Jerry et al.,

The $10,000 reward is not being offered by the Auburn team. The reward 
is offered by the Nature Conservancy and Arkansas Game and Fish 
Commission. It is specifically for conclusive evidence of ivorybills in 
Arkansas, not Florida.

Cornell was not involved in the Florida discovery, but apparently they 
will be providing audio equipment and technical advice for the search 
this winter. Jerome Jackson was aware of their work, though he himself 
was not a member of the search team. The Anniston Star has more 
commentary from people outside the search team: 
http://www.annistonstar.com/opinion/2006/as-columns-0925-jflemingcol-6i25u1829.htm

John Beetham

Gerald & Laura Tarbell wrote:
> If you have read the article you will realize that $10,000 is being offered
> to anyone who can obtain a picture of the IBWO.  Many, many kooks will race
> down there and ruin whatever habitat is left in order to make an easy (they
> will think) $10,000. I have emailed the agency in Arkansas about this crazy
> idea and everyone else who cares about wildlife should too.
>
> All,
>     The first thing that struck me about the websites was all the wonderful
> pictures these guys have of each other and none of the birds. Then they have
> a page telling birders to stay away. They even say that if they see any
> birders in their study area, they will ask them to leave. But yet they are
> offering a reward for photos?! Sounds contradictory.
>     The other thing that strikes me is that these guys seems to be keeping
> Cornell and all the Arkansas gang at arm's length. Tim Gallagher spoke to us
> just a few months ago and said nothing about this team and their search. Has
> the rest of the scientific community been kept in the dark about this? The
> great Jerome Jackson now teaches in Florida. You would think he'd be all
> over this.
>     Things that make you go HMMMM.
>     Jerry Tarbell
>      Carroll County
>
>   

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John D. Beetham
Washington, DC

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