Center for Conservation Biology January-April 2009 E-Newsletter

Go to this issue of Conservation Cornerstones

VCU and W&M agree to share CCB
Osprey & menhaden populations in the Chesapeake
Effect of landscape composition on whip-poor-wills
Male peregrine falcon, "James," reaches 19th year
15 years investigating Saw-whet Owl migration
Get involved with CCB:  Adopt an Eagle!

More reading online at Conservation Cornerstones:

Bald Eagle concentration areas in Chesapeake Bay

Winter survey of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers

Eagle banding for Earth Day

Monitoring shorebirds for Avian Influenza

Bulletin: Marked bird resighting and reporting

New protections for wetlands of Panama Bay

CCB Associate, Bill Portlock, honored by RTPI

Historic Data on Bank-nesting Birds in
  Chesapeake Bay

Staff Profile: Libby Mojica, Raptor Biologist

Conservation Profile: George Kinter

More in this Issue of Conservation Cornerstones

Photo (c) VCU

VCU and W&M agree to share CCB

On 26 January 2009, Virginia Commonwealth University President, Eugene P. Trani, and College of William and Mary President, Taylor Reveley, signed a memorandum of understanding to share The Center for Conservation Biology. The agreement represents a commitment by the universities to conservation and to the continued development of CCB and its work. It is hoped that the new relationship will lead to greater collaboration that will benefit natural ecosystems and the commonwealth of Virginia.

Full story at CCB's online newsletter

Photo (c) Bryan Watts

Osprey and menhaden in the Chesapeake

The Chesapeake is the largest estuary in the US, with more than 19,000 km of tidal shoreline. The Bay’s wide salinity gradient, shallow water and climate have made it one of the most productive aquatic ecosystems in the world. The Chesapeake Bay supports the largest osprey breeding population in the world and along the main stem of the Bay, pairs appear to depend on menhaden, which is also the largest commercial fishery along the Atlantic Coast. Three generations of graduate student research has demonstrated the dependence of breeding osprey on menhaden and how falling stocks are impacting provisioning rates and reproductive success.

Full story at CCB's online newsletter

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Photo (c)
Mark J. M. Wilson

Although the call of the whip-poor-will holds a significant place in folklore and music, and is quickly recognizable to many, the ecology of this species still remains enigmatic. The mysteries about whip-poor-whil biology linger mainly because it is a nocturnal species. Information on whip-poor-whil habitat use and breeding populations is critically important to make informed management decisions to prevent further declines of this species. In an effort to close the information gap on whip-poor-wills, CCB conducted a study, recently published in the Wilson Journal of Ornithology, describing the influence that the configuration of different habitats has on abundance and distribution.

Full story at CCB's online newsletter



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Photo (c) Bryan Watts

Like many bird species, peregrine falcons have high mortality in the first year, followed by lower mortality in subsequent years. Only 3% of peregrines are expected to live beyond 10 years. The grand old male peregrine falcon, nicknamed “James” by the public, is still breeding on the James River Bridge at the ripe old age of 19 years old. He is now approaching a longevity record for peregrine falcons in the wild.

Full story at CCB's online newsletter




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Photo (c) Shannon Ehlers

In the fall of 1994, CCB launched a small project to investigate the migration of northern saw-whet owls on the lower Delmarva Peninsula. Prior to this time there were only 5 site records of the species along the Delmarva. During the 15-year study, more than 3,300 owls have been banded and more than 100 foreign recaptures and returns have been recorded. In addition to many new discoveries about saw-whet migration, the project has given many students and young researchers opportunities to experience migration research and has allowed the public the opportunity to see this secretive species.

Full story at CCB's online newsletter

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Photo (c) George Roberts

More than thirty bald & golden eagles have been fitted with lightweight, solar-powered, satellite transmitters by CCB researchers. You, too, can follow these eagles, finding their detailed profiles at WildlifeTracking.org, under the Center for Conservation Biology's Chesapeake Bay Eagle Project and also support CCB's eagle tracking by adopting one or more eagles. Satellite-transmitters enable CCB to collect detailed geographical data on where and when these species migrate and how they spend their time in the Chesapeake region.

Learn more at CCB's online newsletter

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