Do you think the ivory-billed and/or imperial woodpeckers are still living? (birds, Florida)

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by jbgusa

One would think that the increasing scarcity would have made those kinds of hunts passe, and given a chance at regeneration.

Nope. The passenger pigeon was considered a nuisance that stripped grain fields bare in a short period of time. They wanted them gone.

Like the wolf, the eagle, the grizzly.

[WRM20]

Originally Posted by jbgusa

One wonders why there are such rumors concerning the woodpeckers but not the passenger pigeons. To my mind it gives the rumors some credibility. That being said, I wonder, even if the rumors are true, if the remaining population could survive inevitable inbreeding.

Passenger pigeons required fairly large flocks to maintain population. A few of them surviving would not support continued breeding.

[jbgusa]

Originally Posted by North Beach Person

Nope. The passenger pigeon was considered a nuisance that stripped grain fields bare in a short period of time. They wanted them gone.

Like the wolf, the eagle, the grizzly.

Well eagles are back, and as for wolves, see The Return of Wolves to the Lower 48.

[marino760]

Originally Posted by WRM20

Passenger pigeons required fairly large flocks to maintain population. A few of them surviving would not support continued breeding.

Exactly. The passenger pigeon could only survive and thrive in large flocks. Once the flocks were depleted, whatever few pigeons were left, were doomed. They couldn't survive in small groups or as individuals in the environment.

[Deserterer]

Originally Posted by jbgusa

One would think that the increasing scarcity would have made those kinds of hunts passe, and given a chance at regeneration.

It didn't work for wolves.

[NDak15]

Originally Posted by jbgusa

One wonders why there are such rumors concerning the woodpeckers but not the passenger pigeons. To my mind it gives the rumors some credibility. That being said, I wonder, even if the rumors are true, if the remaining population could survive inevitable inbreeding.

Passenger pigeons were like robins. People saw them everywhere and their absence was noted. There's no doubt they're gone. Ivory bills and imperials are secretive, less common, and have never been sighted much. A relict population is more realistic, however, it would likely be very inbred.

Originally Posted by Deserterer

It didn't work for wolves.

Are you talking about bounties?

[Deserterer]

Originally Posted by NDak15

Are you talking about bounties?

Not just bounties, extermination efforts in general.

[NDak15]

Originally Posted by Deserterer

Not just bounties, extermination efforts in general.

I see. They have made quite the comeback. It's really too bad there never was a national park established in the Singer Tract for ivory bills.

[jbgusa]

Originally Posted by NDak15

I see. They have made quite the comeback.

I even petted an animal that was 98% wolf by chromosomes a few days ago.

[M3 Mitch]

Not sure about the Ivory Bill, but the smaller and somewhat similar Pileated Woodpecker is still around, I saw one in my backyard as a kid, was very excited that it might be an Ivory Bill.

But it was cool to see it for what it was anyway.