Double-Crested Cormorant Management

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Double-Crested Cormorant Management U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Double-crested Cormorant Management Quick Facts Current Status • Cormorants have been In October 2003, the U.S. Fish and protected under the federal Wildlife Service released a Final Rule Migratory Bird Treaty Act since and Record of Decision allowing more 1972 after their populations flexibility in the control of double- dropped precipitously as a result crested cormorants where they are of factors such as use of the causing damage to aquaculture and pesticide DDT. public resources such as fisheries, vegetation or other birds. • Today, cormorant populations are at historic highs in many The rule expands an aquaculture areas due in large part to the depredation order that has been in presence of ample food in their place in 13 states since 1998 to allow summer and winter ranges, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s federal and state protection, and reduced contaminant levels. Wildlife Services division to conduct winter roost control. It also establishes Hot Topic • The total estimated a public resource depredation order to population of double-crested allow state wildlife agencies, tribes and cormorants in North America is Wildlife Services to conduct cormorant Michigan Initiates Cormorant control to protect public resources in 24 approximately 2 million birds. Management Plan: states, including Illinois, Indiana, In May, USDA Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Wildlife Services and the U.S. Fish Management Needs Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin. Without and Wildlife Service released the these depredation orders, agencies and final Environmental Assessment • Any agency that wants to individuals would not be able to control spelling out plans to reduce double- control double-crested cormorant cormorants without a federal permit. crested cormorant damage in damage must submit a written Michigan. justification to the U.S. Fish and Through the new rule, the Service Wildlife Service. may authorize states, tribes and Wildlife Services to manage and • Agencies that conduct control double-crested cormorants to cormorant population control The Service also modified its 1998 locally are required to evaluate protect public resources (fish, wildlife, aquaculture depredation order to allow the effects of their action on plants and their habitats). control of cormorants at winter roosts near double-crested cormorant fish farms and to allow fish hatcheries to populations and annually report Agencies acting under the order protect their stock from cormorant their findings to the U.S. Fish and must have landowner permission, may predation. This added authority applies to Wildlife Service. not adversely affect other migratory the original 13 states in the 1998 order. bird species, threatened or endangered species, and must satisfy annual Double-crested cormorants are colonial reporting and evaluation requirements. waterbirds whose numbers have increased The Service will ensure long-term substantially in the past 30 years. They have conservation of cormorant populations been documented to have caused damage to with annual assessments of agency resources such as commercial aquaculture, reports and regular population recreational fisheries, vegetation and the monitoring. habitat of other colonial nesting birds. Produced by Region 3, External Affairs, June 2004.
Recommended publications
  • Kachemak Bay Birds Checklist
    LEGEND SPECIES Sp Su F W Status SPECIES Sp Su F W Status SPECIES Sp Su F W Status __Greater Scaup C C C C rmb __Red-tailed Hawk C C C - sb Laridae - Gulls & Terns C Common - Easily found in small to large numbers in __Lesser Scaup U - U - m __Rough-legged Hawk U U U - sb __Franklin’s Gull - A - - v appropriate habitat. __Steller’s Eider C R C C w __Golden Eagle R R R A s __Black-headed Gull - A - - v __Spectacled Eider - - - A v Falconidae - Falcons __Bonaparte’s Gull C C C R sb U Uncommon - Occasionally, but not always, found in small __King Eider R R R R w __American Kestrel R R R - m __Black-tailed Gull - A - - v numbers with some effort in appropriate habitat. __Common Eider C C C U rb __Merlin U C R R sb __Mew Gull C C C C rb __Harlequin Duck C C C C rb __Gyrfalcon R R R R w __Ring-billed Gull A - - A v R Rare - occurs in very small numbers or in a very limited __Surf Scoter C C C C rm __Peregrine Falcon U U R R sb __California Gull - - A - v number of sites and may not be found every year or even with __White-winged Scoter C C C C rm Rallidae - Rails, Coots & Gallinules __Herring Gull C C C C r concentrated effort. There are more than a few records of __Black Scoter C C C C rmb __American Coot - - A - v __Heermann’s Gull - A - - v these species in appropriate habitats.
