The double-crested cormorant is a waterbird associated with inland waterways as well as on the coast. They catch fish by swimming and diving, and nest in trees, cliffs and on the ground on predator-free islands. Cormorants are protected by international treaty and federal law.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has resumed killing double-crested cormorants as part of a program to reduce the size of North America's biggest cormorant nesting colony so the birds eat fewer juvenile salmon migrating down the Columbia River.

The agency says 158 birds have been killed thus far, including 33 in July. And more than 5,089 nests have been oiled, destroying the eggs inside them. .... http://www.ktvz.com/news/agency-reports-killing-158-cormorants-to-help-salmon/34223972





http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world...to-help-salmon/

Lousy shooters?

With a goal of shooting 26,000 birds (http://www.opb.org/news/article/corps-finalizes-cormorant-plan/) shooting 33 in July (an average month?) means the Corps won't meet their goal for 788 months or 66 years (at the rate of 33/month).

Or maybe they can't afford the ammo.

Oiling over 5,000 nests should prevent at least 10,000 to 15,000 eggs from hatching.

ClearCreek

That; but according to their final plan the oiling of nests was in addition to their lethal removal goal.

Edit: Oops, the original plan was for 26K but reduced to 16K with more emphasis on oiling of nests in the final plan. In any case, the limited number shot to date is inconsequential to the revised goal. Might just have well of totally relied upon oiling.

Shouldn't this drought situation place more emphasis on reducing adult population before next spring's out migration?

Slow start for sure.

Kind of a silly idea, but maybe they could sell a license and tag to shoot them?

Probably would be some interest...

Depredation hunts.

They need to bump it up a bit.Good luck,

SZ