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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>A truly amazing and historical discovery of a
population of ivorybilled woodpeckers was announced by many today.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>One big detail -- that's easy to get lost in
the publicity and all the well-deserved credit that goes to the Fish and
Wildlife Service, the Cornell Observatory, TNC and others -- is the fact that it
was volunteers that did the discovering.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>There's a great personal report by Mary Scott
features at the birdingamerica website. Notice that her ivorybill search website
has a lot in common with many BCN initiatives.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Yes, it is crucial to have staff scientists, staff
conservationists and many other kinds of staff. But passionate volunteers are at
least as crucial as any other part of conservation.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>A Huge CONGRATULATIONS is due to the many
volunteers who have contributed to the Great Search and this great
announcement.</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>