Press Release

October 1, 2025

Deficit in breeding performance expands for Chesapeake Bay ospreys

News Advisory FROM:  The Center for Conservation Biology, William & Mary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  29 September, 2025 MEDIA CONTACTS:         Dr. Bryan D. Watts, Director Center for […]
June 16, 2025

Osprey population along the seaside of the Delmarva Peninsula has collapsed

News Advisory FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  16 June 2025 MEDIA CONTACTS:         Dr. Bryan D. Watts, Director                                          Center for Conservation Biology                                          William & Mary                                          bdwatt@wm.edu                                          (757) 221-2247 BRIEF           (Williamsburg, VA) — […]
September 11, 2024

Chesapeake Bay ospreys continue to experience poor breeding performance due to starvation

News Advisory FROM:           Center for Conservation Biology, William & Mary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  13 September 2024 MEDIA CONTACTS:         Dr. Bryan D. Watts, Director                                          Center for Conservation […]
July 14, 2023

The Center for Conservation Biology documents unprecedented osprey nest failures within the lower Chesapeake Bay

For release: July 14, 2023 Williamsburg, VA – In 2023, The Center for Conservation Biology has documented the highest rate of osprey nest failure ever recorded […]
June 30, 2016

Virginia bald eagle breeding population exceeds 1,000 pairs

(Williamsburg, VA)—The Center for Conservation Biology at the College of William and Mary and Virginia Commonwealth University has compiled 2016 survey results for the Virginia bald […]
December 10, 2014

Red knots receive Endangered Species Act listing – Virginia to play critical role

In a press conference held on December 9th, 2014, Service Director Dan Ashe announced the decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to designate the […]
May 6, 2013

Mackenzie whimbrels complete third leg of unknown loop migration route

FROM: Center for Conservation Biology, College of William and Mary – Virginia Commonwealth University FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 04 April, 2013 MEDIA CONTACTS: Dr. Bryan D. Watts, […]
August 13, 2012

Brassy whimbrels fly more than 2,500 miles out to sea and through the heart of the Atlantic Ocean completing a nonstop flight of 6 days

(Williamsburg, VA)—Scientists at the Center for Conservation Biology (CCB) have tracked 3 whimbrels off the east coast of Canada to the northern shore of South America […]
June 26, 2012

Center for Conservation Biology Launches New Nightjar Survey Network Website

(Williamsburg, VA) Nightjars are an enigmatic group of bird species that includes the Common Nighthawk, Whip-poor-will, Chuck-will’s-widow, Common Poorwill and others that are active only at […]
September 14, 2011

Goshen a shorebird tracked by scientists becomes second study bird to be lost on Guadeloupe

(Williamsburg, VA)—Scientists at the Center for Conservation Biology have determined that a second whimbrel they had been tracking as part of a long-term migration study has […]
September 12, 2011

Machi a shorebird tracked by scientists survives tropical storm only to be killed by hunters on Guadeloupe

(Williamsburg, VA)—Scientists at the Center for Conservation Biology learned today that a whimbrel that they had been tracking via satellite for 2 years as part of […]
September 7, 2011

Bald eagle nests along James River battered by Hurricane Irene

(Williamsburg, VA)—Bald eagle nests along the historic James River were hit hard by Hurricane Irene. Of 154 nests examined during an aerial survey on 3 September, […]
September 5, 2011

Bald eagle population booming along historic James River

(Williamsburg, VA)—The Center for Conservation Biology at the College of William and Mary and Virginia Commonwealth University has compiled 2011 survey results for the Virginia bald […]
August 25, 2011

Scientists Track Shorebird into Hurricane Irene

(Williamsburg, VA)—Scientists have tracked a migrating shorebird into Hurricane Irene. The shorebird, a whimbrel migrating from Canada to South America left Southampton Island in upper Hudson […]