Partners Establish Protocol to Report Sightings of Ivory-Billed Woodpecker

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology announce the establishment of an e-mail address (http://www.birds.cornell.edu/ivory/story17.htm) to report sightings of the rediscovered Ivory-billed Woodpecker.

"Since the announcement in April that the Ivory-billed Woodpecker has been confirmed at Arkansas? Cache River National Wildlife Refuge, we?ve had numerous calls reporting sightings," said Sam D. Hamilton, Southeast Regional Director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "We need to gather this information so biologists can explore any promising leads.?

Because the Ivory-billed Woodpecker looks very similar to the more common Pileated Woodpecker, biologists urge the public to carefully review the information on the web site, including range maps, habitat descriptions, field marks, and photos of both birds, before reporting sighting information.

People who believe they?ve seen an Ivory-billed Woodpecker should fill out the form available at http://www.birds.cornell.edu/ivory/story17.htm and send it to

The Service has established a second e-mail address, ivorybill@fws.gov, where the public can submit questions or comments about the recovery of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker. The public may also write to: Ivory-billed Woodpecker Recovery Team Leader, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, 1875 Century Boulevard, Atlanta, GA 30345.

The Service and Cornell Lab of Ornithology will work closely with partners including The Nature Conservancy, state fish and wildlife agencies, and university researchers throughout the Southeast to investigate credible reports of Ivory-billed Woodpeckers.

The partners hope that hunters, birders, hikers, kayakers and others who spend time exploring the bottomland hardwood swamps of the Southeast may be able to help in the search for the bird.

"It was kayaker Gene Sparling that led us to the confirmed Cache River Refuge sighting," said John Fitzpatrick, director of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. "We hope that more Ivory-billed Woodpeckers are out there, just waiting to be seen.?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million- acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 545 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resources offices, and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign and Native American Tribal governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to State fish and wildlife.

The Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology is a non-profit membership institution with the mission to interpret and conserve the earth's biological diversity through research, education, and citizen science focused on birds. From its headquarters at the Imogene Powers Johnson Center for Birds and Biodiversity in Ithaca New York, the Lab leads international efforts in bird monitoring and conservation and fosters the ability of enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels to make a difference.