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December 29 '05

I've always liked woodpeckers, probably because of the sheltering woods they live in. Having said that, I'm mostly reduced to looking at books and other literature out there. I dug out Short's "Woodpeckers of the World" the other night, and savored it some more. Looking at the classification of woodpeckers by Tribe makes it come together better, and gives it a slant on the evolution of the group.

One large woodpecker, Tristram's White-bellied Woodpecker of Korea is still elusive to me. I read on some search engine that there are only about ten pairs left, and I assume they are all or mostly in North Korea. So if the war powers in D.C. plan on a "shock and awe" attack, I hope they carefully avoid hitting the habitat of that woodpecker.

A problem for me, with Birdlife International for example, is that they only look at full species. The plight of the Korean White-bellied Woodpecker (Dryocopus javensis richardsi) is barely mentioned in small print in the literature. And the only search engiine pic I found was on a South Korean Stamp. I saved it though, if anyone wants to see it.

What does that have to do with American woodpeckers, you may ask? Well, an early Dryocpus woodpecker invaded the eurasian continent from North America and radiated out. So I have a higher level of interest in them than strictly old world genera of woodpeckers. Campephilus didn't make it over there, so we ought to protect that eleven species group that includes the Ivory-bill.

Now that I'm even starting to bore myself, I'll quit this blog.

Happy New Year all!

Phil Hotlen
Bellingham,WA
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