded bird, and confirmed that it was an ivory-billed woodpecker.
Fitzpatrick, who headed the team of scientists, said at a press conference in Washington that "this is the most fascinating creature we could imagine discovering." Fitzpatrick was joined by the US Secretary of the Interior, Gail Norton, who announced that her office, together with the US Department of Agriculture, offered to invest ten million dollars in research, protection and legislation to protect the woodpecker. Also, conservation organizations bought land in the reserve area to expand its area.
However, researchers so far have proof of only one ivory-billed woodpecker item. No one wants to think about the possibility that this is a lone woodpecker. If this is the last ivory-billed woodpecker, the discovery seems to be more bitter than sweet.
For news on the subject at the BBC
They know endangered animals
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