Wildlife Diversity Program Quarterly Report for April–June 2025
New Colony Discovered During Annual Wood Stork Monitoring Survey
by Kacy Cook, Waterbird Biologist, and Brooke Callisto, Waterbird Technician
S ince Wood Storks were first reported nesting in North Carolina in 2005, eight nesting locations had been identified. This year, a new Wood Stork colony was discovered just southeast of Lake Waccamaw, raising the total colony locations used across the last two decades to nine. This newest site is in an impoundment with tall, mature, dead and dying cypress trees sur- rounded by open water. At the time of the survey, the colony was determined to have 35 active Wood Stork nests. The remainder of the annual Wood Stork survey yielded three other active colonies at known nesting sites. The location of colonies changes from year to year based on water availability, vegetation condition, and other factors. For the 2025 nesting season, 487 active Wood Stork nests were observed in the four active colo- nies identified.
KACY COOK/NCWRC
Survey of new Wood Stork colony southeast of Lake Waccamaw.
Development of Genetic Tools to Aid in the Restoration of Two Federally Endangered Mussel Species, the Tar River Spinymussel and Yellow Lance
by Dr. Heather Evans, Conservation Genetics Manager
T he NCWRC’s Genetics Program recently completed development of an eDNA assay for Spinymussels. This assay will allow for monitoring and detection of Tar River Spinymussel and James River Spinymussel, both Federally Endangered species. The assay will allow us to utilize a systematic eDNA sampling regime to identify reaches that are likely to contain wild Tar River Spinymussels. The results of this work will potentially result in increased broodstock collections, identification of new sites for broodstock surveys, and optimization of survey efforts dedicated to these species. Additionally, staff completed development of two genetic panels that will be used for mon- itoring of stocked Tar River Spinymussels and Yellow Lance. The panels will allow for high throughput, accurate detection of hatchery-bred individuals. They can be used to monitor percent hatchery contribution across populations as propagation, augmentation and reintro- duction efforts continue. The panels can also be used to monitor genetic diversity and popula- tion structure with ongoing stocking efforts, allowing hatchery managers to protect important allelic diversity in their breeding program.
RACHAEL HOCH/NCWRC
Staff collecting a swab from the foot of a Tar River Spinymussel brood mussel for use in genetic panel development.
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