The rise and fall of cormorant populations has been linked in the last decade to the reduction of DDT, the rise of round goby as a food, and the pressure from fishermen. Only a few islands in eastern L. Ontario and the north shore of Canada support the breeding colonies with hundreds of pairs, but both DEC and Wildlife Management in Canada have killed or removed nests to reduce population.
Because I see the cormorants on Braddock Bay and and other areas along the shore, I have been fascinated watching them. Sometimes they create long, single-file lines, flying just on top of the waves.
Their twig nests are high in trees inland, but they fish and dry wings on old branches sticking up in the water.
I would not like to see these amazing birds be 'culled' or nests removed. Photo from Univ. of Oregon. For more on the EPA's concern about Double-Crested Cormorants: http://www.epa.gov/med/grosseile_site/indicators/cormorants.html
