W&M eagle scientists named 2007 Recovery Champions
Eagle researchers Mitchell Byrd and Bryan Watts of
William and Mary’s Center for Conservation Biology were among the
recipients of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Recovery
Champion awards for 2007.
The announcement of the 16 award winners was made March 28 by H. Dale
Hall, director of the federal agency. The Recovery Champion award
recognizes outstanding contributions of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
employees and their partners toward recovering threatened and
endangered species in the United States.
Byrd and Watts were honored for promoting the recovery of the bald eagle. Together, they founded the Center for Conservation Biology at William and Mary in 1991. Their research has been used to evaluate development plans that could affect eagle habitat, to understand the ecology of Chesapeake Bay eagles and to establish protected areas for eagles, such as the Mason Neck and James River National Wildlife Refuges.
Byrd is the retired Chancellor Professor of Biology at the
College, while Watts is a research professor and current director of
the Center for Conservation Biology. They have documented and promoted
the recovery of the bald eagle to the Chesapeake Bay region, largely
through regular census flights over nesting habitat on the shores of
the Bay and its tributaries.
“Doctors Byrd and Watts exemplify leadership in research, advocacy,
partnerships and habitat protection directly contributing to the
recovery of the bald eagle, particularly in the unique and vital
Chesapeake Bay region,” said Marvin E. Moriarty, Northeast Region
director of the Fish and Wildlife Service.
Additional information is available at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Recovery Champion Web site http://www.fws.gov/endangered/recovery/champions/index.html and at the web site of the Center for Conservation Biology at William and Mary at http://ccb.wm.edu/, which includes a link to a bald eagle nest monitoring page.
