Barton Paxton - The Center for Conservation Biology

Bart Paxton

Research Biologist

bjpaxt@wm.edu
(757) 221-1639

Research Background
A West Virginia native, Bart joined the Center in the fall of 1999. Initially hired as a field coordinator, he quickly migrated to the primary geospatial analyst for the center. Currently he splits his time between a desk and the field. When not at a computer, he can be found running MAPS stations, conducting aerial surveys, re-sighting red-cockaded woodpeckers, capturing raptors and shorebirds for tracking, or assisting with numerous other projects.

Education
B.S. in Biology, West Virginia State College
Graduate Studies in Biology at Marshall University

Recent Publications

Watts, B. D. and B. J. Paxton. 2020. Assessing the status and distribution of non-breeding double-crested cormorants along the coast of North Carolina. Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series: CCBTR-20-07. William & Mary, 4 pp.

Watts, B. D., C. Hines, L. Duval, B. J. Paxton, and J. Wright. 2020. Investigation of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers within the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge: 2019 report.The Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series, CCBTR-20-04. William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA. 18 pp.

Watts, B. D. and B. J. Paxton. 2020. Assessing the status and distribution of non-breeding double-crested cormorants along the coast of North Carolina, Quarterly report: Fall 2019. Center for Biology Technical Report Series, CCBTR-20-01. William & Mary. 5 pp.

Paxton, B. J. 2019. Informing Bald Eagle Management on Naval Facilities: Deployment of 2 GSM/GPS Transmitters on Bald Eagle Chicks and Naval Support Facility Indian Head 2019. The Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series, CCBTR-19-12. College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA. 4 pp.

Paxton, B. J., B. D. Watts. 2019. An assessment of the Bald Eagle and Great Blue Heron breeding populations along High Rock, Tuckertown, Narrows, and Falls Reservoirs in central North Carolina: 2019 breeding season. Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series, CCBTR-19-10. William & Mary and Virginia Commonwealth University, Williamsburg, VA. 84 pp.

Paxton, B. J. 2019. Bald Eagle Nest Surveys at Naval Support Facility Indian Head, Naval Support Facility Dahlgren, Naval Air Station Patuxent River, and Blossom Point Research Facility-2019. Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series, CCBTR-19-09. William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA. 14 pp.

Paxton, B. J. 2019. Bald Eagle Banding at Naval Air Station Patuxent River-2019. The Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series: CCBTR-19-08. College of William and Mary & Virginia Commonwealth University, Williamsburg, VA. 4 pp.

Paxton, B. J. 2019. Aerial surveys of Lake Gaston and Roanoke Rapids Lake for nesting bald eagles: 2019 season. Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series, CCBTR-19-07. College of William and Mary/Virginia Commonwealth University, Williamsburg, VA. 32 pp.

Watts, B. D., B. J. Paxton, R. Boettcher, and A. L. Wilke. 2019. Status and distribution of colonial waterbirds in coastal Virginia: 2018 breeding season. Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series, CCBTR-19-06. College of William and Mary & Virginia Commonwealth University, Williamsburg, VA. 28 pp.

Watts, B. D. and B. J. Paxton. 2019. Baseline bird surveys of Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge: 2018 Season. The Center for Biology Technical Report Series, CCBTR-19-03. College of William and Mary and Virginia Commonwealth University. 14 pp.

Watts, B. D. and B. J. Paxton. 2019. Eagle Nest and Roost Monitoring within Exelon Lands: Muddy Run Pumped Storage Project (FERC No. 2355) and Conowingo Hydroelectric Project (FERC No. 405). Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series, CCBTR-19-02. College of William & Mary and Virginia Commonwealth University, Williamsburg, VA. 44 pp.

Watts, B. D., C. Hines, L. Duval, B. J. Paxton, F. M. Smith, and J. Wright. 2019. Investigation of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers within the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge: 2018 report. Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series, CCBTR-19-01. College of William and Mary and Virginia Commonwealth University, Williamsburg, VA. 16 pp.

