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Type of bind: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 598.72
EAN num: 9780195323467
ISBN number: 0195323467
Label: Oxford University Press, USA
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 272
Printing Date: March 22, 2007
Publishing house: Oxford University Press, USA
Sale Popularity Level: 112891
Studio: Oxford University Press, USA
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Product Description:
The last documented sighting of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker--one of the rarest and most intriguing animals in the world--was noted over 50 years ago. Long thought to be extinct, the 2005 announcement of a sighting in Arkansas sparked tremendous enthusiasm and hope that this species could yet be saved. But the subsequent failure of a massive search to relocate Ivorybills in Arkansas made hope for the species' revival short-lived.
Here, noted ornithologist Geoffrey Hill tells the story of how he and two of his colleagues stumbled upon what may be a breeding population of Ivory-billed Woodpeckers in the swamps of northern Florida. He relates their laborious attempts to document irrefutable evidence for the existence of this shy, elusive bird following the failure of a much larger research team to definitively prove the bird's existence.
Hill tells of his travails both in and out of the vast swamp wilderness, pulling back the curtain to reveal the little-seen political maneuvering that is part of all modern science. He explains how he and his group decided who to exclude or include as their findings came in, and why they felt the need to keep their search a secret. Hill returns repeatedly to how expectations can guide observations, and how tempting it is to oversell evidence in the face of the struggle between an overwhelming desire to find the bird and the need to retain integrity and objectivity.
Written like a good detective story, Ivorybill Hunters also delves into the science behind the rediscovery of a species, explaining how professional ornithologists follow up on a sight record of a rare bird, and how this differs from the public's perception of how scientists actually work. Hill notes the growing role of amateurs in documenting bird activity and discusses how the community of birders and nature lovers can see, enjoy, and help preserve these birds.
Ivorybill Hunters will prove a fascinating read for those with an interest in natural history, adventure, environmental conservation, and science, as well as the more than forty-six million Americans who now call themselves birdwatchers.
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Rated by buyers 
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I BOUGHT THIS BOOK FOR MY HUSBAND (TED), WHO HAS GONE ON TWO GREAT ADVENTURES LOOKING FOR THIS MYSTERY BIRD, ONCE IN ARK. AND ONCE IN FL.
TED SAID THE BOOK WAS A STEP BY STEP TAIL OF WHAT HE AND HIS FRIEND
(GREG)EXPERIENCED,SAME LOCATION (IN FLORIDA).ALTHOUGH GREG HEARD THE BIRD HE NEVER SAW IT.
I AM SO SURE THERE WILL BE ANOTHER ADVENTURE SOME WHERE IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
JEAN num/DEVOTED WIFE
Rated by buyers 
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No one was more excited by the possible ivorybill rediscovery than I was back in 2004. When I read that headline, I am quite sure that I jumped a mile out of my seat, and will always remember where I was at the time! But I also believed that any day, within a week, a month, a year, or whatever, some indisputable evidence would be presented, yet sadly this never seems to have occurred. To be sure, in this book Dr. Hill does everything but take us by the hand to the exact place where his team made their sightings, and we are shown various pictures of huge possible nest holes in some trees that conceivably could be the work of ivorybills. But the general public, as well as people like myself who, quite frankly, have only dreamed of seeing that bird for their entire lives without daring to believe it might be possible, deserve a little more convincing evidence than just word of mouth to keep their hopes alive for the bird's possible survival.
Die-hard fans of this flamboyant bird, myself included, can just never quite relinquish the romantic hope of being able to walk into a patch of the bird's swampy forest habitat one quiet evening, and to encounter one of these creatures, gazing balefully down with its big orange eyes from its perch high up on a moss-draped branch of a giant baldcypress tree. However, it is important to realize that this species has, or had, some strict habitat requirements that were seriously compromised when its primeval forest home was literally cut out from under it. If there are actually any survivors, therefore, these may be too spooked to show themselves to any but the most persevering and dedicated observer, one who can literally blend into the natural scene without being detected.
If we wish to understand some of nature's greatest secrets, we must very first realize that there are some things that exist within their own special worlds and simply cannot be tamed without destroying them. Even at this late date, therefore, it is quite encouraging that the importance of conserving and restoring the natural habitats of rare creatures like this, as well as the creatures themselves, is finally being recognized. Let us hope that somewhere a few of these birds actually did manage to survive, but even if not, we might be able to gain some consolation from the idea that scientists of the future might find a way to restore the species from the DNA in museum specimens, certainly a far-fetched idea by today's standards, but then today's routine scientific accomplishments would have been considered pure fantasy not so long ago.
Rated by buyers -
After the discouraging results at relocating (finding) the Ivory-billed Woodpecker in Arkansas in 2005 this book is a welcome source of optimistic news. Professor Hill is a good writer and his account of Auburn University's search for Ivory-billed Woodpeckers in Florida is a satisfying read not just for the possible good news but also as an enjoyable vicarious adventure into the cypress tupelo forest where the birds may be found.
There may not be the glossy 8x10 picture of an Ivory-billed Woodpecker at its nest cavity yet but read this and you will be encouraged. In addition to the exciting accounts of encounters with Ivory-bills, their drumming and calls, I found the details of foraging sites and the specific Ivory-billed fibre peeling method and bill adaptation of interest.
The author and search group have a website and will continue to update sightings there. This book will give you the background on the discovery and exploration of the impressive cypress/tupelo/oak forest along the Choctawhatchee River that may be a refuge of the Ivory-billed and a source for more good news to come.
Rated by buyers -
I think this book needs to be reviewed on two levels: very first is this a good, honest, readable book, and then second is their credible evidence for the Ivorybilled woodpecker presented?
Dr. Hill writes in an open manner that makes the account of the search readable. There are stories of alligators, a stolen kayak, and almost being lost in a remote area. I think he is honest in presenting what he thinks he saw and his motives ... I don't think if he was being open, he would state that his group a panther in North Florida (they are not known to occur there). He also is willing to state his motives, even if not completely honorable (to do a better job that the Cornell team and to have a southern team find a southern bird). On this account, it is ironic that he criticized Cornell on their evidence, when he offers little more. In one short chapter, whose purpose seems to increase his own credibility, he dismisses the experience of locals (who had never reported them) as well as the more systematic Florida Breeding Bird Atlas. Hill is quite open about mistakes made and opportunities missed.
As a book (and his published scientific article) that tries to present evidence it is not all that convincing (and he himself states this is not proof). As Carl Sagan said "Extraordinary claims requires extraordinary proof". Although he argues that the Ivorybilled in Florida are different than those that were in the Singer tract, he does not seem willing to accept that Pileated Woodpeckers may have variability in cavity size or behavior. The circle showing the ivory billed on page 232 could be any grey and white (however somewhat better images are published on the Auburn web site). The reader is really left with little evidence to examine other than the word of a few good observers. The reader is also left to ponder, whether Hill rushed to publish this book and findings, just as he criticized the Cornell team. For the skeptic there are some nice blogs on the Ivorybill as well as important paper by Jerome Jackson.
Rated by buyers 
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A very detailed
account of a search for Ivorybills in a north Florida river swamp, which led me to believe that the author and his crew had in fact found a breeding population of these woodpeckers; the author certainly seems convinced of this. Both he and his students seem to have convincing expertise on the identification of this species, although they failed to obtain absolute proof in the form of videos and photos, due to the great difficulties involved and their admitted lack of expertise with cameras. They did obtain many minutes of sound recordings which were quite convincing to outside experts. All in all, a very interesting and encouraging account of a search for these birds in what remains of wild America. I recommend it.
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