unpubl. notes). However, they are one of the most abundant waterbird species 

 in Virginia (Austin 1932, Murray 1955, AN, Clapp unpubl. notes). There may 

 have been some reduction from numbers recorded near the turn of the century 

 (Dutcher 1901, 1902, 1903). Because of its black plumage, the skimmer v;as not 

 sought by millinery traders. In 1977, small numbers nested at three locations 

 in the lower Chesapeake Bay. 



Wading Birds 



In Virginia, wading bird numbers have not been documented as well as 

 those of seabirds. One pair of white ibises nested for the first time in 

 Virginia in 1977 at Fishermans Island (P. Frohring pers. comm. ). Glossy ibis 

 numbers peaked along the Atlantic coast in 1975 (Custer and Osborn 1976, 1977) 

 but declined markedly in 1976 and 1977. They have increased slightly along 

 the Chesapeake Bay. Great blue herons, strictly confined to the Chesapeake 

 Bay and bordering woodland swamps, are the most abundant wading birds in the 

 lower Bay (M. Byrd pers. comm.). Little is known about their abundance in 

 earlier years. Great egret numbers have fluctuated along the Chesapeake Bay 

 since the demise of the large Hollis Marsh colony in the 1950's (Sprunt et al. 

 1976). They continue to increase along the Atlantic coast. Snov/y egrets have 

 shown the most dramatic recovery from the plume trade decimation in the 

 1800's. They increased rapidly from the 1950's to 1977 in both regions (AFN, 

 R, Sprunt et al. 1976, M. Byrd unpubl. notes). Numbers seem to be stable at 

 present. Cattle egrets, after an initial exponential growth in the 1960's 

 (AFN, R), declined from 1975 to 1976 in both Atlantic and Chesapeake Bay 

 areas. In 1977, there was a large increase along the Chesapeake Bay. Perhaps 

 some of the recent growth of the Maryland population is from adults emigrating 

 from Virginia colonies. Louisiana and little blue herons nested in moderate 

 numbers in the 1950's at only two or three colonies (R, AFN, Sprunt et al, 



1976, F. Scott pers. comm,). The past three years have shown a rapid decline 

 in their numbers, especially on the Atlantic coast (Custer and Osborn 1976, 



1977, M. Byrd unpubl, notes). On Chesapeake Bay, only six pairs of little 

 blue herons were found in 1977, Green herons breed in small numbers on the 

 Bay. A decline seems to have occurred in coastal locations in the past 20 

 years (R, AFN), similar to trends in Maryland. Black-crowned night herons 

 probably always have been underestimated. The population has been fairly 

 stable in the past 3 years at both Atlantic and Chesapeake Bay locations 

 (Custer and Osborn 1976, 1977). Ten Atlantic coast colonies were found in 

 1976, while only three had been reported in the 1960's. Yellow-crowned night 

 herons have never been wery abundant either on Chesapeake Bay or along the 

 Atlantic coast. The Mockhorn Island colony has decreased in size recently 

 (AFN, M. Byrd unpubl. notes). In 1977, a reduction occurred in both regions. 



82 



