Here's a snippet:
[Brown's] show features interviews with such guests as Tim Gallagher, one of the birders who may have rediscovered the ivory-billed woodpecker, a bird long thought extinct. ''Talkin' Birds" has also addressed the controversy of that sighting, one in which Brown believes.
''These guys are experts," says Brown. Although skeptics say the so-called ivory-billed woodpecker was actually the more common pileated woodpecker, Brown disagrees. ''They've probably seen 5,000 pileated woodpeckers. When they saw this bird they almost fell out of their canoe. They were crying afterward."
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15 comments:
Some time ago Tom Nelson discussed the parallels to Piltdown.
For a while the Carpinterio Real felt that this was going to go down the same path - eventually the chimp jaw would be discovered and the discoverers would have to admit that they were wrong.
The Carpinterio opines that at this point there will be no chimp jaw moment for Fitz et. al. The moment came, the moment went.
It is perfectly respectable to say "well yes the video is poor, but TWO competent observers saw the bird and fell down in tears".
Fitz has moved on, his CV emphasizes scrub jays and the amazon. His message is an evangelical message. Themes of "save the world" are messianic in nature.
The press has no interest in the forensics of 33.3, in the total lack of any physical evidence to support the proposition that the bird exists.
It is totally acceptable to believe as Ray Brown does. There is no sanction against believing that there are IBWO in AR.
Even Tom Nelson himself says that "he wants to believe" (in his profile statement) ... that is how close the believers and skeptics are.
The bird was seen, but failure to provide physical proof in no way changes the fact that people have fallen down in tears upon their encounter with the lord god bird.
This is the definition of "faith based ornithology"
Yes, The Carpinterio Real, is right. The public can continue to believe. After all, there are still many alien UFO believers.
But Fitz, I submit, will have much bigger problems. Scientists are ambitious, back-stabbing human beings. They love nothing better than to climb the bones of colleagues to get ahead.
Fitz will always be the fellow with that Science "bigfoot" article. Let's face it. Other than some birder crazies and young biologists, no one believes that the Luneau video is an IBWO. No one believes that anyone is seeing IBWOs in this country.
That is what Fitz is facing. Science will crush him. But not rapidly. Just one snide comment at a time.
Yes, April has brought us laughs, but I have a feeling May will be the official silly season. Buckle up folks. It's going to be a fun ride.
These threats of "scientists" somehow punishing Fitz et al. are hollow.
Fitz heads the CLO, unless the media turn on him he will retire the head of CLO - you can't falsify the testimony of Gallagher and Harrison and the physical evidence has been allowed to stand as a matter of "professional dispute" - that is to say that Fitz et. al are entitled to say that this chimp jaw is a new species of homonid ancestor.
There will be no official record of what 33.3 shows ... if Fitz et al say IBWO in 33.3 then IBWO it is.
Get it?
They have "proof" all the skeptics have is a different "view" of the proof.
Untill it can be shown that the proof isn't there. Fitz et al have nothing to fear.
People it is time to go home. We're done. Sibley came, Sibley went and all it did was add one word to the history of this story.
That is "might" as in Fitz et al. might have documented an IBWO.
that is as far as it is going to go unless 33.3 falls for the underwing that it is.
I'm going to cry
I'll tell you why
it's got to do
with Fitz that's who
His ivory bill
is seen until
the camera comes on
then it's gone
Also, may I suggest, that Fitz has a coveted job. There are lots of people who want it.
What is the deal with the fascination on crying? "They were crying aftwards." Forget the blurry video. The crying is now evidence of the existance of the IBWO.
Some people cry if they see Mother Mary in a piece of toast ... or Jesus in a water stain ... perhaps we should start calling that 'evidence' of something or other.
No. Scientists won't gang up and "punish" Fitz. That's not how it's done.
It's done with the loss of respect. Even a subtle loss of respect for ideas, cooperation, etc.
Trust me. Scientists are brutal. But usually not in front of your face. Instead, you begin to feel like a lone indian among the cowboys.
It's true that scientists can be brutal with their colleagues. I've been studying the natural history of endangered species for a long time now and I could give you lots of examples where scientists failed completely and some passionate amateurs or illiterate natives knew more of a species and led more effectively to its rediscovery than these arrogant academics did.
Michael (m.strobl4@chello.at)
Whoever is promoting this idea that "scientists" will punish Fitz for doing bad science must assume that the man's reputation is based on science.
The man's reputation is based on reputation.
Someone please post a picture of the CLO building pre Fitz and post Fitz and then explain how "science" had anything to do with that?
You don't get buildings like that built because you know how to do "activity studies".
Remember when the IBWO was still secret, and the Lunneau video only had one interpretation? Back then Fitz could get private jet rides to Brinkley.
That isn't science my dear Skeptics that is the ability to enlist people with lots of money to your cause.
Until the man can't make the money flow ... it doesn't matter what "scientists" think.
Who do you think pays the scientists?
No, we must not be so cynical. You are right to point out that a lot of the CLO is not science. It's "big environmentalism". And I say that without being judgmental.
But I'm talking about the science of Ornithology that Fitz represents. This is real. And it is science. And Fitz will have to pay for subverting it.
The Carpinterio disagrees that there will be ANY price to pay.
He does agree that the CLO is not an "academic" institution, you can't slip a piece of paper between what these organizations say they do:
The Lab is a nonprofit membership institution whose mission is to interpret and conserve the earth's biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds.
Audubon's mission is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity.
National Wildlife Federation inspires Americans to protect wildlife for our children's future.
The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive.
The Sierra Club mission is to educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment.
These groups say and "do" things all the time that bear no relation to reality ... they are like churches in the sense that no one can objectively critique their theology ... it is taboo in our society.
If society (the media) will not bring Fitz et. al to account for 33.3 (and if it hasn't happened by now it isn't going to happen) - then there is no accountability for groups who seek to "interpret" the world for us.
Fitz et. all have "interpreted" that there are IBWO in AR.
Case closed.
The Carpinterio is a reasoned person. He has done his homework on enviro organizations (god bless them).
But you have only half the equation. Fitz also plays in the field of science. And it is in that field that, oh yes, he will pay a price.
You can already hear ugly sniping. Listen carefully for the hum of disdain and the backbiting that all scientists are capable of.
Fitz is toast. But not by the high Broil setting. No he's in the crock pot low setting. Ouch!!
Carpinterio Real said:
"The bird was seen!!!!!!!"
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Correction! A Bird was maybe seen that maybe was said to maybe a Ivorybill & a bird was caught for 7 seconds on a blurry video tape that was stated to maybe be the bird that maybe was seen and sound bites were recorded that were said to maybe be from the bird in question, but maybe from other birds maybe also. We have numerous sightings from people who say they saw the bird, maybe! But as of today, the one thing that has been seen or heard maybe for sure is nothing!
If maybe is all one needs to mantain faith based ornithology, then these people have all they need & then some. Maybe's are the root of all great discovery's, but in real science, maybe's must be replaced with positive proof. The problem here is maybe's are still driving the issue when proof positive should have replaced at least a few of the maybe's. As to date it is still totally maybe's!
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