The Ivory-billed Woodpecker, in birdwatching circles as the “Lord God Bird,” or “Holy Grail Bird” was the largest woodpecker found in the United States. Its bright red crest, large white wing patches, ivory-white bill, and hawk-like size were to evoke the phrase “Lord God!” among birders.

In the early 1900’s, populations of Ivory-billed Woodpecker after the bottomland forests of the deep south were away for agriculture. The woodpecker, which required huge tracts of unspoiled land, could not . By the 1930’s, only a scattered were left, and by the middle of the century, it was thought to be extinct, though it wasn’t added to the endangered species list until 1967. There were many sightings throughout the south the next decades, but none were accompanied with a photograph or recording.