More Help for Seabirds: Take Action by September 5

Photo: Black Skimmers, Dan Ion/Audubon Photography Awards

Let the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers know that you support development of a permanent habitat for Virginia’s largest seabird colony. The project would use dredged spoil to build an island in Hampton Roads/Norfolk Harbor. The Corps and the Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) are launching a study as an initial step in designing and authorizing that development.

You will recall the successful campaign in spring 2020 to find a temporary site for the seabird colony displaced by the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel Project. DWR and many natural resource groups throughout Virginia worked with the Governor and the Department of Transportation to develop temporary quarters for the displaced colony—at Fort Wool and on nearby barges.

The replacement habitat has been a success, attracting royal terms, gull-billed terns, black skimmers, common terns, and laughing gulls, all species classified by DWR as birds of greatest conservation need. The gull-billed tern is a state-threatened species. Snowy egrets and American oystercatchers, also birds of greatest conservation need, have used the habitat, as have brown pelicans.

Please take a few minutes to let the Corps know you support the project. Not only would such an island habitat benefit bird species in great need of conservation assistance, it should improve safety by reducing vehicular and aircraft bird strikes since the permanent colony would be farther away from transportation corridors.

Submit comments in writing to:
Gina M. Dotolo, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, 803 Front Street, Norfolk VA 23510 or [email protected].

Cite the Hampton Roads Beneficial Use of Dredge Material Feasibility Study and be sure to get your comments in by September 5.

-Audubon Society of Northern Virginia