New York Sea Grant and Wayne County GIS have launched an online tool for residents to report double-crested cormorant activity and its effects across the state's Great Lakes region and elsewhere in New York.
The public can use the survey to submit photos and observations about cormorant numbers, nesting and feeding, along with impacts on habitat, water quality, infrastructure and recreation.
The site also includes a viewer that displays reports in real time. New York Sea Grant said the information can help environmental, wildlife and fisheries managers in the United States and Canada.
The project originated in Wayne County after local leaders sought a way for residents to document activity along the shoreline. Town of Huron Supervisor David Fantuzzo said residents had been reporting concerns about the birds.
Double-crested cormorants are native, fish-eating migratory birds protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act. They breed in the Great Lakes region in colonies ranging from a few dozen birds to more than 1,000 pairs, according to the release.
New York Sea Grant said droppings from nesting colonies can damage trees and vegetation. Charter fishing operators have also raised concerns about the birds' fish consumption, particularly after fish stocking.
The survey is available through New York Sea Grant's cormorant reporting page.
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