I just checked MDOsprey while taking a break from
reading Tim Gallagher's book "The Grail Bird".  The
book is a very good read.

I've read a number of posts on various birding lists
encouraging birders not to go to Arkansas.  I don't
really have an opinion on it.  I can see how it might
hurt the bird and its habitat.  But I suppose if
managed properly it might help through ecotourism.
I don't know.

Anyway, the idea of donating the cost of the trip to
TNC seems very good.  On the Arkansas listserv
somebody suggested some sort of Ivory-billed stamp,
similar I guess to the Duck Stamp.

I wonder if maybe birders torn between going to
Arkansas and staying away could elect instead to
return to the 1999 Lousiana site and search for the
birds there. Or go to some other locale thought to
have potential as IBW habitat.

I suppose possible habitat damage might be much less
at these other sites since fewer people likely would
be converging on a precise spot at any given time. 
And maybe any short-term habitat damage at these other
sites might be outweighted by the long-term benefit of
finding other birds in other populations. 

I don't know what is going on at the Lousiana site. 
Maybe organized searches are still going on there and
recreational birders are discouraged from visiting. 
Or maybe like with some archeological digs volunteers
are welcome to help in ongoing organized searches in
Louisiana.  I honestly don't know.  But from
Gallagher's book it seems like there are other places
birders might be interested in spending 3-7 days
checking.

Just my 2 cents.  Sorry if this idea has already been
discussed.

Mark W. Miller

Plantation, Florida




		
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