Let's not vilify the cormorants, and strive to co-exist! Cayuga Lake is enormous; so I find it hard to believe cormorants would deplete a fish population. The eagle and osprey populations have been growing greatly around the lake, so I don't think it would be fair for fishermen to blame a supposed fish depletion on the cormorants. There could be other causes too.
I have enjoyed watching the cormorant rookery in Jetty Woods for the past six(?) years. Before them, I recall when the Great Blue Herons had a rookery there. Do we know 100% for sure that this is a cormorant population explosion or could it be a temporary relocation that might last only a few years? I've seen grackles nest around my home for a few years in a row, then they are gone for a few years. I've seen this cycle for the past six years with them and other species. I think it is a survival strategy to keep predators guessing. Once the nests have been attacked too many times, they relocate. I know I would! And, yes, they poop and pee everywhere; and while the odor was not pleasant at times, I did not observe any harm to vegetation at Jetty Woods as a result. Let's co-exist....peace! Sandy *S.L. Wold, author/originator/publisher of the Cayuga Basin Bioregion Map* *https://www.sites.google.com/site/cayugabioregionmap/ <https://www.sites.google.com/site/cayugabioregionmap/>* http://www.sandy-wold.com/ -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
