GrrlScientist is an evolutionary biologist, ornithologist, aviculturist, birder and freelance science and nature writer. A native of the Pacific Northwest, she relocated from Seattle to NYC with her parrots after earning a BS in Microbiology (emphasis in Virology) and PhD in Zoology (Ornithology) from the University of Washington. In NYC, she was the Chapman Postdoctoral Fellow at the American Museum of Natural History for two years, pursuing part of her "dream" research project by reconstructing a molecular phylogeny of the parrots of the South Pacific islands. GrrlScientist and her five parrots are currently relocating to Germany, where she will continue writing her blog while also writing a book and learning German. (Meanwhile, her parrots will continue to nibble on her extensive personal library.) If you appreciate GrrlScientist's writing, you can help pay her living expenses by hiring her to "blog" your conference, speak at your club or write articles for your publication (or by clicking on the Paypal button below). If you read an essay on this blog that you especially enjoyed, please nominate it for inclusion in 
tags: Ivory-Billed Woodpecker, Campephilus principalis, grail bird, bird watching, conservation, documentary, streaming video
No, I do not believe that the Ivory-billed Woodpecker lives, but this trailer makes the documentary film look interesting anyway, mostly because it focuses on the people; the residents of the town nearest the "rediscovery site", the scientists, the politics and the media frenzy surrounding this "Grail Bird" [3:29]
Here's a somewhat rambling interview with the film's director, Scott Crocker, who is articulate (and very fun to look at) [9:37];
I would like to point out that, unlike the Loch Ness monster and Bigfoot, the Ivory-billed Woodpecker did actually exist, as is adequately demonstrated by the museum study skins that are displayed in the film. It is insulting to see this magnificent bird -- that humans drove to extinction -- being compared to two mythical beasts that are the result of group hysteria and shared Kool-Aid consumption.
Anyway, if you have comments about the film trailer or the interview, feel free to post them here, since the director will be checking them at some point in time.
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Comments
I have evidence of a colony of ivory-bills sequestered here in Texas. I have a picture of one just caught by a chupacabra. Now if only I can find that microSD card -- those things are so damned small!
Posted by: Russell | July 9, 2009 2:19 PM
Cool ass docudrama! Large swimming reptiles did once exist as well, although none of them hunted people as far as we know.
Posted by: Don Thieme | July 9, 2009 2:42 PM
It's actually the Loch Ness Minster - a huge church which became submerged when the Great Glen to make a reservoir. In fact, people became so upset with it that they said, Dam the church....".
And don't get me started on Sassy Swatch.
PS: if you believe this, I have some land in Florida for sale....
Posted by: Ian | July 10, 2009 7:33 AM