RARE WOODPECKER CONSERVATION STAMPS AND PRINTS ON SALE!
Gamecock
IVORY-BILLED WOODPECKER CONSERVATION STAMPS AND PRINTS TO RAISE FUNDS
FOR RARE BIRD NOW ON SALE
http://www.ivory-bill-woodpecker.com/
JONESBORO, ARKANSAS (E-Wire) - New conservation stamps and limited
edition prints to raise much-needed funds to save the recently
rediscovered Ivory-billed Woodpecker have gone
on sale. Patterned after the highly-successful Federal Duck Stamp
(required since 1934 for all U.S. waterfowl hunters age 16 and up) and
Arkansas Duck Stamp Prints, the design came from the
original oil painting "Elusive Ivory" by wildlife artist Larry Chandler
of Hartselle, Alabama.
The Ivory-billed Woodpecker made headlines worldwide after a press
conference on its rediscovery April 28, 2005 at the U.S. Department of
the Interior Auditorium in Washington, D.C. The last confirmed
sighting of the bird, before the one in Eastern Arkansas in February
2004, is from the 1944, 60 years earlier. There is no doubt it's the
rarest bird in all of North America.
Most ornithologists who were skeptical after seeing the original
scientific evidence presented, including a short and fuzzy video of the
bird in flight, were convinced it exists after hearing
new audio released to the public at the American Ornithologists Union
meeting August 24, 2005. This new audio evidence captured the bird's
unique "kent" calls, which were documented in 1935.
The price range for all items offered by the Official Ivory-billed
Woodpecker Conservation Stamp Print Program starts at $9.00 for a
Cloisonne collector pin and go up to $315.00 for the special Search
Team Edition print hand-signed by the artist and all 4 members of a
search team who first observed the bird along the Cache River in what's
called the Big Woods area of Eastern Arkansas.
Proceeds from the sale of conservation stamps and prints will be evenly
divided between The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, The Nature Conservancy
and the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation.
The most popular item is expected to be the $15.00 Ivory-billed
Woodpecker Conservation Stamp, as this rare bird species has never
before appeared on any postage stamp in the United States.
Interestingly, the Ivory-billed Woodpecker has been featured on a
postage stamp 4 times in Cuba, since that was once the best place to
see the bird (Campephilus principalis) in North America.
Because stamp collecting is considered to be among most popular hobbies
all across the globe, publisher Larry Grisham said "I expect we could
sell over 200,000 of these stamps, which would
raise well over a million dollars to help protect this gravely
endangered woodpecker species."
There is also a Governor's Edition print which will be hand-signed by
the artist and Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee and will also include
the Official Arkansas State Seal. This edition
is limited to only 500 prints and sells for $265.00, including a mint
unsigned Ivory-bill stamp.
For the average wildlife art lover, a Regular Series Print ($165) which
includes a mint (unsigned) stamp will be the most popular. It is
strongly suggested an extra artist-signed stamp ($17.50) also be
purchased (with this or other print editions) and then have both mint
and artist-signed stamps framed below the print.
For birders, as bird watchers often call themselves, the Ivory-billed
Woodpecker is at the top of their life list as THE most difficult bird
species to view at least once in their lifetime.
Because most ornithologists considered it extinct for many years,
pictures of Ivory-bills began to be removed from bird watching guide
books. Sporadic unconfirmed sightings by amateur birders
were discarded under an assumption they were observing the
similar-looking Pilleated Woodpecker. Eventually, reports of living
Ivory-bills became considered as unreliable as Bigfoot sightings.
Many of the estimated 70 million bird watchers in the United States
will want to visit Arkansas to see the bird. But, thanks to the
Ivory-billed Woodpecker Conservation Stamp Print Program,
they can see one on their wall without leaving home and their purchase
will help to ensure this rare bird will survive. The stamp print will
be the perfect holiday gift for birders this year.
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is the nation's most-respected rare bird
research organization and provided the funding to acquire most of the
current evidence. The new audio evidence was
recorded by 24 Autonomous Recording Units (ARUs) installed 153 times,
for 2-4 weeks at a time, in two main areas near the White River and
Cache River National Wildlife Refuges in Arkansas.
The Nature Conservancy is America's foremost conservation organization
focusing on purchasing land in the United States that is critical for
wildlife habitat. The non-profit group bought thousands of acres of
nearby land before word of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker's rediscovery
got out to the press. They plan to buy more adjacent land with their
share of stamp/print proceeds.
The Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation is the non-profit arm of the
state wildlife department in Arkansas which is called the Arkansas Game
and Fish Commission. They plan to use their portion of the proceeds
for public education, which will be needed for long-term protection of
the bird.
Wildlife artist Larry Chandler learned about the bird from his
long-time friend Bobby Harrison, who along with Tim Gallagher, made the
first confirmed sighting of the bird in almost 60 years. It was
Harrison, Associate Professor at Oakwood College in Huntsville,
Alabama, who told him he needed to do a painting of the bird. After
being sworn to secrecy, "I had to be the hands of the eyes that had
seen the vision", Chandler said. His design captured the grace of this
bird.
The great thing about this Ivory-billed Woodpecker Conservation Stamp
Print Program is, rather than just making a tax-deductible
contribution, people who buy the conservation stamp or print
will get something back for their contribution. The print is proof you
did something tangible to help this bird's cause and further, it makes
a lovely addition to your home or office decor.
The limited edition prints are expected to become more valuable in the
future on the secondary market, which is another incentive. For
example, all of the earliest Federal and First of State Duck Stamp
Prints, originally selling from $15 to $125 each, are now worth
thousands of dollars.
For more information on the Ivory-billed Woodpecker Conservation Stamp
Print Program, visit the web site for it at
www.ivory-bill-woodpecker.com. It offers news, photos, video and much
more.