Once again, there is a claim of a recently captured image of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker. This time it comes from the Sabine River Basin of Texas by a fellow named Daniel Rainsong via an obtuse press release. He has, rather strangely, not released the images citing some obscure “right of discovery”. Does he intend to patent the damn bird? On the other hand, he does list some prominent ornithologists in his press release as potential examiners of the images…supposedly. A Google search of Daniel Rainsong yields precious little information. It seems that he as not been active in the birding community to any sufficient degree. In fact, most of the top results are for a gambler (aren’t we all, though) with a system. Is this a hoax or a self-aggrandizing move by some casino boat lounge lizard become birder?
I want to believe that a great woodpecker stills pounds away at massive trucks in some remote region of the South, but I have to be realistic. Unfortunately, I doubt that the Ivory-billed still exists given the scarcity (read absence) of definitive proof and the degradation of and patchiness of any remaining habitat. So I beg, please, please Daniel Rainsong prove me wrong.
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8 comments
Dave Magpiong says:
January 21, 2010 at 7:41 pm (UTC -7 )
It would be beyond wonderful to have his claim confirmed. I’m curious if anyone has contacted Van Remsen, Jackson, or the other noted ornithologist to see if they have ANY Awareness that their names are connected with this “press release”.
Radd Icenoggle says:
January 21, 2010 at 7:43 pm (UTC -7 )
Great question…does anyone have this information?
cyberthrush says:
January 21, 2010 at 11:11 pm (UTC -7 )
I’ve collected enough info by now on this story (which I can’t publicly disclose) to conclude unfortunately it is almost certainly a full-fledged hoax (and a poor one at that).
Joe Hepperle says:
January 22, 2010 at 2:45 am (UTC -7 )
Yes, I do.
Yes, They have.
Yes, They are. (With the possible exception of Jackson, who as of the mid-morning of yesterday (Jan 21) has not acknowledged to Rainsong that he even received the communication.)
By the way, I wrote the ‘obtuse’ press-release to which you refer. Obtuse? Hmmmm. Maybe. The press-release was not written as the “official” notice to the world. That will come after confirmation of the contents of the pictures. That process will be taking place over the next week or so (my uneducatd guess). The press release was simply to establish a claim and a date. I did not ‘discover’ the bird, and I was not a member of the search project.
Why on Earth would he release the pictures before they have been examined by prominent individuals in the field of Ornithology? Right. Of course, if a two-headed genetic cross between a man and a parakeet was photographed, it would be released to the National Enquirer immediately. But this ain’t that.
Joe Hepperle
Radd Icenoggle says:
January 22, 2010 at 7:34 am (UTC -7 )
Joe,
I do hope that your press release was more of a awkwardness of timing than anything. As I think back to any other press releases about rare, rediscovered or just described by science species, the evidence is first sent to and reviewed by experts in the respective field, and then a press release is generated to inform the public. In this particular case it seems to be bass ackwards of the normal protocol. I have also never heard of “right of discovery”. If it is an Ivory-billed Woodpecker, then I am sure the credit would be properly given. This breach of normal procedure and lack of apparent background is why I find the press release “obtuse”.
Also, can you shed any light on any of the experts initial impressions, if any? Is there any firm date on the potential release of the images?
Matt Mendenhall says:
January 22, 2010 at 11:43 am (UTC -7 )
I spoke with Van Remsen and Jerry Jackson, and neither has seen the photos. You can read more on BirdersWorld.com: http://bit.ly/8tthmC
Chris West says:
January 22, 2010 at 12:20 pm (UTC -7 )
Just FYI everyone, a simple google search reveals all:
Project Indigo is about providing a safe house for homeless children.
Daniel Rainsong is known as “The Wizard of Odds”
Rita Goldstein works for Brookhaven National Laboratory as a Neuro-imaging scientist.
So, in other words, the whole thing is a joke, put on by someone who needs their view of a joke straightened out.
I suspect whoever it was is a birder since you’d have to go through a hell of a lot of trouble to make sure all those facts were right……… I checked. Everything there is correct except the part about the IBWO of course.
If it’s not a joke:
#1. I want to see the photos. They should def be of a bird in flight.
#2. I want to hear the backing of Dr Remsen, Dr Jackson and Cornell on this.
#3. It’d be nice to hear more about this guy’s background. Both backgrounds actually. Finder and writer both.
#4. why the heck is this guy afraid someone is going to steal his glory in re-finding the bird??? Good grief.
I don’t recall hearing about anyone taking credit for finding anything if they didn’t truly find it. That’s first US records too. Easy to see through stuff like that.
Can we just see the photos?? Let us decide. Geez……
I hear this guy is *Driving* to different places to show people his photos. This could take forever. Send them by email. One email. Addressed to Kaufman, Sibley, Remsen, Jackson, Dinsmore and Fitzgerald. Bingo. Answer tomorrow. Gah.
w/e. Rant over. lol
Kate says:
March 26, 2011 at 11:25 am (UTC -7 )
Marc/2011 – Is there an update and/or confirmation by the Ornithological community of the Daniel Rainsong Ivory-billed woodpecker photo’s taken near the Sabine River, Dec. 29, 2009?