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Eastern Ecological Science Center

The USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center (EESC) strives to provide world-class science to inform natural resource decisions that preserve and enhance our quality of life. 

The land and water we live on and around shapes our lives. We share responsibility for the healthy fish, wildlife and landscapes that are assets to current and future generations.

EESC works directly with managers of our shared natural resources to provide the unbiased scientific tools, research and innovations needed to make informed decisions in today’s complex and rapidly changing conditions.

EESC’s broad expertise spans from mountain streams to deep oceans and the lands in between, supporting stewardship of a wide range of species and habitats.

Unique facilities in Maryland, Massachusetts and West Virginia help EESC deliver the reliable, actionable science that partners need to effectively conserve our treasured natural resources.

Key Values of a Century of EESC Science

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News

EcoNews - Vol. 7 | Issue 3

EcoNews - Vol. 7 | Issue 3

USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center at the 2026 Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry North America Meeting

USGS Eastern Ecological Science Center at the 2026 Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry North America Meeting

The Slime Trail: How USGS eDNA Efforts Are Revealing What Lives in the Deep Gulf

The Slime Trail: How USGS eDNA Efforts Are Revealing What Lives in the Deep Gulf

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Publications

BBSN 1, Fall 2026 BBSN 1, Fall 2026

This Breeding Bird Survey Newsletter (BBSN 1) was released in November 2026. Subjects in this newsletter are: 1. Celebrating the 60th Anniversary of the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS); 2. Staff updates, including leadership transitions; 3. Meet the BBS, featuring profiles of U.S. and Canadian BBS staff; 4. BBS News, including the BBS Modernization Project, creation of the...
Authors
Shannon Skalos, Michael Lutmerding
By
Eastern Ecological Science Center

MTAB 114, October 2026 MTAB 114, October 2026

This Memo to All Banders (MTAB 114) was released in October 2026. Subjects in this this memo are 1. The Chief’s Chirp; 2. Alerts – Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza and New World Screwworm; 3. Staff updates – The BBL Welcomes Matt Hixson and Erin Hackney, meeting reports, and key visits in 2026 to the fall migration banding station; 4. News – New Species Record for Maryland!, Data...
Authors
Kyra Harvey, Jennifer L. McKay
By
Eastern Ecological Science Center

Highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza infection and exposure in waterfowl and waterbirds of the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 2022-2025 Highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza infection and exposure in waterfowl and waterbirds of the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex, 2022-2025

The introduction of clade 2.3.4.4b highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 into North America in 2021 marked a significant shift in disease dynamics for wild waterfowl populations. To assess infection and seroprevalence trends following this incursion, we leveraged ongoing capture efforts at the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex between October 2022 and July 2025 to...
Authors
Jeffery D. Sullivan, Rebecca L. Poulson, Michael L. Casazza, Elliott L. Matchett, Michael D'Errico, Alisha Bundy, Jacob William Chappell, Desmond Alexander Mackell, Andrea Mott, Cory T. Overton, David E. Stallknecht, Diann J. Prosser
By
Eastern Ecological Science Center
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Science

WERC Black Rail in marsh

Adaptive Management of Black Rails

The Black Rail ( Laterallus jamaicensis) is the most secretive of the secretive marsh birds and few aspects of its life history and ecology are well understood. The Eastern Black Rail subspecies ( L. j. jamaicensis) is listed as endangered in five states along the Atlantic Coast and has been proposed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act and is under review for federal listing. Historical...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Eastern Ecological Science Center
Adaptive Management of Black Rails

Adaptive Management of Black Rails

The Black Rail ( Laterallus jamaicensis) is the most secretive of the secretive marsh birds and few aspects of its life history and ecology are well understood. The Eastern Black Rail subspecies ( L. j. jamaicensis) is listed as endangered in five states along the Atlantic Coast and has been proposed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act and is under review for federal listing. Historical...
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Canada Goose on the Colville River Delta

Exploring Wild Bird Movements to Understand Avian Influenza Risk for Poultry Farms on the Delmarva Peninsula

A recent collaborative study involving USGS, University of Delaware, University of California Davis, and Canadian colleagues used GPS tracking to learn how Canada Geese and Snow Geese use the landscape when wintering on the Delmarva Peninsula. These data were then used to understand location-based risk factors for the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus (HPAIV) to commercial poultry...
By
Chesapeake Bay Activities, Eastern Ecological Science Center
Exploring Wild Bird Movements to Understand Avian Influenza Risk for Poultry Farms on the Delmarva Peninsula

Exploring Wild Bird Movements to Understand Avian Influenza Risk for Poultry Farms on the Delmarva Peninsula

A recent collaborative study involving USGS, University of Delaware, University of California Davis, and Canadian colleagues used GPS tracking to learn how Canada Geese and Snow Geese use the landscape when wintering on the Delmarva Peninsula. These data were then used to understand location-based risk factors for the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus (HPAIV) to commercial poultry...
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Waterfowl Breeding Population and Habitat Survey - Traditional and Eastern Survey Areas

Redesigning the Eastern Breeding Waterfowl Population and Habitat Survey

USGS and partners are revising the design of a key waterfowl survey to increase management efficiency and cost-effectiveness, and inform annual harvest regulations in the U.S. and Canada.
By
Core Science Systems Mission Area, Ecosystems Mission Area, Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS), Species Management Research Program, Eastern Ecological Science Center
Redesigning the Eastern Breeding Waterfowl Population and Habitat Survey

Redesigning the Eastern Breeding Waterfowl Population and Habitat Survey

USGS and partners are revising the design of a key waterfowl survey to increase management efficiency and cost-effectiveness, and inform annual harvest regulations in the U.S. and Canada.
Learn More
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