A recent article in the August issue of Scientific American questions the term "extinct". We have recently heard of the return of the ivory-billed woodpecker as announced by researchers at Cornell Lab of Ornithology, but since that time three types of snails and the Mount Diablo buckwheat have been found - all of which were previously thought to have been extinct. In addition, at least 24 other species of plants, insects and other organisms that had been presumed extinct have been discovered since 1974.

Is the term "extinct" being used incorrectly? Ross MacPhee at the American Museum of Natural History thinks so. MacPhee has helped form the Committee on Recently Extinct Organisms, which lists criteria to determine a species extinction consistently including a 50-year waiting period before an organism can be called "extinct".

And the ivory-bill - the bird that captured so much attention? Many scientists are questioning its return from extinction. In response, Cornell University Scientists plan to release more of the evidence they have gathered that they believe indicates the ivory-bill is in fact not extinct, including acoustic signals. In addition, researchers will continue to search until they can capture a better image of the bird on film then what already exists.

Since the discovery of the ivory-bill, the federal government has promised money to help to preserve the bird's habitat around the Cache River National Wildlife Refuge in eastern Arkansas.

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