North American birdwatchers have been given mere days to provide clear evidence of the existence of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker before the USFA formally declares it an extinct bird species.
Ivory-billed Woodpecker – Natural Science Association of America 1895
Why is the Ivory-billed Woodpecker important?
All bird species are important. It's a tragedy for humans to send any species into extinction and this is almost certainly the case with the Ivory-billed Woodpecker. It has a place in the ecosystem, and when a bird like the Ivory-billed Woodpecker is taken out of the ecosystem, it has a flow on effect to many other species and the environment and ecology. Additionally: Ivory-billed Woodpeckers have an intrinsic right to exist. These are the reasons why the Ivory-billed Woodpecker is so important.
Did the Ivory-billed Woodpecker live in Canada?
The original range of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker is not known to have extended into Canada. The species range is generally considered in the south-east United States, not much further north than Texas.