In some corners of the Internet, people have been castigated for suggesting that we should have some clear photographic proof before declaring that the Ivory-bill lives.
Remember, the late James Tanner said:
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In my own experience, Ivory-bills have not been particularly shy, certainly not noticeably more wary and wild than the Pileated Woodpecker.
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Regardless of a particular bird's wariness, if we glimpse it 8-18 times in a small area and spend tens of thousands of hours trying to refind it, we ought to be able to get a clear photo. In the real word, with other rare species, it happens over and over and over: a rarity is reported, other birders head to the area, relocate it, and get conclusive pictures. Here's one example; many more examples are here.
The Ivory-bill story stands out among all others--for 61 years now, credible Ivory-bill reports have been followed up by diligent searches, and we are now 0-for-61-years in capturing a conclusive photograph. Again, I don't know that the Ivory-bill is extinct, but that seems likely to me.
Tuesday
3 hours ago