Ornithologists Near NYC-DC - Ivory-billed Belief & Conservation

Seeking an ornithology expert for a documentary Hello r/ornithology! I'm an independent documentary filmmaker currently directing and producing a feature film about the journey of two men who are extreme searchers of the ivory-billed woodpecker. This is a meditative and artsy piece that reflects on one particular experience of theirs of getting gravely lost in a cypress swamp while on a search for this lost bird. The film reflects on the role of belief in their journey and the utility of nostalgia in conservation efforts. Ultimately, we are exploring the ivory-billed woodpecker from an agnostic perspective, focusing on the question: Whether or not the bird persists, can belief in it support conservation of cypress and pine forests in the South? My team is seeking an expert in ornithology who could appear in the film and provide a description of the ivory-billed woodpecker as well as the argument/perspective that the ivory-billed woodpecker is likely extinct. This person would ideally be an active ornithological researcher, conservation professional, museum staff member, or have a masters degree in biology with an emphasis on birds. Your professional affiliation would not need to be included in the film, but ideally we'd like to coordinate on permissions to include this for credibility. We are seeking to build scientific credibility in the film and will frame your inclusion as such. My last film played at festivals across the US and I'm hoping to expand the footprint with this project. In doing so, I hope to ensure the educational integrity of the project and bring meaningful conservation information to audiences across the US. Participation would include one filming session with myself and a small crew. We are based on the East Coast so we are hoping to work with someone based within driving distance from NYC to Washington DC. If this is you or someone you know, send me a DM!