    [Show full text]
  • Kendall Birds
    Kendall-Frost Reserve Breeding Common Name Scientific Name Regulatory Status Status Waterfowl - Family Anatidae Brant Branta bernicla W Special Concern Gadwall Ana strepera W American Wigeon Anas americana W Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Y Cinnamon Teal Anas cyanoptera W Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata W Northern Pintail Anas acuta W Green-winged Teal Anas crecca W Redhead Aythya americana W Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis W Bufflehead Bucephala albeola W Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator W Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis W Loons - Family Gaviidae Common Loon Gavia immer W Special Concern Grebes - Family Podicipedidae Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps W Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus W Eared Grebe Podiceps nigricollis W Western Grebe Aechmophorus occidentalis W Clark's Grebe Aechmophorus clarkii W Pelicans - Family Pelecanidae Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis Y Endangered Frigatebirds - Family Fregatidae Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens X Cormorants - Family Phalacrocoracide Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus Y Herons and Bitterns - Family Ardeidae Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias Y Great Egret Ardea alba Y Snowy Egret Egretta thula Y Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea Y Green Heron Butorides virescens Y Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax Y Hawks, Kites and Eagles - Family Accipitridae Osprey Pandion haliaetus Y White-tailed Kite Elanus leucurus W Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus W Special Concern Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii Y Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus Y Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis
    [Show full text]
  • Recent Establishments and Extinctions of Northern Gannet Morus Bassanus Colonies in North Norway, 1995-2008
    Recent establishments and extinctions of Northern Gannet Morus bassanus colonies in North Norway, 1995-2008 Robert T. Barrett Barrett, R.T. 2008. Recent establishments and extinctions of Northern Gannet Morus bassanus colonies in North Norway, 1995-2008. – Ornis Norvegica 31: 172-182. Since the last published review of the development of the Northern Gannet Morus bassanus population in Norway (Barrett & Folkestad 1996), there has been a general increase in numbers breeding in North Norway from ca. 2200 occupied nests in 1995 to ca. 2700 in 2008. In Lofoten and Vesterålen, however, numbers have decreased from 1500 occupied nests in 1989 to 500 in 2008, and what were the two largest colonies on Skarvklakken and Hovsflesa have been abandoned. Small colonies have, in the meantime, been established in the region, but these are all characteristically unstable. A new colony established in Troms in 2001 increased to 400 occupied sites in 2007, but the population dropped to 326 in 2008. Harassment by White-tailed eagles Haliaeetus albicilla is mooted as the main cause of the decline in Lofoten and Vesterålen. Robert T. Barrett, Dept. of Natural Science, Tromsø University Museum, N-9037 Tromsø, Norway. INTRODUCTION the well-established colonies, Skarvklakken and Hovsflesa in the north of the country, there were Apart from perhaps the Great Skua Catharacta even signs of declines between 1991 and 1995. skua, there is no species whose establishment as a This paper documents the subsequent fate of the breeding bird in Norway and subsequent popula- North Norwegian colonies, including the extinc- tion development has been so well documented tion of some and the establishment of others.
    [Show full text]
  • Parasites of the Neotropic Cormorant Nannopterum (Phalacrocorax) Brasilianus (Aves, Phalacrocoracidae) in Chile
    Original Article ISSN 1984-2961 (Electronic) www.cbpv.org.br/rbpv Parasites of the Neotropic cormorant Nannopterum (Phalacrocorax) brasilianus (Aves, Phalacrocoracidae) in Chile Parasitos da biguá Nannopterum (Phalacrocorax) brasilianus (Aves, Phalacrocoracidae) do Chile Daniel González-Acuña1* ; Sebastián Llanos-Soto1,2; Pablo Oyarzún-Ruiz1 ; John Mike Kinsella3; Carlos Barrientos4; Richard Thomas1; Armando Cicchino5; Lucila Moreno6 1 Laboratorio de Parásitos y Enfermedades de Fauna Silvestre, Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile 2 Laboratorio de Vida Silvestre, Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad de Concepción, Chillán, Chile 3 Helm West Lab, Missoula, MT, USA 4 Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidad Santo Tomás, Concepción, Chile 5 Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata, Argentina 6 Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile How to cite: González-Acuña D, Llanos-Soto S, Oyarzún-Ruiz P, Kinsella JM, Barrientos C, Thomas R, et al. Parasites of the Neotropic cormorant Nannopterum (Phalacrocorax) brasilianus (Aves, Phalacrocoracidae) in Chile. Braz J Vet Parasitol 2020; 29(3): e003920. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1984-29612020049 Abstract The Neotropic cormorant Nannopterum (Phalacrocorax) brasilianus (Suliformes: Phalacrocoracidae) is widely distributed in Central and South America. In Chile, information about parasites for this species is limited to helminths and nematodes, and little is known about other parasite groups. This study documents the parasitic fauna present in 80 Neotropic cormorants’ carcasses collected from 2001 to 2008 in Antofagasta, Biobío, and Ñuble regions. Birds were externally inspected for ectoparasites and necropsies were performed to examine digestive and respiratory organs in search of endoparasites.
