A Bell's Vireo was captured and banded on 19 September 2010 on the Eastern
Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge (ESVNWR). The species was
previously a Category 2 species in the Virginia Society of Ornithology
Annotated Checklist (i.e., Goldbook), indicating there was an accepted sight
record of the species but no physical evidence. This older sight record
occurred in the spring of 1962.
The Bell's Vireo was captured along the butterfly trail near the refuge
visitor's center. This work is the result of a cooperative study between
the staff of the ESVNWR and Center for Conservation Biology that is designed
to assess migrant bird use and management of early successional habitats.
The refuge is currently managing approximately 300 acres in early
successional grassland/shrub-scrub habitat. The information collected will
also be used as part of a larger regional U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
study on assessing population trends of fall migrant landbirds using
shrub-scrub habitat.
Michael Wilson
Center for Conservation Biology
College of William and Mary & Virginia Commonwealth University
PO Box 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
phone: 757-221-1649
fax: 757-221-1650
email: mdwils@xxxxxx