Page 8 - Fishing Report - 10-28-15-B

Along our waterways: The Cormorant

Photos and text submitted by wildlife photographer Ed Atts

The Double-crested-Cormorant is a prehistoric
looking bird that resembles a cross between a
goose and a loon. It has a body length of nearly 3
feet and a wingspan exceeding 4 feet. Adult cormo-
rants are covered with matt black feathers, have a
patch of orange-yellow skin showing on the face,
and a pronounced hooked bill.

Cormorants are fish eaters. They can be found on all inland western Pennsylvania lakes
and Lake Erie. They float low in the water and dive to considerable depths to catch prey.
Their feathers are not waterproof so once they complete feeding they sit on stumps, boat
docks, rocks, or trees with their wings expanded to dry.

The Double-crested-Cormorant does not nest in northwestern Pennsylvania but it is prev-
alent here from spring through early winter until our lakes freeze. Then it migrates to the

coasts along the southern part of the
U.S.

This bird is not popular with com-
mercial fishermen, marina and boat
owners, or people who live near
their smelly rookeries. Cormorants
are totally protected by federal law.
The ban on DDT is the reason for
their great increase in numbers in
recent years.

(Editor’s note: Cormorants are not popular with most recreational fishermen either due
to high number of fish they eat.)

All images are copyright protected property of Ed Atts