    [Show full text]
  • Phylogenetic Patterns of Size and Shape of the Nasal Gland Depression in Phalacrocoracidae
    PHYLOGENETIC PATTERNS OF SIZE AND SHAPE OF THE NASAL GLAND DEPRESSION IN PHALACROCORACIDAE DOUGLAS SIEGEL-CAUSEY Museumof NaturalHistory and Department of Systematicsand Ecology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas 66045-2454 USA ABSTRACT.--Nasalglands in Pelecaniformesare situatedwithin the orbit in closelyfitting depressions.Generally, the depressionsare bilobedand small,but in Phalacrocoracidaethey are more diversein shapeand size. Cormorants(Phalacrocoracinae) have small depressions typical of the order; shags(Leucocarboninae) have large, single-lobeddepressions that extend almost the entire length of the frontal. In all PhalacrocoracidaeI examined, shape of the nasalgland depressiondid not vary betweenfreshwater and marine populations.A general linear model detectedstrongly significant effectsof speciesidentity and gender on size of the gland depression.The effectof habitat on size was complexand was detectedonly as a higher-ordereffect. Age had no effecton size or shapeof the nasalgland depression.I believe that habitat and diet are proximateeffects. The ultimate factorthat determinessize and shape of the nasalgland within Phalacrocoracidaeis phylogenetichistory. Received 28 February1989, accepted1 August1989. THE FIRSTinvestigations of the nasal glands mon (e.g.Technau 1936, Zaks and Sokolova1961, of water birds indicated that theseglands were Thomson and Morley 1966), and only a few more developed in species living in marine studies have focused on the cranial structure habitats than in species living in freshwater associatedwith the nasal gland (Marpies 1932; habitats (Heinroth and Heinroth 1927, Marpies Bock 1958, 1963; Staaland 1967; Watson and Di- 1932). Schildmacher (1932), Technau (1936), and voky 1971; Lavery 1972). othersshowed that the degree of development Unlike most other birds, Pelecaniformes have among specieswas associatedwith habitat. Lat- nasal glands situated in depressionsfound in er experimental studies (reviewed by Holmes the anteromedialroof of the orbit (Siegel-Cau- and Phillips 1985) established the role of the sey 1988).
    [Show full text]
  • Plumage and Sexual Maturation in the Great Frigatebird Fregata Minor in the Galapagos Islands
    Valle et al.: The Great Frigatebird in the Galapagos Islands 51 PLUMAGE AND SEXUAL MATURATION IN THE GREAT FRIGATEBIRD FREGATA MINOR IN THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS CARLOS A. VALLE1, TJITTE DE VRIES2 & CECILIA HERNÁNDEZ2 1Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales, Campus Cumbayá, Jardines del Este y Avenida Interoceánica (Círculo de Cumbayá), PO Box 17–12–841, Quito, Ecuador ([email protected]) 2Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, PO Box 17–01–2184, Quito, Ecuador Received 6 September 2005, accepted 12 August 2006 SUMMARY VALLE, C.A., DE VRIES, T. & HERNÁNDEZ, C. 2006. Plumage and sexual maturation in the Great Frigatebird Fregata minor in the Galapagos Islands. Marine Ornithology 34: 51–59. The adaptive significance of distinctive immature plumages and protracted sexual and plumage maturation in birds remains controversial. This study aimed to establish the pattern of plumage maturation and the age at first breeding in the Great Frigatebird Fregata minor in the Galapagos Islands. We found that Great Frigatebirds attain full adult plumage at eight to nine years for females and 10 to 11 years for males and that they rarely attempted to breed before acquiring full adult plumage. The younger males succeeded only at attracting a mate, and males and females both bred at the age of nine years when their plumage was nearly completely adult. Although sexual maturity was reached as early as nine years, strong competition for nest-sites may further delay first reproduction. We discuss our findings in light of the several hypotheses for explaining delayed plumage maturation in birds, concluding that slow sexual and plumage maturation in the Great Frigatebird, and perhaps among all frigatebirds, may result from moult energetic constraints during the subadult stage.
