Real money

In my opinion, it's important to realize that the Ivory-billed Woodpecker controversy is not just a philosophical debate--there are real-world consequences as well. The general public has been told that the Ivory-bill's rediscovery is a fact, and on that basis, lots of real money is changing hands.

Here, we get an idea of the funding as of April:

----
On April 28, the Interior and Agriculture Departments announced that $10.2 million would be redirected to conservation efforts benefiting this woodpecker’s recovery. This funding is in addition to the $10 million already committed to research and habitat protection efforts by private sector groups and citizens.
----

Take a look at the Ivory Billed Woodpecker Federal Funding Package here.
Some snippets:
---
• Development of species recovery plan and public education materials by the ESA program. $800,000 in 2005 for team formulation, planning, public outreach. 2006 full year cost: $1.2 million.
• USGS research to support recovery planning and to guide other protection and restoration efforts. $500,000 each in 2005 and 2006...
• Enhance refuge law enforcement capability to work with visitors, birders, and hunters on public use/access issues. $300,000 in 2005; $600,000 full year cost in 2006...
• Assign a special agent to work on range-wide protection issues. $200,000 in 2006.
---

Here's an article with some quotes from Sam Hamilton, Southeast Regional Director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service:

----
Hamilton and the commission members were optimistic about the economic impact the rediscovery will have on the Arkansas Delta, saying that Brinkley will become the gateway for bird-driven tourism.

"We want this bird to be the biggest asset that Brinkley, Stuttgart and Augusta ever had," Hamilton said.
-----

Here's another article about the Ivory-bill bringing in cash:
-----
Bill Thompson of Cabot can’t wait for fall, when thousands of bird lovers will descend on the Big Woods of east Arkansas in search of the elusive ivory-billed woodpecker.

Thompson, former chairman of Community Bank of Cabot, is one of the owners of a duck-hunting lodge near Brinkley, and he and his partners are turning it into a lodge for bird watchers.

The Mallard Point Lodge and Reserve can book 60 people at a time, starting in November, when the leaves will fall and the mosquitoes will bug off and visibility will improve. Thompson should have no trouble filling his place, what with ivory-billed woodpecker mania sweeping much of the nation — especially since a couple of skeptical ornithologists who questioned the bird’s existence say they’re no longer doubters.

Bird fanciers will flock down here from all over the world, hoping to spot the regal bird that was considered extinct until a few months ago.

The visitors will fill Thompson’s lodge and motels from Memphis to Little Rock.
Thompson says he’s ready for them.

“We have quite a few people booked in November,” he told us.
----

And another article:

-----
Brinkley - A rare bird sighting has created an economic boost in the city of Brinkley. The recent sightings of the ivory-billed woodpecker have locals cashing in on its popularity.

From ivory-billed cheeseburger's to T-shirts, neighbors in Brinkley say this woodpecker is the biggest thing to hit town.
-----

The Big Woods Conservation Partnership was formed on April 7, 2004. Since April 2005, when Cornell announced that the IBWO lives, I wonder how much money has been donated to this partnership?

Yes, we've got some recent tantalizing glimpses; apparent kents and double-knocks too. Maybe those will result in confirmation in the next year. However, we've had thousands of tantalizing glimpses, kents and double-knocks over the last 61 years, and still no confirmation to this point. I'm not holding my breath.

Cornell's claim has caused real people to shell out real money. Let's say that several more years pass, and we never do get solid confirmation that the IBWO lives. Does anyone think that those people will get full refunds of any money they've spent or donated?