Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) scientists said Tuesday they are cautiously optimistic about an Auburn University professor’s recently discovered evidence of ivory-billed woodpeckers in the Florida Panhandle.

“There is not enough evidence to confirm the birds’ presence yet,” FWC Executive Director Ken Haddad said, “but the indications are promising, and we will work closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Auburn University and the Northwest Florida Water Management District to see if we can confirm the reports.”

Auburn University ornithologist Dr. Geoff Hill, who recently completed a year-long search for the endangered woodpecker, unveiled his findings Monday, indicating there are signs ivory-bills might exist on land owned by the water management district.  He produced audio recordings that appear similar to historical recordings of ivory-billed woodpeckers.   However, he has not collected clear photographic or video evidence, which is the standard for scientific confirmation.

“The water management district owns, manages and protects over 200,000 acres in Northwest Florida, the majority of which are along its major river systems,” said Douglas E. Barr, executive director of the Northwest Florida Water Management District.  “If the existence of these endangered/extinct birds is verified, then the acquisition, protection and management of these lands since the mid-1980s reflect the District’s intent and mission to preserve its water resources and habitats.”

FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto said he and the six other Commissioners are bracing for potentially good news in coming months.

“This will be fantastic if we can confirm the woodpeckers are there,” Barreto said.  “Many experts believe the ivory-bill is extinct, but experts have searches under way in Arkansas, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina and Texas.  Florida is the only state besides Arkansas to come close to confirmation in roughly 40 years.”

A detailed FWC whitepaper about ivory-billed woodpecker sightings in Florida since 1859 is available at http://myfwc.com/imperiledspecies/reports/FloridaReportRecoveryPlanFinal_June06.pdf.

Additional information about ivory-bills is available at http://www.fws.gov/ivorybill/.

This article originally published on September 26, 2006.

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