HAYS, Kan. — Ghost Bird Expedition and a video a few years ago gave ornithologists hope that the ivory-billed woodpecker might still exist. But the evidence is fuzzy, and much debate has developed over what it means if, indeed, the bird is alive. A documentary called “Ghost Bird” will be screened at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Kansas Wetlands Education Center, 592 NE Kansas 156 Highway, Great Bend.

In 1935, Cornell University ornithologists led an expedition to remote areas across the United States to document rare birds. Their work was groundbreaking, and many species were recorded for the first time. But one of their discoveries shocked the world: The once-common ivory-billed woodpecker had gone missing.

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The disappearance of the bird was a mystery. The last known sighting was in 1909, and ornithologists had assumed that the ivory-billed woodpecker was extinct. But in 2005, a few sightings of the bird were reported. Despite this, the species remains one of the most highly sought after in the world of birding.

During the day, Potoo Ghost Birds perch with their eyes closed and feathers fluffed, hiding in their environment, blending perfectly with their surroundings. These habits allow the enigmatic bird to evade predators.

The Potoo Ghost Bird also holds cultural significance in indigenous folklore and is often associated with wisdom, spirituality, and mystical powers. Its mysterious nature further contributes to its allure and mystique. Despite its mystique, the Potoo Ghost Bird is a wild and endangered animal. Hunting and trapping pose a serious threat to the survival of this bird, as do climate change and pollution, which affect the species’ nesting preferences and food sources.