    [Show full text]
  • Foraging Behavior of Brazilian Cormorant, Nannopterum Brasilianus (Suliformes: Phalacrocoracidae)
    ZOOLOGIA 35: e14664 ISSN 1984-4689 (online) zoologia.pensoft.net RESEARCH ARTICLE Foraging behavior of Brazilian cormorant, Nannopterum brasilianus (Suliformes: Phalacrocoracidae) Carla Gheler-Costa 1, Fábio Henrique Comin2 , Letícia C. Gilli1, Luciano M. Verdade 3 1Laboratório Ecologia e Conservação, Pró-Reitoria de Pesquisa e Pós-graduação, Universidade do Sagrado Coração. Rua Irmã Arminda 10-50, Jardim Brasil, 17011-160 Bauru, SP, Brazil. 2Departamento de Ciências Sociais e Aplicadas, Universidade do Sagrado Coração. Rua Irmã Arminda 10-50, Jardim Brasil, 17011-160 Bauru, SP, Brazil. 3Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Universidade de São Paulo. Caixa Postal 96, 13416-000 Piracicaba, SP, Brazil. Corresponding author: Carla Gheler-Costa ([email protected]) http://zoobank.org/342FF666-882D-4ECB-A3B7-0740E876EE4E ABSTRACT. Although the concept of optimal foraging has been extensively discussed, foraging efficiency is difficult to assess in vertebrates. In this study, we determined the foraging efficiency of the Brazilian cormorant,Nannopterum brasilianus Gmelin, 1789, by the direct, ad libitum observation of a group of four to thirteen individuals in an artificial pond at the University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, state of São Paulo, southeastern Brazil. Although this study was carried out in a highly anthropic envi- ronment, we can still conclude that the Brazilian cormorant is a relatively efficient browser and short-term diver. In anthropic environments, foraging success depends on the amount of time these birds spend diving, and stealing food is less common. Stealing occurs at relatively low rates but tends to be an efficient way to get food. KEY WORDS. Food biology, food stealing, foraging success, social behavior, wading birds.
    [Show full text]
  • Status of the Double-Crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax Auritus) in North America
    STATUS OF THE DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT (PHALACROCORAX AURITUS) IN NORTH AMERICA PREPARED BY: LINDA R. WIRES FRANCESCA J. CUTHBERT DALE R. TREXEL ANUP R. JOSHI UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE 1980 FOLWELL AVE. ST. PAUL, MN 55108 USA MAY 2001 PREPARED UNDER CONTRACT WITH *U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE *CONTENT MATERIAL OF THIS REPORT DOES NOT NECESSARILY REPRESENT THE OPINIONS OF USFWS Recommended citation: Wires, L.R., F.J. Cuthbert, D.R. Trexel and A.R. Joshi. 2001. Status of the Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) in North America. Final Report to USFWS. FINAL DRAFT Executive Summary i EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Introduction: Since the late-1970s, numbers of Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) (DCCO) have increased significantly in many regions of North America. A variety of problems, both real and perceived, have been associated with these increases, including impacts to aquaculture, sport and commercial fisheries, natural habitats, and other avian species. Concern is especially strong over impacts to sport and commercial fishes and aquaculture. Because of increasing public pressure on U.S. government agencies to reduce DCCO conflicts, the USFWS is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), and in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Agriculture/Wildlife Services (USDA/WS) and state resource management agencies, will develop a national management plan for the DCCO. This assessment will be used to prepare the EIS and management plan. Populations and trends: The DCCO breeding range in North America is divided into five geographic areas. Since at least 1980, numbers have clearly increased in three of the breeding areas: Canadian and U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Recent Records of Little Cormorant Microcarbo Niger in Sumatra, Indonesia
