Brian Rolek, one of the Auburn researchers, was the first to spot the bird. Later he was one of two people to spend months upon months in the swamps of the river, watching and waiting for the bird.A few reasons that I'm extremely skeptical of that last sentence:
It paid off. One reason he was able to see the ivory-billed woodpecker on a number of occasions is because he almost never saw any humans or evidence of them.
1. Hill et al supposedly saw their first Ivory-bill within an hour of launching their boats.
2. On Hill's own website, we see this caption (about six pictures from the bottom, left side):
House boats, or more accurately floating houses, are a common sight on the river, used by locals as hunting and fishing camps.3. The rumored search area is not very remote.
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This article seems to be more a knock against Alabama's environmental stewardship than it really is about the Ivory Bill.
In this case, I think both Tom and the Anniston Star are correct.
You would have thought Alabama's hunters and fishermen could have saved a little habitat.
Whoa, Jennifer Anniston is interested in the hunt for the IBWOs? Things just got a whole lot more interesting! Maybe I will head over to the Chocatawhatchamacallithachee afterall.
My Two Cents
The most recent flareup of IBWO-hysteria (1999 to present) will hopefully put to rest once and for all:
1. How efficiently we short-sighted humans drove the IBWO to extinction. [And, no, I'm not anti-IBWO or hopeful that it is extinct- I'm just not in denial like all the believers.]
2. That sight records, even by "experienced observers," aren't worth crap. That so many "experts" have blown it so often on something like IBWO doesn't bode well for the accuracy of sight records involving more difficult-to-identify species.....
It paid off. One reason he was able to see the ivory-billed woodpecker on a number of occasions is because he almost never saw any humans or evidence of them.
Hard to tell if this is the editorial writer's conclusion (based on a misunderstanding or lack of interest in the facts) or if it's paraphrasing something Rolek told the editorial writer (in which case we see, once again, evidence that the IBWO peddlers are having difficulty keeping their stories straight).
Here's a post by cyberthrush that basically admits that there is no hard proof for the existence of Ivory-billeds. Then he goes on a rant about skeptics not wanting Ivory-billed existence to be proven, yada-yada-yada.
His comparison of Sagan's belief in extrasterrestrials and Ivory-billeds is worth the read. Got to love the quote:
"Fa-a-a-ar more evidence exists for IBWOs than for extraterrestrials."
Wooooowwww! I had no idea.
Another interesting post by cyberthrush listing the top dozen places to look for Ivory-billeds.
Looks like Arkansas has fallen 4th place. Wasn't that the place where the true believers said a certain video proved the existence of IBWO? Where there were lots of great sight records?
What happened? How could that be the epicenter of evidence and now not even be in the top 3 places to search?
This time in 2007, will Florida be replaced by Louisianna or Texas? Will Arkansas slip even further?
Or (and I think it's still possible, though getting less probable each year), will somebody finally nail one of these things down.
Damn, Tom! You seem to have really gotten under the skin of the True Believers lately. A post on Laura Erickson's blog compares you to Ishmael in Moby Dick.
Both cyberthrush and Laura go after you in just 2 days. Do you think there is some frustration at the disappointing quality of much of the Florida evidence?
Is there nervousness among the believers that yet another field season won't turn up anything concrete?
Are they starting to realize that cinclodes and tmguy (a.k.a. Mr. Guppy) are just plain nuts?
The majority of posters here have no fear of either outcome, but every year without proof must really be wearing on the true believers.
Little know fact - Laura and Cyberthrush are married and are, indeed, the same person.
Cyberthrush
more likely certain cynics (they know who they are) would be chagrined and galled at the confirmation of this species and the skewering/spoiling of their personal credibility --- their judgments (on endangered species at least) being reduced to naivete.
Actually we skeptics have already agreed to commit mass suicide if the IBWO is found. We know we could never ever live with the humiliation of being wrong about the IBWO's extinction.
But don't worry, pd -- a portion of my estate is already set aside for you, should that occur.
Little know fact - Laura and Cyberthrush are married and are, indeed, the same person.
Worst comment ever.
"Worst comment ever. "
Alright! I'm a winner!
"Little know fact - Laura and Cyberthrush are married and are, indeed, the same person."
I saw a Nova program entitled "I am my own twin". You mean kind of like that?
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