Of Ghost Birds, Mass Hysteria and Faith-Based Birding ..

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No, I do not believe that the Ivory-billed Woodpecker lives, but this trailer makes the documentary film look interesting anyway, mostly because it focuses on the people; the residents of the town nearest the "rediscovery site", the scientists, the politics and the media frenzy surrounding this "Grail Bird" [3:29]

Here's a somewhat rambling interview with the film's director, Scott Crocker, who is articulate (and very fun to look at) [9:37];

I would like to point out that, unlike the Loch Ness monster and Bigfoot, the Ivory-billed Woodpecker did actually exist, as is adequately demonstrated by the museum study skins that are displayed in the film. It is insulting to see this magnificent bird -- that humans drove to extinction -- being compared to two mythical beasts that are the result of group hysteria and shared Kool-Aid consumption.

Anyway, if you have comments about the film trailer or the interview, feel free to post them here, since the director will be checking them at some point in time.

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As many of you undoubtedly know, a short video of what might be an ivory-billed woodpecker was captured in 2004 in an Arkansas swamp. However, further analysis casts more doubt as to the identity of the bird in the footage: the videoed bird appears to flap its wings at 8.6 times per second -- the…
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I have evidence of a colony of ivory-bills sequestered here in Texas. I have a picture of one just caught by a chupacabra. Now if only I can find that microSD card -- those things are so damned small!

It's actually the Loch Ness Minster - a huge church which became submerged when the Great Glen to make a reservoir. In fact, people became so upset with it that they said, Dam the church....".

And don't get me started on Sassy Swatch.

PS: if you believe this, I have some land in Florida for sale....