Mission Ivorybill is the leading advocate for the endangered Ivory-billed Woodpecker (the “Ivorybill”). The Ivorybill has rich historical ties with Louisiana. There have been several reported sightings of Ivorybills across the state in recent years. Whether or not the species is extinct is the subject of intense debate.
Confident that the Ivorybill still survives in the deep swamp forests of Louisiana, Mission Ivorybill is greatly encouraged by today’s United States Fish and Wildlife Service (“USFWS” or “the Service”) announcement that the Service is postponing action on the Ivorybill for an additional six months. The Endangered Species Act (the “ESA”) requires the federal government to manage its land to protect all endangered species potentially found on it. On September 30, 2021, USFWS announced a proposal to remove the Ivorybill from ESA protection “due to extinction.”
Mission Ivorybill organizer, Matt Courtman, is a former Louisiana Ornithological Society president who has studied the Ivorybill for over 50 years. Recognizing that the September extinction proposal was contrary to the best available science, Mission Ivorybill began a campaign to stop the proposal. ESA protection removal could threaten the Ivorybill with actual extinction because it might lead to fragmentation of the large, unbroken tracts of swamp forest that Ivorybills need to raise their young. USFWS granted Courtman’s request for a public hearing that also re-opened the public comment period regarding the delisting proposal. The public hearing was held on January 26, 2022, via Zoom. Apparently, it was information received during that process that has caused the Service to re-examine the evidence regarding the Ivorybill.
“Ever since the topic was first raised in a 1937 scientific article, Ivorybill experts have all agreed that we can’t know how many Ivorybills exist until we adequately search for the birds throughout their extensive, relatively inaccessible habitat, the deep swamp woods. That extensive Ivorybill search has never been conducted. As asserted in an authoritative document submitted to the USFWS, the 2016 Technical Report, it would be premature to declare the Ivorybill extinct. Mission Ivorybill is committed to conducting that first-of-its-kind extensive search to determine how many Ivorybills exist. The search was launched in February of this year. Already we have had searchers from eight states and Canada to join us here in Louisiana. We are excited about the results so far,” according to Courtman.
To educate the public about the Ivorybill, the group has hosted thirty-six, free, interactive Zoom presentations featuring experts in topics relevant to the Ivorybill and also featuring people describing their Ivorybill sightings. Speakers in Mission Ivorybill presentations take questions from the audience. John Fitzpatrick and Jim Tate talked on zoom about why the Ivorybill should not be declared extinct. Courtman talks bout recent Ivorybill Woodpecker sightings as well.
Mission Ivorybill's next Public Zoom presentation will be Monday, July 11 at 7 p.m. To register or to ask questions, Matt Courtman can be contacted at matt@missionivorybill.org.