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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #125826
Title: "THE IMPORTANCE OF MONITORING DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT NUMBERS WITHIN THE CATFISH PRODUCTION AREAS OF ARKANSAS".

Author
item Radomski, Andrew
item Freeman, Donald
item Wooten, David

Submitted to: Waterbird Society
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/1/2001
Publication Date: 11/18/2002
Citation: RADOMSKI, A.A., FREEMAN, D.W., WOOTEN, D.E. "THE IMPORTANCE OF MONITORING DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT NUMBERS WITHIN THE CATFISH PRODUCTION AREAS OF ARKANSAS".. WATERBIRD SOCIETY. 2002. p.14.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) wintering in the southeast delta of Arkansas were monitored via aerial surveys to determine numbers and distribution for the past 2 winters. A minimum of two surveys per month (December 1999 April 2001) was conducted along a fixed flight route during the last 3 hours of sunlight and encompassed catfish production areas. Survey flights were conducted on consecutive days to reduce possible movement of cormorants between the two flight routes. One observer was used during the first winter (1999- 2000) and double-observer count, followed by a next morning ground-truth count, was used during the second winter (2000- 2001). For both winters, December through February surveys exceeded 15,000 individuals. The only exception was during early January, when an appreciable drop in numbers occurred during both years. Cormorant numbers peaked in early February 2000 and 2001 to exceed 26,000 individuals. The fidelity to night roosts and seasonal fluctuations are of interest because of the extrinsic variables, such as water and forage availability, may differ across spatial and temporal scales. Also, baseline population trend data are important in conducting field research to compare between years, to measure density-dependent variables, and to provide a valuable tool in assessing cormorant population changes that may occur with future management strategies adopted by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.