Watts, B. D., F. M. Smith, B. J. Paxton, C. Hines, and L. Duval. 2018. Investigation of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers in Virginia: Year 2018 report. Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series, CCBTR-18-17. College of William and Mary and Virginia Commonwealth University, Williamsburg, VA. 33 pp.

Paxton, B. J. 2018. Bald Eagle Nest Surveys at Naval Support Facility Indian Head, Naval Support Facility Dahlgren, Naval Air Station Patuxent River, and Blossom Point Research Facility-2018. Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series, CCBTR-18-16. College of William and Mary and Virginia Commonwealth University, Williamsburg, VA. 13 pp.

Paxton, B. J. and B. D. Watts. 2018. An assessment of the Bald Eagle and Great Blue Heron breeding populations along High Rock, Tuckertown, Narrows, and Falls Reservoirs in central North Carolina: 2018 breeding season. Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series, CCBTR-18-15. College of William and Mary/Virginia Commonwealth University, Williamsburg, VA. 51 pp.

Watts, B. D., B. J. Paxton, and M. L. Pitts. 2018. Exposure of bald eagle nestlings to contaminants on National Park Service lands within the Chesapeake Bay. The Center for Biology Technical Report Series, CCBTR-18-13. College of William and Mary and Virginia Commonwealth University. 57 pp.

Smith, F. M., B. D. Watts, B. J. Paxton, L. S. Duval and J. A. Linscott. 2018. Assessment of Black Rail Status in North Carolina, Breeding Season 2017 and 2018 Summaries. Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series: CCBTR-18-12. College of William and Mary and Virginia Commonwealth University, Williamsburg, VA. 45 pp.

Smith, F. M., B. D. Watts, B. J. Paxton, and L. S. Duval. 2018. Assessment of Black Rail Status in Georgia, Breeding Season 2017 and 2018 Summaries. Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series: CCBTR-18-10. College of William and Mary and Virginia Commonwealth University, Williamsburg, VA. 48 pp.

Paxton, B. J. 2018. Bald Eagle Banding at Naval Air Station Patuxent River-2018. The Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series: CCBTR-18-07. College of William and Mary & Virginia Commonwealth University, Williamsburg, VA. 4 pp.

Watts, B. D., B. J. Paxton, and F. M. Smith. 2018. Assessment of black rail status in North Carolina, Interim report: Spring 2018. Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series, CCBTR-18-05. College of William and Mary and Virginia Commonwealth University. 8 pp.

Watts, B. D., B. J. Paxton, and F. M. Smith. 2018. Assessment of black rail status in Georgia, Interim report: Summer 2018. Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series, CCBTR-18-04. College of William and Mary and Virginia Commonwealth University. 9 pp.

Watts, B. D. and B. J. Paxton. 2018. Assessing the status and distribution of colonial waterbirds in coastal Virginia: 2018 breeding season. Center for Biology Technical Report Series, CCBTR-18-03. College of William and Mary and Virginia Commonwealth University. Williamsburg, VA. 5 pp.

Paxton, B. J. 2018. Aerial surveys of the proposed York Haven nature like fishway project for nesting bald eagles: 2018 breeding season. The Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series: CCBTR-18-02. College of William and Mary & Virginia Commonwealth Universtiy, Williamsburv, VA. 8 pp.

Watts, B. D., B. J. Paxton, F. M. Smith, and J. Wright. 2018. Investigation of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers within the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge: 2017 report. Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series, CCBTR-18-01. College of William and Mary and Virginia Commonwealth University, Williamsburg, VA. 11 pp.

Watts, B. D., B. J. Paxton and F. M. Smith. 2017. Assessment of black rail status in North Carolina, Interim report: Fall 2017. Center for Biology Technical Report Series, CCBTR-17-18. College of William and Mary and Virginia Commonwealth University. 3 pp.

