Credit Virginia Tech
Sea birds have long nested near the Hampton Roads Bridge and Tunnel complex because the waters around it are rich with food, and at Virginia’s Department of Wildlife Resources, Director Ryan Brown says the new habitat has served them well.
“The project actually resulted in the most successful nesting season that we have on record for that area on this new innovative habitat that is the first of its type to be constructed on the east coast of the United States.”
Crews spread sand across about two acres on Ft. Wool – an island built in 1813 to bolster neighboring Fort Monroe. They removed trees where predators could perch and anchored barges at the shore. That suited the birds, but historic preservationists are squawking. They say too little attention has been given to Ft. Wool with its parade ground and steel tower used to keep watch during World War II. They’d like the island restored and public tours resumed.