The Eisenmann Medal may not be a household name, but in the world of ornithology, there’s no greater honor. And for the first time, that honor is being brought home to William & Mary.

Bryan Watts, research professor and director of the Center for Conservation Biology (CCB), was awarded the prestigious honor at the Linnaean Society of New York in New York City on March 11. The award is given to individuals who have contributed to ornithology and helped young naturalists broaden their knowledge and interest in the field.

“These types of things are received but not earned,” Watts said. “I work with birds day in and day out. … Receiving this type of recognition is really a bonus; it’s really satisfying and it allows you to reflect back on a long career.”

Watts founded the Center for Conservation Biology in 1992. A research group within the university, students and faculty conduct primary research of high conservation concern, with an additional focus on policy, ecological requirements and management solutions. 

Since its founding, Watts has conducted and directed over 1,000 projects involving avian species and communities throughout the Western Hemisphere. Through the spring to summer season, the CCB has 25 projects simultaneously running across multiple states.

The Eisenmann Medal has been awarded to some of the most prolific ornithologists in history. The first recipient, Ernst Mayr in 1983, is one of the most notable voices in modern evolutionary biology, creating the modern understanding of what a species is and how they form. 

Another influential voice includes Roger Tory Peterson, who won the award in 1986. Peterson invented the “field guide” that is credited for creating the hobby known as bird-watching, which nearly 96 million Americans participate in today.

For Watts’s name to be included among a long list of historical figures is a feat not just for William & Mary, but for the future of wildlife conservation and the endless impact it has on the human population.

“Birds play really important roles in most ecosystems. … The fate of birds really is used as an environmental bellwether for how the environment is doing,” said Professor of Biology John Swaddle. “There’s a tie between birds and humans that we shouldn’t forget.”

An impactful career

According to other biology faculty members, what differentiates Watts from other ornithologists is his genuine dedication to saving endangered birds from extinction. 

Daniel Cristol, chancellor professor of biology, noted Watts has “sounded the alarm” on various bird species on the brink of extinction other ornithologists weren’t aware of, including the black rail, which almost entirely disappeared from the East Coast.

“That bird is now declared a federally threatened and endangered species in many states largely due to his work,” he said.

Cristol and Watts have collaborated on multiple projects together, including observing mercury levels in bald eagles in the Chesapeake Bay. Being able to see Watts’ work up close, Cristol said that the Eisenmann Medal is more than deserved, adding that Watts is “at the forefront of conservation biology.”

“This (award) is another brick in the edifice of ornithology here at William & Mary,” Cristol said. “If you found every person who works in some bird-related field in the Mid-Atlantic, a whole lot of them went to William & Mary.”

Watts himself is the product of mentorship yielding generational talent. Mitchell Byrd, chancellor professor emeritus, served as Watts’s graduate advisor in the 1980s while he was a master’s student. During that time, he researched the yellow-crowned night heron.

After graduating and working on his Ph.D. at the University of Georgia, Watts returned to Virginia to work on marsh birds in the Chesapeake Bay. There he reconnected with Byrd, who allowed him to work in the Byrd lab in Millington Hall. 

As Byrd was getting ready to retire in 1995, Watts saw the impact the bird lab had on conservation research, with nearly 40 years of work Byrd was leaving behind potentially ending abruptly with his retirement. At this time, Watts and Byrd worked together to start the Center for Conservation Biology, proposing the change to Provost Melvyn D. Chavelli. He approved the proposal, and the center became official in the spring of 1992.

Conservation solutions

In addition to receiving the award, Watts gave a presentation to the Linnaean Society of New York on three areas of his conservation efforts: bald eagles in the Chesapeake Bay, Chaco eagles in Argentina and shorebirds in Panama. While these birds may not seem to have an immediate connection to one another, Watts made the argument that there are emergent themes that cut across species and locations.

First, Watts argued that research has an important role in conservation – specifically, that research helps provide clarity and points to the path to recover a species or an ecosystem.

Second, he emphasized that conservation is largely local, and it is up to localities to see conservation through.

“I have met with numerous governments, numerous localities, numerous people and there is a characteristic common among successful conservation programs, and that is commitment,” Watts said. “In order to actually recover a species, it takes long-term commitment.”

Finally, Watts said that most conservation problems cannot be solved in a single generation. Ultimately, it’s on today’s ornithologists and institutions like William & Mary to provide the education needed to prepare the next generation of conservation scientists who will take up the charge.

This year, William & Mary is celebrating the Year of the Environment, with a commitment to safeguarding the environment and the communities that depend on it.

“We have been really lucky to have a venue here at William & Mary for over 30 years,” he said. “Focusing on the students here is an important role because many of the problems are multi-generational.”