Alternative Energy Draft EA - NASA Visitor Center at Wallops Flight ...

Affected Environment
Wachapreague and Fisherman’s Island) surveyed during spring migration can be more than
12,000. Fall migrating Red Knots arrive again during the second week of July with the peak
occurring sometime from late July through the end of August; peaks counts at WFF at this time
of the year are 100 to 200 birds (Vaughn 1993).
During the 2009 migration season, flock sizes of 100 to 145 birds were observed on Assateague
Island. In late May 2009, flocks of 5 to 30 individuals were observed on south Assawoman
Island. On May 8, 2009 USFWS observed a flock size of almost 1,300 individuals on north
Wallops Island. In late May 2009, flocks of approximately 20 to 200 Red Knots were observed
on the beach at North Wallops Island.
The Red Knot principally uses marine habitats during migration. Coastal habitats providing
sandy beaches to forage along the mouths of bays and estuaries are preferred. Red Knots are also
known to use tidal flats in more sheltered bays or lagoons in search of benthic invertebrates or
horseshoe crab eggs.
Peregrine Falcon
The average adult Peregrine Falcon has dark black plumage above, with much graying on the
sides, with extensive spotting and barring. Populations nesting in northern latitudes are highly
migratory. The Atlantic Coast from New Jersey to South Carolina and the barrier islands of the
Texas Gulf Coast are important feeding areas for long-distance migrants. Peregrine Falcons are a
diurnal raptor and are active year round. They feed primarily on medium-size birds up to small
waterfowl and rarely prey on small mammals, lizards, and fish. Peregrine Falcons are known to
occur in Accomack County, VA. A nesting pair with fledglings was documented at WFF in 2005
and 2009.
Gull-Billed Tern
The Gull-billed Tern is a stout, medium sized, white, blunt-billed bird that feeds in the marshes
and adjacent coastal uplands of the southern and Gulf coasts of the United States. Gull-billed
Terns migrate to the eastern U.S. breeding areas usually in mid-April and the adults typically
depart in late July or early August. There are documented occurrences at CNWR and Fisherman
Island National Wildlife Refuge and all known breeding colonies in Virginia are located on the
barrier islands of the Eastern Shore.
Bald Eagle
The Bald Eagle is a raptor known for the characteristic white head, white tail, and a large bright
yellow bill in adult birds. Bald Eagles migrate widely over most of North America, and most
eagles that breed in the northern United States move south for the winter. Special habitat features
for Bald Eagles include standing snags and hollow trees. Breeding habitat most commonly
includes areas close (within 4 kilometers) to coastal areas, bays, rivers, lakes, or other bodies of
water that reflect the general availability of primary food sources. Bald Eagles avoid areas with
nearby human activity and development. Bald Eagles are documented at the CNWR and
environmental scientists discovered a nesting pair of Bald Eagles within the northern section of
Wallops Island in July 2009.
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