[va-richmond-general] VaEagles website launched with nest locator application

The Center for Conservation Biology invites the public to 
become involved in eagle conservation as the Virginia breeding 
population continues to climb

        (Williamsburg, VA)---The Center for Conservation 
Biology at the College of William and Mary and Virginia 
Commonwealth University has developed a VAEagles website 
(http://www.ccb-wm.org/virginiaeagles/) that hosts a Google 
Maps application allowing users to locate documented eagle 
nests and to view their mapped locations on a county by county 
basis.  For the first time in the 54-year history of the 
annual bald eagle survey, the location of known nests are 
being made available online to the public.  The results of the 
2009 survey are being made available in the hope that the 
public will become more actively involved in the conservation 
of this species throughout Virginia.  We believe that breeding 
sites may be better protected in the long term if they are 
known to the public.  Despite our best efforts, an unknown 
number of eagle nests go unrecorded each year.  This is 
particularly true in the Piedmont and mountain regions of 
Virginia where there is no survey effort.  We believe that the 
public knows of many nests that are unknown to us.  We are 
requesting that the public view nests in their locality and 
report nests that are currently not included in the annual 
survey.  

The Center has compiled 2009 survey results for the Virginia 
bald eagle population.  The number of known breeding pairs has 
increased nearly 5% from 584 pairs in 2008, to 612 pairs in 
2009.  This is the highest number of breeding pairs ever 
recorded in the state.  Despite widespread and early nest 
failures caused by a strong storm during the peak of 
incubation, pairs recovered and produced 826 chicks.  Chick 
production was second only to the record 2008 season.  Since 
2000, 6240 chicks have been documented in the state.  The 
tidal fresh reach of the James and Rappahannock Rivers 
continue to provide the most significant breeding habitat for 
bald eagles in Virginia.

Media Contact: Dr. Bryan Watts,Executive Director, Center for 
Conservation Biology - College of William and Mary & Virginia 
Commonwealth University.  757-221-2247, bdwatt@xxxxxx

posted for Bryan by:

Mike Wilson
Center for Conservation Biology
College of W&M and VCU
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