Cormorant Comments

I've changed my cormorant report page to direct you to the Federal Government’s initiative to collect comments on these birds. The problem is getting bigger and the authority , or lack of, gets passed around to different agencies. When I started the link to the cormorant reports last year the person designated as "The" contact person told me the reports were ignored unless they were of some import. I asked what was important and was told maybe a sighting in a new area, or a large sighting, or something unusual. I informed the person of the large population in western Lake Erie and the Detroit River that's year round. No - doesn't count because those birds are just juveniles and they aren't included in the management plan. A few days later the Ptak nesting site was found in the Detroit River. Now that's unusual, juveniles nesting, so I sent in this picture with a report. Well I still haven't been replied to and "The" contact person has moved on to better things. So I'll be sending in my pic and reporting my sighting over the year. It would be great for others to do this so the agency gets an idea of the problem down here in juvieland. They are fixated with nesting pairs and that's how they report dealings with the birds. It was the US Dept. of Agriculture that reported to the Cormorant Watch Volunteers last year about how many pairs they killed. Oiled nests, however, were reported singly. Confused yet? I'm sure that's a strategy but now you can comment and it will be posted in their database for anyone to see. Don't expect a reply but this will form a benchmark for discussion in the future. Here's the info fro the report link. Scroll to the bottom to get the page to report on. Go to that page and comment on the upper most topic, I believe it's the only one with a comment option. Try to complete in 20 minutes or you'll have to file a comment extention submission.

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Public Comments

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Background

On November 8, 2011, we published a request for comments for
consideration as we revise the regulations governing double-crested
cormorant management (76 FR 69225). We requested comments on a variety
of issues related to double-crested cormorants, and asked a number of
questions for consideration as we develop a proposal to revise the
regulations at 50 CFR 21.47 and 21.48. See that document for detailed
information.
We have received requests from two Flyways for an extension of the
comment period so that they may consider the regulations and management
issues at their upcoming meetings. To accommodate these requests, we
extend the comment period for an additional 60 days, until April 6,
2012.

Dated: January 18, 2012.
Rachel Jacobson,
Acting, Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks.
[FR Doc. 2012-1807 Filed 1-26-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-55-P

Comment here - http://www.regulations.gov/#!searchResults;rpp=25;po=0;s=FWS-R9-MB-2011-0033