Trouble viewing the above flash gallery? Use link in right column to get Flash.
Features
Conservation in conflict: Peregrines vs red knots
It can be particularly challenging to manage predators and their primary prey within the same geographic location when both are of high conservation concern. Since the late 1970s, strategies to recover the peregrine falcon population in eastern North America have included encouraging birds to nest on artificial structures on the outer fringe of the mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain. A recent study by CCB & TNC has been the first to demonstrate that active peregrine territories are having an impact on the availability of habitat for staging red knots. It is possible that this predator-prey interaction may have a negative impact on the ability of red knots to prepare for their final flight to breeding grounds in the high arctic.
Eagle economics & the burden of conservation success
The survival of the majority of endangered species in the United States will ultimately depend on our ability to manage habitats on private lands. Bald eagle population around the Chesapeake has grown exponentially in the last decade, and their preference for coastal land means more than 75% of pairs nest on privately-owned land, and availability of undeveloped waterfront property now limits the populations spread.
Investigation of shrubland migrants on the Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge
Along the Atlantic Coast, significant barriers such as large bodies of water act as migration bottlenecks funneling large numbers of birds onto relatively small land masses. For southbound migrants, the Chesapeake Bay is one of the largest physical barriers along the East Coast of North America. Many of these birds depend on habitats found within the lower peninsula for rest and refueling before leaving on the next leg of their migration. In the fall of 2009, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service initiated a study of shrubland migrants within a network of several refuges including the Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge.
Red knot resight data indicates flux between two migration staging areas
Most research concerning possible explanations for the decline of the rufa subspecies of the red knot has focused on the foraging conditions within Delaware Bay. The diet of red knots staging along the Virginia Barrier Islands differs from that of knots in Delaware Bay. In Delaware Bay, red knots feast on horseshoe crab eggs, but in Virginia's islands, on bivalves within the intertidal zone. CCB researchers have found that birds are moving between these two staging areas, implying that the migration ecology of this population may be more flexible than previously thought and highlights the importance of the entire mid-Atlantic Coast for this declining species.
Flexibility of cormorant and pelican diets
Understanding the ecological role that birds play in the Chesapeake Bay has been a dominant theme for research conducted by CCB. In recent years, CCB has collaborated with researchers from the Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Virginia on a NOAA-funded project to evaluate bird-fish interactions within the Chesapeake Bay with a focus on menhaden. During the 2009 breeding season, we investigated the diet of breeding double-crested cormorants and brown pelicans nesting within the main stem of the Bay.
Conowingo Dam, a hotspot for eagle resights
The spillway below the Conowingo Dam near the mouth of the Susquehanna River is likely the best eagle viewing location in Eastern North America. It attracts non-breeding eagles from populations along the entire Atlantic Coast. Though numbers peak around 300 in the late fall and winter, there are thousands of eagles that pass through this site over the course of a year. The site is an important data collection site for eagle researchers. Resighting of banded birds has contributed a great deal to what we know about species’ dispersal/movement patterns and survivorship. Conowingo provides an opportunity to simultaneously watch eagles and contribute to ongoing research by reading and reporting band combinations.
In The News
Tracking whimbrels to tropical wintering grounds
CCB and a growing list of partners including The Nature Conservancy, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program continue to investigate whimbrel migration. For the second year, a field crew led by Fletcher Smith worked with whimbrels during both the spring and fall migration periods. Those whimbrels' geographic progress have been tracked and continue to teach us all more about this species.
Working for conservation and management of the Eastern black rail
The black rail has quietly slipped into being one of the most endangered birds along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. Black rails have long been known for their rarity among birders and conservationists but only recently have we become to realize how much at risk of extirpation they may be. Over the past 10-20 years, some reports indicate that populations have declined 75% or greater.
End of an era: Metompkin peregrine tower removed after 25 years of service
Key to peregrine falcon recovery in Eastern North America was the release of captive-reared birds into the mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain by a management technique known as “hacking.” To do this, nest towers were constructed within the region between 1975 and 1985. Since then, scientists continued to evaluate trade-offs between waterbird conservation and peregrine recovery. In January of 2010, a joint decision was made by CCB, TNC, and the state of VA to remove Metompkin tower, to reduce peregrine impact on sensitive shorebird populations on the barrier islands of VA.