    Setiawan et al.: Little Cormorant sightings in Sumatra 161 RECENT RECORDS OF LITTLE CORMORANT MICROCARBO NIGER IN SUMATRA, INDONESIA ARUM SETIAWAN1, MUHAMMAD IQBAL2, PORMANSYAH3, INDRA YUSTIAN1 & HILDA ZULKIFLI1 1Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Sriwijaya University, Jalan Raya Palembang-Prabumulih km 32, Indralaya, Sumatera Selatan 30662, Indonesia 2Biology Programme, Faculty of Science, Sriwijaya University, Jalan Padang Selasa 524, Palembang 30139, Indonesia ([email protected]) 3Conservation Biology Programme, Faculty of Science, Sriwijaya University, Jalan Padang Selasa 524, Palembang 30139, Indonesia Received 15 February 2020, accepted 30 March 2020 ABSTRACT SETIAWAN, A., IQBAL, M., PORMANSYAH, YUSTIAN, I. & ZULKIFLI, H. 2020. Recent records of Little Cormorant Microcarbo niger in Sumatra, Indonesia. Marine Ornithology 48: 161–162. We summarize observations of the Little Cormorant Microcarbo niger in Sumatra from 2016 to 2019. Based on these observations, we suggest that Little Cormorant has become widespread in Sumatra. Keywords: status update, Little Cormorant, Sumatra INTRODUCTION it has been recorded in Sumatra, Java, and Borneo (Iqbal et al. 2013, Eaton et al. 2016). Three black-coloured cormorants (Little Little Cormorant Microcarbo niger is one of four cormorant species Cormorant, Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris, that occurs in the Indonesian archipelago (Greater Sundas and and Great Cormorant P. carbo) have been recorded within the Wallacea; Eaton et al. 2016). This species is widely distributed Indonesian archipelago. A fourth species, Little Pied Cormorant M. throughout the Indian subcontinent, China, and Southeast Asia melanoleucos, is not considered here due to its striking black-and- (Orta 1992, Johnsgard 1993); within the Indonesian archipelago, white plumage (see Harrison 1983, Johnsgard 1993, Sonobe & Usui 1993, Robson 2011, Eaton et al.
    [Show full text]
  • Common Birds of Namibia and Botswana 1 Josh Engel
    Common Birds of Namibia and Botswana 1 Josh Engel Photos: Josh Engel, [[email protected]] Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History and Tropical Birding Tours [www.tropicalbirding.com] Produced by: Tyana Wachter, R. Foster and J. Philipp, with the support of Connie Keller and the Mellon Foundation. © Science and Education, The Field Museum, Chicago, IL 60605 USA. [[email protected]] [fieldguides.fieldmuseum.org/guides] Rapid Color Guide #584 version 1 01/2015 1 Struthio camelus 2 Pelecanus onocrotalus 3 Phalacocorax capensis 4 Microcarbo coronatus STRUTHIONIDAE PELECANIDAE PHALACROCORACIDAE PHALACROCORACIDAE Ostrich Great white pelican Cape cormorant Crowned cormorant 5 Anhinga rufa 6 Ardea cinerea 7 Ardea goliath 8 Ardea pupurea ANIHINGIDAE ARDEIDAE ARDEIDAE ARDEIDAE African darter Grey heron Goliath heron Purple heron 9 Butorides striata 10 Scopus umbretta 11 Mycteria ibis 12 Leptoptilos crumentiferus ARDEIDAE SCOPIDAE CICONIIDAE CICONIIDAE Striated heron Hamerkop (nest) Yellow-billed stork Marabou stork 13 Bostrychia hagedash 14 Phoenicopterus roseus & P. minor 15 Phoenicopterus minor 16 Aviceda cuculoides THRESKIORNITHIDAE PHOENICOPTERIDAE PHOENICOPTERIDAE ACCIPITRIDAE Hadada ibis Greater and Lesser Flamingos Lesser Flamingo African cuckoo hawk Common Birds of Namibia and Botswana 2 Josh Engel Photos: Josh Engel, [[email protected]] Integrative Research Center, Field Museum of Natural History and Tropical Birding Tours [www.tropicalbirding.com] Produced by: Tyana Wachter, R. Foster and J. Philipp,
