AZGFD Studies Cormorant Impact on Wildlife, Fish

By Ammoland Editor Joe Evans

PHOENIX, Ariz. -(Ammoland.com)- The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) prides itself on providing ample fishing opportunities for its legions of anglers and the state’s growing populations of cormorants have taken notice.

In early 2017, AZGFD began a study of the state’s two species of the bird – neotropic and double-crested cormorants – both of which are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Under those protections, cormorant populations have flourished nationwide, competing with other wildlife for a bounty of local fish at AZGFD’s community fishing waters and privately stocked residential lakes.

“Cormorants are highly adaptable birds and we wish to learn more about them,” said Larisa Harding, AZGFD Terrestrial Research program manager. “They are part of Arizona’s wildlife tapestry and we need to learn how these growing populations are connected to the landscape, their migration patterns and what impact – if any – their increasing numbers are having on other wildlife, including area fish.”

As part of that research, in late summer AZGFD placed numbered, colored tags on the wings of birds near the Ocotillo and Sun Lakes communities in south Phoenix. More birds will be safely trapped, tagged and released across the metro …Read the Rest

Source:: AmmoLand