Ivory - Billed Woodpecker
By: Kaitlyn R
Ivory-billed Wooodpeckers are americas #1 endangered animal in the world. They have black bodies and red and black crests on their heads. Also they have big white patches on their wings. Ivory-billed Woodpeckers live in forests in the Southeastern part of the U.S. as well as Cuba. The woodpeckers diet consists of insects, nuts, and fruits. Just like any other bird the woodpecker lives in a nest. Ivory- Billed woodpeckers are slowly going extinct.
The Ivory-Billed Woodpecker was thought to of gone extinct in the mid 20th century. Declines in the forest habitat caused the population to decrease. In 2005 the woodpecker was rediscovered in the "Big Woods" forest in eastern Arkansas. The Big Woods is the largest bottomland forest corridor in the world today. Some people say that the woodpecker found in Arkansas wasn't the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker because it hasn't been seen again since it was spotted the first time.
Many people around the world have been trying to save the woodpecker. One group trying to help is the Interior and Agriculture department. The Interior and Agriculture department is saving up $10 million to give to the "Corridor of Hope" conservation plan. Also according to Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, he says, "Landowners in the area could become eligible for $13.5 million in rental payments over the next 15 years to maintain the trees that ivory-billed woodpeckers use as there habitat." That's a lot to pay for a rental payment, but its worth the cause.
Sources
http://www.allaboutwildlife.com/ivory-billed-woodpecker
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ivory-billed_Woodpecker/lifehistory#at_nesting
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/7666344/ns/technology_and_science-science/t/sightings-spur-rush-aid-extinct-woodpecker/#.VVNbubn4_Z4
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Ivory-billed_Woodpecker/lifehistory#at_nesting
http://www.nbcnews.com/id/7666344/ns/technology_and_science-science/t/sightings-spur-rush-aid-extinct-woodpecker/#.VVNbubn4_Z4