Brink of Extinction LbNA #15101
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Nearby Boxes
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Add Location| Owner: | Adoptable |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | May 10, 2005 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Seattle |
| County: | King |
| State: | Washington |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Planted by: | Green Guillemot  |
|---|---|
| Found by: | SnowFire |
| Last found: | Apr 19, 2011 |
| Status: | OFFFFFa |
| Last edited: | May 10, 2005 |
For thousands of years, Ivory-billed Woodpeckers roamed amid the old growth trees in swamps of the American South. This King of the Woodpeckers was the largest one to ever live in North America. It was larger than a crow, with a wing span over 3 feet. It flaked the bark off of dying trees with its magnificent yellow bill to get at the tender vittles beneath. As the forests in the southeastern U.S. were logged, the Ivory-billed became more and more rare, and the last one was sighted in Louisiana in the 1940s.
For 60 years, people searched in vain for a glimpse of the Ivory-billed, but with no sightings the bird was presumed to have become extinct. Rumors swirled of alleged sightings, but no one could substantiate their claims with photos or other evidence. Then, on April 28, 2005, scientists from the Cornell Lab for Ornithology and the Nature Conservancy dropped a bomb shell. They had discovered at least one male Ivory-billed Woodpecker in the swamps of Arkansas, and had captured the bird on video. Since the birds only live for a decade or so, here was proof that breeding pairs had suvived at least into the mid-1990s.
Despite extensive searching, the scientists could only find positive evidence of a single bird. Are there more Ivory-bills out there? Ornithologists are uncertain, but many have hope that a tiny breeding population endures in the backwoods of the deep South.
Despite being poised on the Brink of Extinction, the Ivory-bill at least for now lives on.
Clue
This box is dedicated to both the spirit of discovery and to the courage to survive. I thought it was appropriate to place it near a memorial to another local survivor.
Find your way to this Seattle park. At the "top" you can find spectacular panoramic views, and the "bottom" you will find a marker dedicated to the park's namesake, which reads, in part:
"In Honor of one of the pioneers of the state of Washington, one of the founders of the City of Seattle, and the LAST SURVIVOR of the historic group of men and women at Alki Point on November 13th, 1851."
The marker was actually placed on June 1, 1914, more than 2 years before her death on August 18, 1916.
You can park at the top near the funky art and the cemetary, or near the bottom and walk the trail up.
From the top, wind your way down the trail. As you decend the gentle switchbacks, you will find yourself in alternating covered shade and open areas. As you enter the covered forest for good, you will see large beds of ferns on your left (and a few on the right too). Watch the left side of the path. After a bit you will see a small stump on the left (about 2 feet off the path) that looks like it has been attacked by a large, hungry woodpecker.
About 20 steps beyond the stump, you will find a large, leaning, mossy Big-leaf Maple on the left just next to the path. Around the back near the base awaits a discovery.
The trails can be muddy, but the view from the top is worth a look. I suggest bringing binoculars, as there are at least 5 species of woodpecker in the park (and maybe 6...?). Please be discrete and rehide well. Email me to tell me of your find.
the Green Guillemot
For 60 years, people searched in vain for a glimpse of the Ivory-billed, but with no sightings the bird was presumed to have become extinct. Rumors swirled of alleged sightings, but no one could substantiate their claims with photos or other evidence. Then, on April 28, 2005, scientists from the Cornell Lab for Ornithology and the Nature Conservancy dropped a bomb shell. They had discovered at least one male Ivory-billed Woodpecker in the swamps of Arkansas, and had captured the bird on video. Since the birds only live for a decade or so, here was proof that breeding pairs had suvived at least into the mid-1990s.
Despite extensive searching, the scientists could only find positive evidence of a single bird. Are there more Ivory-bills out there? Ornithologists are uncertain, but many have hope that a tiny breeding population endures in the backwoods of the deep South.
Despite being poised on the Brink of Extinction, the Ivory-bill at least for now lives on.
Clue
This box is dedicated to both the spirit of discovery and to the courage to survive. I thought it was appropriate to place it near a memorial to another local survivor.
Find your way to this Seattle park. At the "top" you can find spectacular panoramic views, and the "bottom" you will find a marker dedicated to the park's namesake, which reads, in part:
"In Honor of one of the pioneers of the state of Washington, one of the founders of the City of Seattle, and the LAST SURVIVOR of the historic group of men and women at Alki Point on November 13th, 1851."
The marker was actually placed on June 1, 1914, more than 2 years before her death on August 18, 1916.
You can park at the top near the funky art and the cemetary, or near the bottom and walk the trail up.
From the top, wind your way down the trail. As you decend the gentle switchbacks, you will find yourself in alternating covered shade and open areas. As you enter the covered forest for good, you will see large beds of ferns on your left (and a few on the right too). Watch the left side of the path. After a bit you will see a small stump on the left (about 2 feet off the path) that looks like it has been attacked by a large, hungry woodpecker.
About 20 steps beyond the stump, you will find a large, leaning, mossy Big-leaf Maple on the left just next to the path. Around the back near the base awaits a discovery.
The trails can be muddy, but the view from the top is worth a look. I suggest bringing binoculars, as there are at least 5 species of woodpecker in the park (and maybe 6...?). Please be discrete and rehide well. Email me to tell me of your find.
the Green Guillemot