CONSERVATION CORNER
Protocol Established To Report Ivory-billed Sightings
by James L. Cummins

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology recently announced the establishment of an e-mail address (ivorybill@cornell.edu) and associated web site (http://www.birds.cornell.edu/ivory/story17.htm) to report sightings of the rediscovered ivory-billed woodpecker.

"Since the announcement in April that the ivory-billed woodpecker was confirmed at Arkansas' Cache River National Wildlife Refuge, we've had numerous calls reporting sightings," said Sam Hamilton, Southeast Regional Director for the Service. "We need to gather information so biologists can explore any promising leads."

Because the ivory-billed woodpecker looks very similar to the more common pileated woodpecker, biologists urge the public to carefully review the information on the web site, including range maps, habitat descriptions, field marks and photos of both birds, before reporting sighting information.

People who believe they've seen an ivory-billed woodpecker should go to http://www.birds.cornell.edu/ivory/story17.htm, fill out the form and send it to ivorybill@cornell.edu. Those without internet access may request the form by calling (800) 843-2473.

"We've had reports of ivory-billed woodpeckers in people's backyards from Michigan to Maine," said Ron Rohrbaugh of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. "These observations are well outside of the ivory-bill's historic range, but even within the range it's unlikely that someone would encounter one in their backyard. Rather, the birds sighted in these situations are almost certainly pileated woodpeckers. We urge the public to carefully study the differences between the two woodpeckers before reporting a sighting. This will help us focus on those reports that are most credible."

The Service has established a second e-mail address, ivorybill@fws.gov, where the public can submit questions or comments about the recovery of the ivory-billed woodpecker. The public may also write the Service at 1875 Century Boulevard, Atlanta, GA 30345.

The Service and Cornell Lab of Ornithology will work closely with partners throughout the Southeast to investigate credible reports of ivory-billed woodpeckers.

The partners hope that hunters, birders, hikers, kayakers and others who spend time exploring the bottomland hardwood swamps of the Southeast may be able to help in the search for the bird.

"It was kayaker Gene Sparling that led us to the confirmed Cache River Refuge sighting," said John Fitzpatrick, director of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. "We hope that more ivory-billed woodpeckers are out there, just waiting to be seen."

James L. Cummins is Executive Director of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation in Stoneville, Mississippi. Known as "Wildlife Mississippi," the Foundation is a non-profit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi. Their web site is www.wildlifemiss.org.