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Weeks of September 19 - October 3, 1999

"The chart below shows the apparent movement of cormorants between islands and the net change by island and basin of Lake Ontario. Where NY's Little Galloo Island once had the largest colony of cormorants in Lake Ontario, that distinction has now been given to Ontario's High Bluff Island in the Central Basin, near Brighton, Ont.

From the data below it is apparant that harassing these birds only causes them to move to a new island or another colony, and the growth in numbers continue. Only a concerted management program of thinning out cormorant populations will bring an ecological balance back to the region."

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NEW WISCONSIN STATE RECORD COHO

Numbers of Double-crested Cormorant Nests on Lake Ontario Colonies, 1995-1998.
(preliminary data)

Colony Year: 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

             A. Eastern Basin

             1. Little Galloo I.

7585

8410

7591

5839

4570

             2. Calf I. 0? 0? 0* 0 0

3. Bass I. 0 3 0 0 0

4. Gull I. 0 5 0 0 0

5. Pigeon I. 961 1239 861 1818 2228

6. Snake I. 509 693 570 759 1122

7. Salmon I. 3 1 2 1 0

8. West Brother’s I. 114 136 158 177 146

9. Swetman I. 76 408 560 1153 153***

B. Central Basin
10. Scotch Bonnet I.

59

352

303

520

373

11. Gull I. (PPP) 771 1257 819 1042 1074

12. High Bluff I. 1848 2442 3196 5057 6741

             C. Western Basin
13. Toronto Hrbr. Area A

235

475

499

450

700

14. Toronto Hrbr. Area B 376 841 1228 1148 1839

15. Ham. Hrbr.-
Farre I. 127 225 119** 23 40

16. Ham. Hrbr.- Centre I. - 0 0 25 25

17. Ham. Hrbr.- Carroll’s Pt. 0 29 19 13 0

18. Ham. Hrbr.- Hickory I. ? 114 121 218 222

19. Ham. Hrbr.-
Pier 27 461 436 236 588 820

Total 13,125 17,066 16,282 18,831 20,053

% Change from previous year +37.1% +30.0% -4.6% +15.7% +6.5%

* 210 nests destroyed on one visit
** Oiled egg study in 1997
*** Colony destroyed
Chart courtesy: Canadian Wildlife Service

Henderson Harbor, NY

Henderson harbor is a smaller than typical Great Lakes port with just one street, a few businesses all catering to the angler and boater and less than 1,000 permanent residents.

hendhrb~4.jpg-58K

Island surveys

Done bi-weekly, NYSEC's Russ McCullough is shown counting the 1122 cormorant nests on Ontario's Snake Island, 1 1/2 miles offshore from Kingston, Ontario. Other staff members were taking pellet samplings to determine what these birds were feeding on. Recent studies showed birds were flying as far as 25 miles from their colony to find food and the pellet samplings showed remains of Northern Pike and Muskies from the St. Lawrence River area. Island surveys are rotated on a bi-weekly basis.

survey~4.jpg-60K

Island photos

Other photos are from the 53 acre Little Galloo Island in NY waters, the one acre Snake and Pigeon Islands in Ontario waters of eastern Lake Ontario. All islands are basically void of vegetation and living trees, and over a foot deep in bird guano. All were taken June 9 & 11, 1999, courtesy Dan Thomas, Great Lakes Sport Fishing Council, Copyright © 1999.

To see a graphic chart detailing the number of nests on Lake Ontario follow this link:
Lake Ontario Chart

USFWS Press Releases

Gene Bucks Fisheries Summaries

Sea Grant News

Colony	Year:	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999
A. Eastern Basin 1. Little Galloo I.		7585	8410	7591	5839	4570
2. Calf I.		0?	0?	0*	0	0
3. Bass I.		0	3	0	0	0
4. Gull I.		0	5	0	0	0
5. Pigeon I.		961	1239	861	1818	2228
6. Snake I.		509	693	570	759	1122
7. Salmon I.		3	1	2	1	0
8. West Brother’s I.		114	136	158	177	146
9. Swetman I.		76	408	560	1153	153***
B. Central Basin 10. Scotch Bonnet I.		59	352	303	520	373
11. Gull I. (PPP)		771	1257	819	1042	1074
12. High Bluff I.		1848	2442	3196	5057	6741
C. Western Basin 13. Toronto Hrbr. Area A		235	475	499	450	700
14. Toronto Hrbr. Area B		376	841	1228	1148	1839
15. Ham. Hrbr.- Farre I.		127	225	119**	23	40
16. Ham. Hrbr.- Centre I.		-	0	0	25	25
17. Ham. Hrbr.- Carroll’s Pt.		0	29	19	13	0
18. Ham. Hrbr.- Hickory I.		?	114	121	218	222
19. Ham. Hrbr.- Pier 27		461	436	236	588	820
Total		13,125	17,066	16,282	18,831	20,053
% Change from previous year		+37.1%	+30.0%	-4.6%	+15.7%	+6.5%
* 210 nests destroyed on one visit Oiled egg study in 1997 * Colony destroyed		Chart courtesy: Canadian Wildlife Service