Funding Flies Away
Tuesday July 7, 2009
Five years ago, a chance sighting of the believed-to-be-extinct ivory-billed woodpecker had birders flocking to the swamps near Brinkley, Arkansas, each one hoping to catch of glimpse of the rare but elusive bird. According to TodaysTHV.com, however, that hope is waning and the Arkansas Nature Conservancy has announced they have no further plans to search for the ivory-billed woodpecker. Cornell University may also abandon search plans, despite having recently authenticated an ivory-billed woodpecker nest near Brinkley.Nearly $11 million has been spent to find a living specimen of this rare bird, but it wasn’t enough for a true sighting. Do you think the search for this amazing bird should be continued, or should it be left to the swamps in peace? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Arkansas Swamp
Photo © Cyndy Sims Parr
Comments
Oh no, I am so disappointed!
In all actuality, it makes more sense for that kind of money to go to caring for birds that are definitely in existence and definitely suffering…
…but I’m still sad because the possibility of a living ivory-billed woodpecker is so very encouraging!
Time to move on. Let’s spend the money more wisely. Can’t wait to see the movie, Ghost Bird. That should answer a lot of nagging questions.
In the end this is sort of a stain on the credibility of science in general and ornithology specifically. Will the next “rare” bird garner such attention from the public or just a passing groan of ‘here we go again?’