Well, since the two IBWO sites haven't picked this up yet (we're sure they will soon), here is an update from the Auburn folks in Florida:
http://www.auburn.edu/academic/science_math/cosam/departments/biology/faculty/webpages/hill/ivorybill/Updates.html
Sounds promising, but it always does.
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As you say, this does sound quite promising. I hope it proves out. :-)
Well at least one of the IBWO blogs made some comments about this update in Florida. The Ivory-billed Skeptic Blog called Tyler Hicks a liar after his Christmas Eve sighting. Geoff Hill is also a liar and of course anyone who sees a Ivory-billed Woodpecker is a liar too!
Rumor has it from my birding friends in Minnesota that Tom Nelson (Ivory-billed Skeptic blog author) has some credibility issues of his own in regards to some listing accompolishments and some other bird records he submitted to the state bird organization he belongs to.
I'm waitin' to see the actual field notes from the actual observer. Until then, this (or any) sighting is "purported" not "reported." Not to cast any aspersions or pre-judgements; this teaser sounds promising. But like BINAC says, it always does. It's just a fact with any rare bird sighting: the "report" is the first hand testimony and documentation from the person who actually saw the bird, and it is this that judgements should be formed on... not second hand accounts. We know Hicks keeps field notes and makes them available for public perusal. I'm sure we'll see sketches and original notes soon enough. And maybe get to see another grocery list, too!
A severe case of Observer Expectancy Bias. Can there really be anymore doubt?
The Ivory-Bill Skeptic blog has not actually called those people liars although some of the commentators have. The blog and many of it's followers HAVE pointed out many reasons do doubt the reported IBWO sightings. I think history will show that those doubts are valid.
Unlike the IBWO sightings, Tom Nelson's bird records are of living birds and stand up to review. The "credibility rumors" are from grumpy believers.
Unlike the IBWO sightings, Tom Nelson's bird records are of living birds and stand up to review. The "credibility rumors" are from grumpy believers.
He supposedly set some Big Day records. Talk about an area ripe with Observer Expectancy Bias!
After his forays into WMD and Global Warming, birding would be the smallest of his credibility issues
The problem with this line of reasoning is that it's been proven wrong. That is, if you had bet immediately upon hearing of the "sighting" of an IBWO in the last 60 years that it would not be documented then you would have always been right.
Tom has so far always been right on this issue. It's hard to argue with success.
"Tom has so far always been right on this issue. It's hard to argue with success."
ha-ha-ha, chortle, chortle
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