Watts, B. D., F. M. Smith, B. J. Paxton and M. Pavlosky, Jr. 2017. Investigation of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers in Virginia: Year 2017 report. Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series, CCBTR-17-17. College of William and Mary and Virginia Commonwealth University, Williamsburg, VA. 18 pp.

Paxton, B. J. 2017. Bald Eagle Nest Surveys at Naval Support Facility Indian Head, Naval Support Facility Dahlgren, Naval Air Station Patuxent River, and Blossom Point Research Facility-2017. Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series, CCBTR-17-16. College of William and Mary and Virginia Commonwealth University, Williamsburg, VA. 13 pp.

Paxton, B. J., B. D. Watts. 2017. An assessment of the Bald Eagle and Great Blue Heron breeding populations along High Rock, Tuckertown, Narrows, and Falls Reservoirs in central North Carolina: 2017 breeding season. Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series, CCBTR-17-15. College of William and Mary/Virginia Commonwealth University, Williamsburg, VA. 63 pp.

Watts, B. D. and M. U. Watts. 2017. Virginia peregrine falcon monitoring and management program: Year 2017 report. Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series, CCBTR-17-14. College of William and Mary & Virginia Commonwealth University, Williamsburg, VA. 25 pp.

Watts, B. D. and B. J. Paxton. 2017. Baseline bird surveys of Plum Tree Island National Wildlife Refuge: Fall 2017. The Center for Biology Technical Report Series, CCBTR-17-13. College of William and Mary and Virginia Commonwealth University. 15 pp.

Smith, F. M., B. D. Watts, and B. J. Paxton. 2017. Frequency and Distribution of Birds within Forested Wetlands – Breeding and Wintering Seasons. The Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series, CCBTR-17-07. College of William and Mary & Virginia Commonwealth University, Williamsburg, VA. 18 pp.

Watts, B. D., V. Greene, and E. Chapman. 2017. Working bibliography of the eastern black rail in North America, Version 2.0. The Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series, CCBTR-17-06. College of William and Mary/Virginia Commonwealth University, Williamsburg, VA. 76 pp.

Watts, B. D., B. J. Paxton and F. M. Smith. 2017. Assessment of black rail status in North Carolina, Interim report: Spring 2017. Center for Biology Technical Report Series, CCBTR-17-05. College of William and Mary and Virginia Commonwealth University. Williamsburg, VA. 9 pp.

Smith, F. M., B. D. Watts, J. E. Lyons, T. S. Keyes, and B. Winn. 2017. Investigating red knot migration ecology along the Georgia coast: fall 2015 and spring 2013, 2015-16 season summaries. Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series: CCBTR-17-04. College of William and Mary/Virginia Commonwealth University, Williamsburg, VA. 93 pp.

Watts, B. D., M. D. Wilson, C. J. Lotts, F. M. Smith, and B. J. Paxton. 2017. Investigation of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers in Virginia: 2017 report. The Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series: ccbtr-17-02. College of William & Mary and Virginia Commonwealth University, Williamsburg, VA. 16 pp.

Watts, B. D. 2017. Investigation of breeding peregrine falcons on bridges. The Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series: ccbtr-17-01. College of William and Mary & Virginia Commonwealth University, Williamsburg, VA. 38 pp.

Watts, B. D. and M. U. Watts. 2016. Virginia peregrine falcon monitoring and management program: Year 2016 report. Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series, CCBTR-16-12. College of William and Mary & Virginia Commonwealth University, Williamsburg, VA. 23 pp.

Paxton, B.J., B.D. Watts. 2016. An assessment of the Bald Eagle and Great Blue Heron breeding populations along High Rock, Tuckertown, Narrows, and Falls Reservoirs in central North Carolina: 2016 breeding season. Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series, CCBTR-16-11. College of William and Mary/Virginia Commonwealth University, Williamsburg, VA. 51 pp.

