Bill,
I have to throw out a few thoughts on this topic. I won't get too in-depth
but the DCC is different from many native birds in that it nests in colonies
and the result of that nesting is destruction of habitat for other birds and
animals. One of the problems that we have as animals living in an area of
other animals is how we affect them and they affect us. When the deer
population gets too high in a populated area we have to step in and return
it to normal. No one is pushing for the elimination of deer, just the
ability for us to live the way we want with them. As for the DCC I'm all for
eliminating them from the small island ecosystems on Lake Erie because that
is a valuable study area for a specific rare community. In other less unique
areas they should be left alone including your aforementioned island in the
sand and gravel pit. One thing we have to be careful of is spending our time
and energy fighting a battle that is really not that important when other
issues such as habitat loss, pollution and development are much more worthy
and far reaching. DCCs area hardy species and aren't going to be eliminated
from the state.
Steve Hughes
Stow
-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Whan
Sent: Friday, June 28, 2013 10:10 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [Ohio-birds] More on cormorant removal: Columbus included?
As many readers know, government agencies--primarily Ohio DNR, APHIS,
and Ottawa NWR--have since 2006 cooperated in various sites around Ohio
to control damage said to be caused by double-crested cormorants. Even
though support of sport and commercial fishermen for lethal controls of
cormorants is actively encouraged by several of these agencies, these
agencies cannot prove cormorants are damaging the fishery, so alleged
fish problems are mentioned in the controls, but are not targeted. The
same goes for vague allegations that cormorants constitute a threat to
airplanes, etc.
The damage-control agencies have issued new documents to renew and
continue their project, and today have announced a supplement to their
project "Reducing Double-crested Cormorant Damage in Ohio." and the
paperwork (and original documents) are available free by mail from USDA
APHIS Wildlife Services, 6929 Americana Parkway, Reynoldsburg OH 43068
(ph. (614) 861-6087, or online at
http://www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=APHIS-2013-0062 . See
Public Notices in today's Cols Dispatch.
The deadline for comments is 2 August. I have only skimmed the
lengthy
documents, but gather that a renewal of authority to continue damage
control is requested, with some minor changes anticipated in the manner
in which corpses of cormorants shot are composted and in methods of
assessing vegetational changes. The most significant data are summaries
of data reflecting on the efficacy of the depredation project 2006-present.
I object to this whole lethal-control strategy, but won't rehearse
that
matter here. One new thing bothers me. Apparently the agencies involved
in 2011 became aware of a small cormorant/great egret/great blue heron
colony on an island in an inactive Columbus limestone quarry (local
birders had known about it for five years by the time), and this area
has been routinely added to lists of sites targeted for controls, which
I presume include shooting as an alternative. For years now, it has been
easy enough to ignore shooting cormorants at remote island sites in
Lake Erie by wildlife personnel, but "control" of cormorants in a major
city is less likely to go unnoticed or unquestioned.
Lots of readers of this list will prefer to watch their feeders and
work on their lists, but the actions of our government to justifiy
killing native birds--you'd be surprised to learn how many species
involved--are little-known and worth knowing at least a little about.
Bill Whan
Columbus
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Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list.
Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/.
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