    [Show full text]
  • On the Polar Edge: the Status of the Northern Gannet (Morus Bassanus) in the Barents Sea in 2015-16 Robert T
    POLAR RESEARCH, 2017 VOL. 36, 1390384 https://doi.org/10.1080/17518369.2017.1390384 RESEARCH ARTICLE On the polar edge: the status of the northern gannet (Morus bassanus) in the Barents Sea in 2015-16 Robert T. Barretta, Hallvard Strømb & Mikhail Melnikov c aDepartment of Natural Sciences, Tromsø University Museum, Tromsø, Norway; bNorwegian Polar Institute, Fram Centre, Tromsø, Norway; cKandalaksha State Nature Reserve, Kandalaksha, Murmanskaya obl., Russia ABSTRACT KEYWORDS During its population recovery in the North Atlantic in the early 1900s, the northern gannet Colony establishment; (Morus bassanus) established its first colony in Norway at Runde in 1946. Since the 1960s, breeding range; population gannets have established (and later abandoned) several small colonies in the north of the change; ocean climate country. These colonies have been regularly monitored, and in 2015–16 ca. 3300 apparently occupied nests (AON) were counted in seven colonies in northern Norway. Two colonies that ABBREVIATIONS existed in 2008 had been abandoned and four new ones established. Two of the latter were AON: apparently occupied nests; SEAPOP: Seabird again abandoned before 2015. In 1995, one pair established a colony at Kharlov on the Kola – ’ Population Management Peninsula, Russia, where numbers increased to 200 250 AON in 2016. The newest and world s and Petroleum Operations northernmost colony was established at Bjørnøya (Bear Island) in 2011, extending the species’ (monitoring and mapping breeding range well into the Arctic. These recent establishments are thought to be associated programme for Norwegian with a warming of the Barents Sea and the northward spread of common prey of the gannet seabirds) such as herring and mackerel.
    [Show full text]
  • SHORT NOTE First Record of Little Black Cormorant (Phalacrocorax
    191 Notornis, 2013, Vol. 60: 191-193 0029-4470 © The Ornithological Society of New Zealand, Inc. SHORT NOTE First record of little black cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris) nesting in Canterbury and presumed first breeding for the South Island ANDREW C. CROSSLAND Regional Parks Team, Transport & Greenspace Unit, City Environment Group, PO Box 237, Christchurch, New Zealand The little black cormorant (Phalacrocorax sulcirostris) disperse widely to North I coastal habitats after ranges from Indonesia to New Guinea, Australia, breeding, with small numbers regularly wintering New Caledonia and New Zealand. It is the least in Nelson and Marlborough (Heather & Robertson abundant and least widespread of the 4 species 1996; Parkinson 2006). Very small numbers reach of Phalacrocorax found in New Zealand and has a other parts of the South I and Stewart I (Marchant national population estimated at 1000-5000 pairs & Higgins 1990; Gill et al. 2010). Taylor (2000) stated by Heather & Robertson (1996) and 2000-4000 that the species bred only in the North I and there is individuals by Taylor (2000). The New Zealand no report of South I breeding in the literature. checklist (Gill et al. 2010) does not distinguish sub- The first verified little black cormorant record species and follows Marchant & Higgins (1990) in the Christchurch area (Central Canterbury, in lumping little black comorants in this country South I) was 1 bird observed at the Avon-Heathcote with those elsewhere. However, some overseas Estuary on 10 Dec 1991 (Crossland 1993; 1994). This authorities (e.g., Delaney & Scott 2006; Li et al. was followed by another bird at Quail I, Lyttelton 2009) classify New Zealand birds as subspecies Harbour on 17 Apr 1992 (Crossland 1994).
    [Show full text]