Multiple lines of evidence indicate survival of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker in Louisiana

Abstract

The history of decline of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker is long, complex, and controversial. The last widely accepted sighting of this species in continental North America was 1944. Reports of Ivory-billed Woodpeckers have continued, yet in 2021 the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed declaring the species extinct. We draw on 10 years of search effort, and provide trail camera photos and drone videos suggesting the consistent presence of Ivory-billed Woodpeckers at our study site. Data indicate repeated re-use of foraging sites and core habitat. We offer insights into behaviors of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker that contribute to difficulty in finding this species. We discuss results with regard to the value of accumulated evidence, and what repeated observations may indicate for continued survival of this iconic species.