Ghost Bird (1:34) 2009

Ghost Bird is a documentary about the Ivory-billed Woodpecker sighting in Arkansas in 2004. The Ivory-billed has been thought to be extinct since the 1940s. Two scientists have video of what they believe is the Ivory-billed, and several others have reported sightings or hearing it call. After the announcement, several prominent birders including David Sibley, author of many field guides, question whether the sighted Ivory-billed is really that of a Pileated Woodpecker. For the residents of Brinkley, Arkansas, the sighting of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker could be a boon for their local economy. The current population of Brinkley is a little more than 3,000 residents. The main street of Brinkley has one abandoned business after another. If the Ivory-billed does indeed reside in the nearby swampy Singer tract, this could be a boon of the economy. As of 2010, no new sightings of the much sought after bird have been reported. Being a birder, I followed the reports of the Ivory-billed when they were first released although I was skeptical at first. The director, Scott Crocker, does a great job of reporting both sides of the story. This is a must see documentary for all birders, professional or backyard.