An excerpt from this
link:
Harrison, who has seen the elusive ivory-bill six times now (most recently in February), is raising money for full-time search efforts through the Ivory Billed Woodpecker Foundation.
Update: Regarding his foundation, here's a paragraph from a Birder's World
article:
BH: That's right. We'd like to be able to fund whatever cost it takes to have somebody, say, go into the Pascagoula River drainage system [in southeastern Mississippi] and work. But to be able to work full-time is the goal. My goal is to be able to raise $1.5 million in the next year and a half. In 10 years, have over $10 million and work off the principal because that would give a salary and a research budget for different locations. And I want the foundation to outlive me.
Regarding search costs, here's an excerpt from Geoff Hill's
site:
We are currently taking applications for full-time searchers for the 2006/2007 field season. The minimum time commitment is January 2 to May 30, 2007. Searchers willing to work through Christmas and New Year holidays are also especially needed. Stipend is $1200/mo with no benefits. Anyone willing to join the full-time search without receiving a stipend will get special consideration. Searchers will live in a remote camp in a tent or in a bunkhouse and must purchase their own food.
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6 comments:
Sure he has. A good definition of a True Believer is someone who knows the recent history of the "rediscovery" and still believes Bobby.
Profs at Oakwood, where Bobby has been for 24 years, earn about $44K annually. So just how much does Bobby need to have full-time searches take place?
Is this money for him or for hiring someone? Anyone know what the CLOWNs (Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology Woodpecker Naturalists) get paid for field time?
Do they get extra if they agree to wear the camo?
"and it makes sense that this is a disaster species"
Well if it was not a disaster species before 2005 then it certainly is now.
If I were a potential donor to Bobby's efforts I would want to know what date he has set for calling it quits because no irrefutable proof has been found.
Someone selling a ten-year business plan for a search for a species that hasn't been seen in over 60 years may not feel the need to visit reality too often, but it would seem like donors would like the establishment of some benchmarks of "success".
He may be able to find enough folks in Alabama who have made a killing in catfish or NASCAR (and who also retain the diminutive of their first name into adulthood) to help him reach his goal. But you can't think that many people in the pool of conservation donors will want to participate.
And I love how he maligns Cornell and Auburn in his interview. The maxim about "honor among thieves" apparently flew out the window with the last IBWO.
"Searchers willing to work through Christmas and New Year holidays"
The bird hasn't been found for 63 years, so why the great urgency?
Crytozoology should be fun. We all enjoy a good Nessie hunt, but it become pathological when searchers are encouraged to neglect their families and friends in pursuit of a non-existent or defunct creature.
Snake oil salesman.
"Anyone willing to join the full-time search without receiving a stipend will get special consideration"
In other words, if your time is judged to be worthless, even by you, then you are just who we are looking for. Worthless observers are perfect for making worthless observations.
And we would hate to have anyone feel pressured (by financial reimbursement for their time) to say they encountered something "interesting".
If people start thinking there is a connection between sightings and funding then no one would be able to trust anyone's word. Think what something like that could do to ornithology and conservation science.
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