Watts, B. D. 2016. Status and distribution of the eastern black rail along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of North America. The Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series: CCBTR-16-09. College of William and Mary & Virginia Commonwealth University, Williamsburg, VA. 148 pp.

Paxton, B.J., B.D. Watts. 2016. An assessment of the Bald Eagle and Great Blue Heron breeding populations along High Rock, Tuckertown, Narrows, and Falls Reservoirs in central North Carolina: 2016 breeding season. Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series, CCBTR-16-08. College of William and Mary/Virginia Commonwealth University, Williamsburg, VA. 50 pp.

Watts, B. D. and V. Greene 2016. Working bibliography of the eastern black rail along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts of North America, Version 1.0. The Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series, CCBTR-16-07. College of William and Mary/Virginia Commonwealth University, Williamsburg, VA. 3 pp.

Watts, B. D., B. J. Paxton, M. D. Wilson and P. Denmon. 2016. Fruit availability and consumer demand within a major migration stopover area: The lower Delmarva Peninsula. Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series, CCBTR-16-06. College of William and Mary/Virginia Commonwealth University, Williamsburg, VA. 29 pp.

Paxton, B. J., B. D. Watts, and F. M. Smith. 2016. An assessment of the Bald Eagle and Great Blue Heron breeding populations along High Rock, Tuckertown, Narrows, and Falls Reservoirs in central North Carolina: 2015 breeding season. The Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series, CCBTR-16-04. College of William and Mary & Virginia Commonwealth University, Williamsburg, VA. 44 pp.

Watts, B. D., M. D. Wilson, C. Lotts, F. M. Smith, and B. J. Paxton. 2016. Investigation of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers in Virginia: Year 2015 report. Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series, CCBTR-16-03. College of William and Mary and Virginia Commonwealth University, Williamsburg, VA. 26 pp.

Wilson, M. D., B. D. Watts, and D. Poulton. 2016. Black Rails in North Carolina. The Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series: CCBTR-16-01. College of William and Mary & Virginia Commonwealth University, Williamsburg, VA. 21 pp.

Watts, B. D., E. K. Mojica, and B. J. Paxton. 2015. Seasonal variation in space use by nonbreeding bald eagles within the upper Chesapeake Bay. Journal of Raptor Research 49(3): 250-258.

Watts, B. D., Mojica, E. K. and Paxton, B. J. 2015. Using Brownian bridges to assess potential interactions between bald eagles and electrical hazards within the upper Chesapeake Bay. The Journal of Wildlife Management 79:435-445.

Watts, B. D. and E. K. Mojica. 2015. Virginia Peregrine Falcon monitoring and management program: Year 2015 report. The Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series: ccbtr-15-06. College of William and Mary & Virginia Commonwealth University, Williamsburg, VA. 18 pp.

Wilson, M. D., B. D. Watts, C. Lotts, F. M. Smith, and B. J. Paxton, 2015. Investigation of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers in Virginia: Year 2014 report. Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series, CCBTR-15-005. College of William and Mary and Virginia Commonwealth University, Williamsburg, VA. 28 pp.

Wilson, M. D., F. M. Smith, and B. D. Watts. 2015. Re-Survey and Population Status Update of the Black Rail in Virginia. The Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series: CCBTR-15-04. College of William and Mary & Virginia Commonwealth University, Williamsburg, VA. 14 pp.

Watts, B. D., B. J. Paxton, and F.M. Smith. 2015. Shorebird banding and training within the Upper Bay of Panama Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve. Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series, CCBTR-15-03. College of William and Mary/Virginia Commonwealth University, Williamsburg, VA. 12 pp.

Smith, F. M. and B. D. Watts. 2015. Surveys and Habitat Use of the Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) During Fall Migration Along the Acadian Peninsula of New Brunswick, Canada, 2014. Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series CCBTR-15-02. College of William and Mary/Virginia Commonwealth University, Williamsburg, VA. 21 pp.