For the Glorious Fourth, the James River eagles have landed (and nested)

Home, sweet home: A bald eagle strikes an unusual “spread eagle” pose on a nest near Hopewell along the James River. Researchers from the Center for Conservation Biology fly at eagle-eye level in a small plane to keep tabs on the breeding bald eagle population along the James River and other parts of the Chesapeake drainage. Photo by Bryan Watts

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by Center for Conservation Biology | July 3, 2019

The Center for Conservation Biology has compiled 2019 survey results for bald eagles nesting along the James River.

CCB Director Bryan D. Watts reports that the breeding population has increased to 302 pairs, making the James the most significant tributary for eagles throughout the Commonwealth.

“This new milestone is particularly gratifying since the James is the only major tributary of the Chesapeake Bay where the species completely disappeared as a breeder during the 1970s,” Watts said.

During the 2019 breeding season, the population produced 344 young. Strongholds along the river include Charles City County (62 pairs), James City County (50 pairs), Surry County (39 pairs) and Prince George County (36 pairs).

Where the nests are: CCB maps plot expansion of bald eagle nest sites. Watts added that the 300-pair mark represents a symbolic milestone: In 1990, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service Bald Eagle Recovery Team established 300 pairs as the recovery goal for the entire Chesapeake Bay.

“For the James River alone to have surpassed this goal is a remarkable achievement,” Watts said. “The James now supports one of the densest breeding populations found anywhere throughout the species range.”

Based on subsampling, the population for the tidal reach of the broader Chesapeake Bay is now estimated above 3,000 breeding pairs — ten times the initial recovery goal and the largest in eastern North America.

The CCB has been conducting annual census surveys of the bald eagle population since 1977. The Center for Conservation Biology is a joint program of William & Mary and Virginia Commonwealth University.

Bald Eagle Timeline for the James River

1950s – 23 pairs known to nest
1963 – An adult female was found on Jamestown Island dying of DDT poisoning
1972 – DDT was banned in United States
1975 – No breeding pairs remain
1980 – A single breeding pair established nesting territory
1990 – 18 breeding pairs found
2000 – 57 breeding pairs found
2013 – 204 breeding pairs found
2019 – 302 breeding pairs found