OGDENSBURG, New York (WWNY) – Double-crested cormorants, long blamed for effects on fishing and trees on eastern Lake Ontario, are now being reported in growing numbers on the St. Lawrence River.<\/p>\n
The birds used to be an occasional sight on the river near Ogdensburg. In recent years, that has changed.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou would mostly only see them in one group. But now when you come out on the water you see them everywhere. They pop up out of the water when you\u2019re riding through, almost every area you go to, you see them all over the place,\u201d said Larry Mehaffy, a longtime angler from Lisbon.<\/p>\n
Population growth since 1972 protection<\/p>\n
Double-crested cormorants have increased across North America since the bird became protected in 1972. On waterways including Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, the bird\u2019s diving ability and appetite for fish are blamed for a decline in fishing.<\/p>\n
\u201cUsed to be, you know, you come out, you could catch perch anywhere, but now you have to locate \u2018em and find perch in groups because they\u2019re not as prevalent as they used to be,\u201d Mehaffy said.<\/p>\n
Protected status means the birds cannot be killed except by special permit. Across New York, control methods have centered on oiling eggs to suffocate them, removing nests and hazing.<\/p>\n
Impact on trees along the riverbank<\/p>\n
Downstream from Ogdensburg, dead trees line the riverbank, and wide areas of historic Chimney Island show damage. Steve Pearson, a longtime boater and angler from Ogdensburg, said one tree fell within a single year.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne summer they completely destroyed that tree where it fell over and fell in the water. Then they just moved on to the next tree,\u201d Pearson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re killing the tree lines when they\u2019re roosting up there; the droppings from the fish are absolutely disgusting,\u201d Mehaffy said.<\/p>\n
A Canadian expert says the cormorant\u2019s droppings can help the environment and that the bird\u2019s impact on fishing is exaggerated. That perspective, along with input from another longtime river observer, will be reported on Thursday.<\/p>\n
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