The Michigan DNR in it's attempt to get more involved on the population explosion of cormorants in Michigan has set up a "Cormorant Activity Report" Web Page.  Basically every time you see cormorants, go to this web page and fill in the information and submit the page.

There is supposedly a link to this page from the Michigan DNR Website. I spent 15 minutes looking for it and couldn't find it so use the link above, it'll be alot easier for you.

 

 

Video of Double Crested Cormorants 

Cormorant vs. Pike

Another whole fish......gone (from the Florida Everglades)

 

The pictures above were taken on Port Austin, May 18, 2007.  Cormorants were diving and eaten the newly hatched shiners in the picture in the lower right corner.  All in all I counted around 50 cormorants.  According to the Harbor Master they have been there for 2 weeks.

This Spring, 2007, stomach inspections were done on cormorants and this bird had a 12 inch walleye, 7 bluegills, 5 perch and some other parts of fish that were more digested.....  THIS IS ONLY ONE BIRD!!!!!  

 

The Double Crested Cormorant population in Michigan has risen dramatically over the past few years to the point where there are concerns of an "over-population" of cormorants.

Past studies have shown that the cormorants preferred diet is small fish that thrive in the Great Lakes.  Over 75 fish species that make up the cormorants diet have been identified along with crustaceans, insects and reptiles.

The Flint River Valley Steelheaders (FRVS) has teamed up with United States Department of Agriculture-Wildlife Services (USDA-WS) by setting up a separate fund and collecting donations that will go directly to the USDA-WS Cormorant Control Research Program. 

Please send checks or money orders to:

Flint River Valley Steelheaders
Cormorant Control Research
PO Box 320303
Flint, MI  48532

News out of Lansing  (Bold text is directly taken from Bills as they are written)

4/28/07- The $150.000 that was supposed to go to the USDA-WS in Michigan for cormorant control had been put on hold by Michigan.  Until the Federal Government releases their funds in Washington, Michigan DNR will not release it's funds to the Michigan USDA-WS fro Cormorant Control.  Hopefully the Feds will release these funds soon.

4/28/07- Senate Bill 0354 was introduced in the Michigan Senate by Senators McManus & Cropsey.  This Bill ammends 1994 PA 451 (MCL 324.101 - 324.90106) by adding secs. 40107c & 40107d. TIE BAR WITH: HB 4471'07.  

To reduce cormorant damage, the department

shall administer a program to control and manage double-crested

cormorants. The department shall administer the program in

cooperation with federal agencies and in a manner that complies

with the cormorant depredation order.

In addition to this House Bill 4471, introduced March 15, 2007 by Reps. Booher, Palsrok, Moore, Nofs, David Law, Amos, Pearce, LaJoy, Ball, Sheltrown, Stahl, Walker, Opsommer, Hansen, Moss, Hune, Casperson, Lahti, Bennett, Elsenheimer, Shaffer, Meekhof, Gillard, Mayes, McDowell, Lindberg, Stakoe, Emmons and Hammon and referred to the Committee on Tourism, Outdoor Recreation and Natural Resources.

A bill to amend 1994 PA 451, entitled

"Natural resources and environmental protection act,"

by amending section 40102 (MCL 324.40102), as amended by 2000 PA 347

This Bill basically further defines terms used in previous Bills such as;

(6) "Cormorant damage" means adverse impacts of double-crested

cormorants on fish, including fish hatchery stock, wildlife,

plants, and their habitats.

     (7) "Cormorant depredation order" means the depredation order

for double-crested cormorants to protect public resources, 50 CFR

21.48, issued by the United States department of the interior, fish

and wildlife service

 

4/28/07- Egg oiling has started on Beaver Island.

 

 

News Articles & Writings

Detroit Free Press Article on Cormorants  (April 22, 2007)

Click here for the letter from the Flint Steelheaders on Cormorants

Read The Michigan Department of Natural Resources Report on Cormorants

A recent Ludington Daily News article on cormorants nesting off Ludington

DATE: 8-28-06
PUBLICATION: Kingston Whig-Standard (Ontario)
SOURCE: Osprey News Network
From the original six nesting pairs in 1990, the cormorant colony on Toronto's Leslie Spit has grown to 6,125 pairs; double that many breeding adults with chicks and non breeding birds, to 25,000 cormorants.  Without measures to control the cormorant population, other nesting birds will be displaced and, the Toronto Region Conservation Authority fears, the trees, vegetation and the spit itself may be consumed;  Queen's University adjunct biology professor John Casselman.....

From a few hundred nests in the mid 1070's, cormorant numbers have grown to more than 450,000 birds across the Great lakes Basin.

 

 
 

Organizations, Clubs & Individuals who have donated to Cormorant Control & Research

Norm A. Grand Rapids Steelheaders Marilyn L. Flint River Valley Steelheaders Larry M.
Visitors to the Birch Run Spring Show Chris E.      
         
         

 

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