Fletcher Smith

Research Associate

fletcher.smith@dnr.ga.gov

Research Background
Fletcher has worked with a diversity of bird species throughout the western hemisphere following migrants from their breeding to winter grounds. His research projects with CCB included work with Whimbrels, Red Knots, Marsh Sparrows, and neo-tropical migrants. In addition, he has conducted breeding bird surveys, managed the Saw-whet Owl banding program, and was CCB’s primary rocket netter. Fletcher currently works at Georgia’s Department of Natural Resources.

Education
B.S. in Biology, Northland College

Recent Publications

Hines, C. and F. M. Smith. 2019. Winter Distribution and Migration Ecology of The Ipswich Sparrow in the mid-Atlantic: Year 2019 Annual Report. The Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series: CCBTR-19-11.William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA. 5 pp.

Smith, F. M., B. D. Watts, L.A. Allison, L. Epp, and E. Trampenau. 2019. Assessing Important Horseshoe Crab Spawning Areas and Examination of Spring Red Knot Diet in Coastal Georgia Using DNA barcoding. Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series: CCBTR-19-23. College of William and Mary/Virginia Commonwealth University, Williamsburg, VA. 23 pp.

Smith, F. M., C. Hines, L. Duval, and Y. Diaz. 2019. Fall 2018 Panama Shorebirds Summary Report. The Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series: CCBTR-19-04. College of William and Mary & Virginia Commonwealth University, Williamsburg, VA. 4 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, D. J. Hamilton, T. Keyes, J. Paquet, L. Pirie-Dominix, J. Rausch, B. Truitt, B. Winn and P. Woodward. 2019. Seasonal variation in mortality rates for whimbrels (Numenius Phaeopus) using the Western Atlantic Flyway. Condor 121:1-13.

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.

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.

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., 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.

Watts, B. D., S. Smith, D. Hamilton, and J. Paquet. 2017. Whimbrel Survivorship Throughout the Annual Cycle. 2017 Interim Report.. The Center for Conservation Biology Technical Report Series: CCBTR-17-19. College of William and Mary & Virginia Commonwealth University. Williamsburg, VA.

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., 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., F. M. Smith, and B. R. Truitt. 2017. Departure patterns of Whimbrels using a terminal spring staging area. Wader Study 124:141-146.

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.

Bulla, M. et al. 2016. Unexpected diversity in socially synchronized rhythms of shorebirds. Nature. Advance online publication: 2016/11/23. 1476-4687.

Anderson, C. M., F. M. Smith, and P. F. Woodward. 2016. An Interspecific Mixed Clutch of Semipalmated Sandpiper and Lapland Longspur Eggs. Waterbirds 39:323-326.

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.

Watts, B. D., F. M. Smith, C. Poli, N. Banfield, and T. Jones. 2015. Bell’s Vireo captured on lower Delmarva Peninsula. The Raven 86:11-12.

Watts, B. D. and F. M. Smith. 2015. Winter composition of Nelson’s and saltmarsh sparrows in coastal Virginia. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 127: 387-394.