"^^The Center, its work and its facilities 



The Center is the Hureau's eastern headquarters 

 for research on wildlife problems of general con- 

 cern. It is on Maryland Route 197, about half- 

 way between Laurel and Bowie, and adjoins the 

 Beltsville Agricultural Research Center of the 

 U.S. Department of Agriculture. Research is 

 conducted on such subjects as management of wet- 

 lands for waterfowl, wildlife management on 

 fore.st and agricultural lands, control of bird 

 damage to farm crops, control of diseases and 

 parasites of wildlife, effects of pesticides on wild- 

 life, and status and distribution of migratory 

 birds. 



Of the research stafi' of some 115 employees, 

 about half are scientists and technicians. Major 

 facilities are ^ laboi-atories, 2 office buildings, '2 

 fenced areas with buildings and pens for small 

 animals, 3 experimental farm areas, 20 water im- 

 poundments, and sizable tracts of flood plain and 

 upland forest. 



The (^enter operates field stations in Delawaie, 

 Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Florida, and 

 Ijouisiana. Scientists of the Center frequently 

 use areas and wildlife populations in other States 

 for field expei'iments. On many research projects 



they are assisted by other Branches of the Bureau, 

 other land-use agencies of the Federal Govern- 

 ment, State conservation departments, and colleges 

 and universities. Results of research are made 

 available in various Bureaii publications, in scien- 

 tific journals, and at national and regional 

 conferences. 



Although the Center is reserved primarily for 

 research, a few other Bureau activities are located 

 here. The Atlantic Flyway Representative, with 

 headquarters at the Center, is liaison officer 

 between the Bureau and the conservation depart- 

 ments of eastern States on waterfowl conservation 

 and management. He participates in tlie work of 

 the Atlantic Waterfowl Flyway Council, a water- 

 fowl management coordimiting group represent- 

 ing the States in the flyway. 



The Atlantic Flyway Biologist also is stationed 

 ;it the Center. He makes aerial surveys of water- 

 fowl ])opulations and distribution. 



Wildlife Review, the Bureau's journal of wild- 

 life bibliography, is prepared and issued from the 

 (^enter as a serxice to conserxation agencies and 

 libraries, educational institutions, and research 

 biologists. 



Atlantic Flyway biologist checking flight plans for waterfowl survey. 



