James T. Tanner

I think this is the best book on the habits and habitat of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker mof the several I've read.

The book is written in a scientific dry style but the detail makes the reading interesting.

The book is written in six parts. The first four cover distribution, habitat, ecology, reproduction and nesting habitats and success. The remaining section is titled "Conservation of the Ivory-biled Woodpecker". In it Tanner suggests that a specific portion of the woods can be used to insure the species survival provided logging can be of a selective type and not clearcut.

Although the Audubon Society concurred and came up with the money to purchase the land, and the U. S. senate agreed, the landowner prevailed and clearcut the woods insuring the known population would die out, which they did.

There have been criticisms of tanner's conclusions on what was necessary to insure the species survival. Those criticisms center on tanner's observation of birds at only one site which he took to be typical for the species.

In spite of the criticism, Tanner's work was done in an unbiased as possible manner and was factual and has been well respected.… (mais)