Walters Lab

A bit about Eric’s journey from whales to birds.

ODU Professor Eric Walters on Acorn Woodpeckers and The Science of Cooperation Expert and amateur bird watchers sometimes talk about their “spark bird,” the feathered creature that marks the origin of their avian fascination. For ornithologist Eric Walters, Ph.D., that spark bird was a whale. “My goal was to become a marine biologist,” said Dr. Walters, professor of bi...

And that’s a wrap on Eric’s 20th anniversary season studying the woodpeckers at Hastings Natural History Reserve. We want to thank everyone who has contributed to the project over the past two decades. And, of course, we recognize Michael and Barbara MacRoberts, who started the study in 1968. Walt Koenig carried the torch from 1974 to 2016. It takes a lot of effort to keep a study going for nearly 60 years! Thank you everyone. ❤️

Today we honor our colleague, Dr Kent Carpenter, who this beautiful flasher wrasse is named after. Paracheilinus carpenteri

All of our lab members are safe. Thank you to everyone who has reached out. 💚

Look who Eric found at Yale University? Reunited after 18 years! Dr Debbie Visco Abibou worked as a spring field assistant at Hastings Natural History Reserve in 2007.

We are excited to host Dr Nancy Chen this week!

The Marsh Mistress (aka Ella DiPetto) outside the Elizabeth River Project Ryan Resilience Lab. Ella serves as the Environmental Project Manager and was giving ODU College of Sciences ODU Biology Professor Eric Walters, her PhD Advisor, a behind-the-scenes tour of this incredible facility.

Congratulations to the ODU Biology Birding Club. A big shout out to Muriel Draper, student president!!! 🕊️🦅🦆🦜🦢

🎉 $203K Awarded to Outdoor & Conservation Programs Across Virginia!

The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR), in partnership with The Wildlife Foundation of Virginia (WFV), is thrilled to announce the 2025 Virginia Wildlife Grant Program (VWGP) awardees!

This year, we received a record-breaking 185 grant applications and provided funding to 25 incredible projects. Nearly 80% of the awardees were first-time recipients, highlighting the need that exists throughout the Commonwealth to connect residents to the outdoors. These initiatives support a wide range of activities—including archery, boating/paddling, fishing, hunting/recreational shooting, and wildlife viewing, all aimed at connecting people to the outdoors.

Since 2014, the VWGP has awarded approximately $930,000, supporting 255 projects, helping connect nearly 75,000 participants to the outdoors.

Congratulations to our 2025 Grant Program Awardees:
👏 Airfield Shooting Club
👏 YMCA of the Alleghany Highlands
👏 The American Legion Post 177, Fairfax VA
👏 Augusta Bird Club
👏 The Blessed Sacrament Huguenot School
👏 Central VA Quail Forever
👏 Elk Hill
👏 ENDEX Archery
👏 Virginia State Parks (Friends of Hungry Mother)
👏 Friends of Huntley Meadows Park
👏 Girl Scout Council of Colonial Coast
👏 Henrico County Government (Henrico County Recreation and Parks)
👏 Historic Rivers Chapter of Virginia Master Naturalist
👏 Kids Outdoor Zone World Headquarters (@ Mt Vernon Baptist Church)
👏 National Wildlife Federation
👏 Friends of the Shenandoah River (North River Neighbors' Alliance - FOSR)
👏 Northern Virginia Bird Alliance
👏 Ready Education (Old Dominion University Birding Club)
👏 Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. (Roanoke/New River Valleys)
👏 Singh Sabha Gurudwara - SSG
👏 The Luck Group
👏 The Mayfly Project (Virginia)
👏 Three Notch’d Delta Waterfowl
👏 Triangle Sportsmen's Club, Inc.
👏 NRA Youth Education Summit

🤝 Continuing Multi-Year Partnerships – Better Together Partners:
🏅 Backwoods Warriors Foundation
🏅 Beyond Boundaries
🏅 JROC - James River Outdoor Coalition
🏅 Shenandoah Reel Women

You can help continue this effort by shopping the DWR e-store, choosing to “round up” your purchases at gooutdoorsvirginia.com, as well as donating directly.

📲 For organizations interested in applying for a Virginia Wildlife Grant, the application period opens annually from January to February. Learn more: https://dwr.virginia.gov/virginia-wildlife-grant-program/.

📷: DWR Staff

Our ODU Biology Social Vertebrates of California class was out at Año Nuevo State Park today. We had great looks at elephant seals, harbor seals, California sea lions, pigeon guillemots, western grebes, pelagic cormorants, and a host of other species.

In administrative news, Eric has been named the new Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs for the ODU College of Sciences, serving 7 departments and over 225 faculty.

College of Sciences If you're a puzzle solver, the College of Sciences has an engaging program with well-equipped research environments to develop you into the scientist and innovator of tomorrow.