New Eagle Nest blog dedicated to nesting behavior
A new blog and discussion site was created to compliment the existing EagleTrak blog & website, which have followed the progress of satellite-tagged nearly 1-year old eagle, Azalea (banded HH) from her natal nest at Norfolk Botanical Garden, and will follow successive tracked eagles, including the next satellite-transmitter wearing eaglet from the same nest this spring. CCB Research Associate, Reese Lukei, Jr., posts WVEC eaglecam still captures and provides insight into the lives of the bald eagle pair at Norfolk Botanical Garden on EagleNest blog.
Are you curious about the nesting behavior of eagles?
Visit EagleNest blog to learn, and pose your own questions.
Other News
Media coverage of CCB's research, including:
Stories on Azalea's progress during her first winter
Photos and stories about bald eagle pair at NBG
For these and more, go to CCB's media coverage page.
Recent Findings
United States Nightjar Survey wraps-up third year
Volunteers from across the country set out again after the sun went down to assist in the third year of the United States Nightjar Survey. The summer effort of 2009 resulted in the night survey of 249 routes that recorded 348 common nighthawks, 708 chuck-will’s-widows, 392 whip-poor-wills, 168 common poorwills, 128 lesser nighthawks, and 1 common paraque. We continue to see program participation grow with nearly 400 volunteers adopting routes for the 2009 season.
Evidence for whimbrel population decline continues to mount
Surveys in major migratory staging areas may provide one of the best assessments of shorebird population sizes and trends particularly for species that are widely dispersed during both the breeding and wintering periods. Since 1994, Bryan Watts of CCB and Barry Truitt of TNC have been conducting aerial surveys of shorebirds staging along the lower Delmarva Peninsula seaside each Spring. In just 12 years, the peak number of birds detected within the network of transects declined by 50%.
Success of red-cockaded woodpecker translocations
By 1970, drastic losses in habitat of the red-cockaded woodpecker had reduced populations drastically. Recognized as endangered and federally protected under 1973's Endangered Species Act, the largest remaining populations were stabilized from further decline by 1990, but small, isolated populations faced intensive habitat restoration and management to prevent their extirpation. Despite being listed as Endangered, more than half of the known Virginia population was lost between 1977 and 1980 to deforestation. Researchers use many management tools, including translocation of individuals from donor populations, to help this species come back.
In touch with Wayne's warbler
Wayne’s warbler is a unique, disjunct subspecies of the black-throated green warbler. The nominate race breeds in coniferous forests across northern latitudes of North America and higher elevations of the Appalachians. The Wayne’s form is smaller than the nominate race and has a distinctly smaller bill. Wayne’s smaller breeding range is restricted to the South Atlantic Coastal Plain from SE Virginia to South Carolina, within a narrow band of the coastal plain. CCB recently surveyed Wayne's warbler to obtain breeding, habitat, and density data.
Phragmites threatens tidal wetland habitats
Tidal wetlands are important to coastal ecosystems, providing flood protection, erosion control and water filtration. Tidal wetlands also provide essential habitats for wildlife that rely on these marsh habitats as a site for breeding and development. Historical wetland surveys indicate about 50% of marshes present along the Atlantic and gulf coasts in 1900 have since disappeared. Structure and functioning of high marsh habitats are currently threatened from invasion of exotic, invasive plant species such as the common reed, Phragmites australis.
Conservation Profiles
CCB graduate student: Elizabeth Long
Elizabeth Long completed her Masters Thesis at William & Mary through The Center for Conservation Biology in 2009, having studied peregrine falcon diets to learn about potential detrimental effects of brominated fire retardants in the food chain, as well as the predator-prey affect that peregrines have on populations of their prey species. Ms. Long is now at the University of California, Davis, pursuing her Ph.D. in Ecology.
Previously featured profiles
Get Involved
Find-out how you can interact more with CCB:
Learn how to shop to support CCB through our new GiveBackAmerica.org charity page, featuring 100+ major online shopping sites
New opportunities to sponsor CCB's satellite-tagged birds through WildlifeTracking.org
Watch peregrine nesting behavior during breeding season on CCB's live FalconCams.
Participate in citizen-science monitoring projects, like the US Nightjar Network.
Learn how to report on one of CCB's marked birds.
Help CCB by recommending our e-newsletter to a friend or by pledging your financial support.
Browse opportunities to get involved...
