Ivory Bill Confusion: Revisited

Our visiting Aquatics Biologist and Ornithology hobbyist has determined that the dead woodpecker found out on Rockhead Island was indeed an Ivory Billed Woodpecker.

“It was a fantastic specimen!” Rickey Hunsacker said in an interview after the discovery. “It was phenomenal! What a treat to actually hold an Ivory Bill in my hands!” Sadly, part of the birds head was blown off from an errant bullet. The animal’s injury will be reconstructed and the bird will be taxidermed by local Taxidermist Shannon Cagle. “Yeah, I can fix that”, Cagle was reported as saying. The bird will be displayed at the Lulawissie City Hall Annex on Liberty Avenue.

During his research of the incident, Hunsacker said that he discovered an “unusually large number” of nesting Ivory Bills in the remote regions of the hills up above and North of the Malone’s Cove area, and another two nesting sites on Fahy’s Island. “The birds were very elusive, and I could only get within about 50 yards of them.” He was quoted as saying. “I found it unusual that they were sharing their limited habitat with the Pileated Woodpeckers.” Hunsacker has taken over 100 photographs of the nesting birds and they are available for viewing in the City Hall Annex. The taxidermed specimen is scheduled for display by mid-October.

As far as the Black Crappie situation, Hunsacker has concluded that there are no black crappie in Lake Lulawissie. He did note however, that there is an abundance of Black Crappie in the large farm pond owned by Russell Gildred, the younger brother of Mildred Shoop. After seining the pond, Hunsacker has determined that due to low fishing pressure, this crappie population has grown to an incredibly large size. Hunsacker did not comment on the abundance of White Crappie in the lake.

So what does this mean for the Lulawissie Crappie Tournament Committee and the Town Council? They have to make a decision on whether Mildred Shoop cheated with a Crappie from her little brother’s pond. But in Mildred Shoop’s defense (not that she needs it), I have learned in years past that fish eggs can be transferred from one body of water to another by ducks travelling between lakes and ponds. The eggs get stuck in their bill seines and are released in the next pond or lake they feed in.

I’m sure that there will be more to follow, and the entire controversy is not over yet. We have yet to see what that Mayor has to say about all of this.

So my friends, I believe I will go for a walk at Lakefront Park on this clear and cool early autumn evening. I bid you all Peace.

^{The entire contents of this writing, and all writings previous to this one, including the name “Lulawissie”, are the original work of Delbert Banks and are protected by the copyright laws of the United States of America. © 2010 By Delbert Banks.}