James River bald eagles reach symbolic milestone of 300 pairs
Farewell to Hope
April 3, 2019
Last of the survivor trees
July 9, 2019By Bryan Watts | bdwatt@wm.edu | (757) 221-2247
July 3, 2019
The Center for Conservation Biology at the College of William & Mary and Virginia Commonwealth University has compiled the 2019 survey results for bald eagles nesting along the James River. The breeding population has increased to 302 pairs and the river is the most significant tributary for eagles throughout the Commonwealth. The 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 in the 1970s. 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).
The 300-pair barrier 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. 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 is the largest in eastern North America.
Bald eagles breeding along the James River have been surveyed via airplane every spring since 1962. Jackson Abbott, the grandfather of the survey, stated in 1962 that Jamestown Island on the James was the center of the Chesapeake Bay population because it supported three breeding pairs. In 1963, an adult female experiencing convulsions was recovered from Jamestown Island and later died of DDT poisoning. By 1975, there were no known breeding pairs remaining on the entire James River. In 1980, the first breeding pair returned to the James on Upper Chippokes Creek and the population has continued to increase since that year. During the 2019 breeding season, Jamestown Island supported an amazing eight occupied territories.
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
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A bald eagle nest just off the Poropotank River in Virginia in 2003. A nest with two equal young and ample food was a normal scene during this time period. This reflects a golden period during the late 1990s and early 2000s when males had more leisure time to hunt and provide for broods. Photo by Catherine Markham.
Breeding female on the Eltham Bridge. This female was hatched on Elkins Marsh along the seaside of the Delmarva in 2010 and has held the territory on the Eltham Bridge since 2013 with three successive males. She has been very aggressive and protective of the nest site and has held the territory together. She was found with a wing injury from a collision in December and could not be rehabilitated. She is one of a number of falcons that have been documented to go down in 2022. Photo by Bryan Watts.