Government sanctions cormorant cull to appease anglers (2 Viewers)

[Nightranger]

I am one of the relatively few birders that actually look at Cormorants, mainly at Rutland Water, and I know how to tell [sinensis and carbo apart. There were 640 Cormorants at RW yesterday, and most were carbo. Sinensis are very much in the minority, and are out-numbered by intergrades. To say that all inland Cormorants are sinensis is clearly wrong. There is evidence that new inland tree-nesting colonies are initially established by sinensis birds but the colonies quickly attract carbo birds. Sinensis is regarded as a more migratory race so they should be less numerous in winter.

Whether they originate in southern Germany I do not know.

Steve

Hi Steve,

Just to let the BF community know, Steve contacted me by PM to point this out as a correction and I happily acknowledge this. Clearly things have moved on from Stuart Piertney's research hence why I have left the relevant bits in Steve's post. The only thing that troubles me and I am sure Steve will be able to help us out - is there a change in the ratios at any time of the year? The only reaon this issue is important is through the contention that the birds are not adapted to inland environments. I am afraid this does not wash anyway because we could equally argue that blackcaps are not evolved to overwinter in the UK yet they have clearly adapted.

As it turns out, I understand where the anglers are coming from but I just feel that the raised quota allows people to ignore possible deterrents. Also, the quota is worryingly high and we could see an extinction event in just five years if the quotas are met (they probably won't be but what if...?).

Ian