Multiple lines of evidence suggest the persistence of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker

Published Ecology and Evolution 18 May 2023

Abstract

The history of the decline of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker is long and complex, but the status of the species since 1944, when the last widely accepted sighting in continental North America occurred, is particularly controversial. Reports of Ivory-billed Woodpeckers have continued, but none has reached the threshold of quality for general acceptance by ornithologists or the birdwatching public. In 2021, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service opened for public comment a proposal to declare the species extinct. Here, we present evidence suggesting the presence of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker at our study site, based on a variety of data collected over a 10-year search period, 2012–2022.

Caption for Image: Comparison of photographs taken of apparent Ivory-billed Woodpeckers in Louisiana from this study (a, d), with a colorized Ivory-billed Woodpecker, also from Louisiana, but taken by Arthur A. Allen in 1935 (b), and a Pale-billed Woodpecker (Campephilus guatemalensis) taken in Central America (c), also from the Allen Collection.



Conclusions

We conclude that multiple lines of compelling evidence suggest that Ivory-billed Woodpeckers persist in our Louisiana study site. Cumulatively, our visual observations, audio files, trail camera photographs, and drone videos, suggest the intermittent but repeated presence of multiple individual birds with field marks and behaviors consistent with those of Ivory-billed Woodpeckers.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ece3.10017

This has been out for a few days. No real stories about the group's findings. Others here with far more experience on this can take a look. It looks like the review of sound data isn't all that promising. Paper has many more figures from trail cameras and drone footage. Not all that great visuals but the birds seem to be trying awfully hard not to be seen.