By Jonathan Dingler
Journal Correspondent

The Ivory-billed woodpecker, thought extinct since it was last seen in 1944, was recently sighted at the Cache River National Wildlife Refuge in the Big Woods of southeastern Arkansas. The area is about 120 miles long and up to 20 miles wide in Arkansas, and contains some of the state's biggest remaining bottomland hardwoods.

Once common throughout much of the southeast, the Ivory-billed woodpecker was found in mature bottomland hardwood forests as well as mature upland forests. The species foraged and nested in these forests up until their decline near the turn of the 20th century. A search team made up of top bird researchers from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology has confirmed that the ivory-billed woodpecker does still exist in the bottomland hardwood swamps of the refuge. Only one male bird has been verified, but more are believed to be present.

Responding to the dramatic rediscovery of the Ivory-billed woodpecker at the Cache River National Wildlife Refuge in Arkansas, the U.S Department of Interior and Department of Agriculture have announced a future multi-million-dollar partnership effort to aid the rare bird's survival.

"This is a rare second chance to preserve through cooperative conservation what was once thought lost forever," Interior Secretary Gale Norton said. "Decisive conservation action and continued progress through partnerships are now required. I will appoint the best talent in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and local citizens to develop a conservation plan to save the Ivory-billed woodpecker."

"Finding a species once thought extinct is a rare and exciting event, and USDA is pleased to be a partner in the effort to protect Ivory-billed woodpeckers," stated Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns. The action by Secretary Norton and Secretary Johanns came in response to news from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, The Nature Conservancy, and other members of the Big Woods Conservation Partnership that they had collected verifiable evidence of the bird's existence in the Cache River National Wildlife Refuge. The primary evidence consists of video footage, while other evidence consists of seven eye-witness sightings and audio evidence of the Ivory-billed woodpecker.

"Just as innovation and partnership are recovering whooping cranes that were nearly extinct, I am hopeful that by working together, a secure future lies ahead for the Ivory-billed woodpecker." stated Norton. The conservation efforts to be established for the benefit of the Ivory-billed woodpecker will emphasize working with local citizens and private landowners. This will include partnerships, conservation easements, purchase from willing sellers, and Safe Harbor agreements.

Safe Harbors are agreements between the government and private property owners in which landowners voluntarily engage in activities beneficial to endangered species. In return, the government promises not to impose further restrictions on the land, even if the population of the species covered by the agreement grows. "We understand that habitat conservation can impact landowners." ,said Johanns. "That's why we're going to reach out to work cooperatively with stakeholders so we can all share in the joy of this discovery."

The Interior Department, along with the Department of Agriculture, has proposed that more than $10 million in federal funds be committed to protect the bird. This amount would supplement $10 million already committed to research and habitat protection efforts by private sector groups and citizens, an amount expected to grow once news of the rediscovery spreads.

The refuge remains open to visitors. However, while determining the appropriate level of use, refuge managers have, on an interim basis, established a 5,000-acre managed access area in the 65,000-acre refuge. The Fish and Wildlife Service has established five access points for refuge visitors hoping to catch a glimpse of the woodpecker. The Service is working with refuge partners on the construction of viewing towers to make viewing easier. In addition, the Fish and Wildlife Service has increased its law enforcement presence in the refuge to ensure protection of the refuge's resources, including the rediscovered bird.

The Ivory-billed woodpecker, the largest woodpecker in the United States, is the second largest in the world and had been one of six species of birds in North America thought to be extinct. Prior to this recent rediscovery, there had been no confirmed sightings of the bird in more than 60 years.

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