Customer Reviews

Stalking the Ghost Bird: The Elusive Ivory-Billed Woodpecker in Louisiana

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Like this reviewer, the author of this book is quite passionate about the search for evidence that this vanished species may still survive, and has put together a very well researched collection of stories about alleged sightings through the years, from the last authenticated sighting up until the present day. My main criticism is that he seems to accept almost every one of these sightings almost as fact, rather than something that, from a purely scientific viewpoint, must be taken with a large grain of salt in the absence of conclusive proof, such as a clear photo. Speaking of that, perhaps the most tantalizing piece of hard evidence shown in the book is the controversial picture taken by Fielding Lewis of an IBWO perched on a tree trunk. Its authenticity, however, continues to be hotly debated, and in any case, it dates back to the 70s. If the birds are really back, why has no one been able to take such a picture now?

To actually see this large, charismatic, colorful bird would be the experience of a lifetime for most naturalists, amateur or professional, living today, and for this reason some of us tend to get a little carried away by our feelings about it, perhaps sometimes making us half believe we caught a glimpse of the rare bird when in reality, it could have been something else. Absent a major miracle, we simply need to accept the consequences of our actions in failing to conserve this bird's unique habitat, and learn from our mistakes when it comes to saving other endangered species.

Nevertheless, some of the tales related here are quite compelling to any fan of this species who has dreamed of having his own encounter with it, and help to inspire some hope that at least some of the sightings may have been real. Readers are left to decide for themselves, and with something to dream about.