Action timeline

1980 – The International Council for Bird Preservation petitioned for Endangered Species Act protection for the Okinawa woodpecker.

1981 – The Fish and Wildlife Service determined that listing the Okinawa woodpecker “may be warranted.”

1984 – The Service claimed that listing the species was “precluded” by higher priority listing actions.

1991 – The Service ceased publishing its required annual determination of whether the woodpecker warrants listing.

December 22, 2003 – The Center filed suit to compel the Service to protect the Okinawa woodpecker.

May 17, 2004 – A Center legal settlement forced the Service to act on the international birds listing petitions. The Service announced that the Okinawa woodpecker continues to warrant listing, but is still “precluded” by higher priority actions.

November 16, 2006 – The Center again filed suit against the Service seeking protection for the Okinawa woodpecker.

Photo by C.T. Hanashiro