Author
 |
Radomski, Andrew |
|
Freeman, Donald |
|
Submitted to: The Wildlife Society
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/2003 Publication Date: 9/1/2003 Citation: RADOMSKI, A.A., FREEMAN, D.W. TWEAKING AN EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUE TO MINIMIZE DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT AND OTHER FISH-EATING BIRDS AT AQUACULTURE FACILITIES.. THE WILDLIFE SOCIETY. 2003. p.221-222. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: Our bird depredation research program focuses on developing cost-efficient, practical, and effective methods to minimize bird depredation within the aquaculture industry and to resolve piscivorous bird-human conflicts. Methods used to minimize double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) and other fish-eating birds at aquaculture facilities have limited success because birds readily acclimate to the various techniques. During 2000-2001, a technique using twine strung at 30 m intervals across 8 catfish ponds was tested. Observations were made from a 4 m tower during the winter months in 4 hour blocks. Over 100 hours of observations resulted in 4240 cormorant observations. Treatment ponds had 429 cormorant encounters (2.3 birds per hour) compared to 1017 cormorant encounters (10.6 birds per hour) on control ponds. During 2001-2002, 20 additional catfish ponds were utilized and an additional treatment of twine strung at 60 m was tested. During 2002-2003, 6 catfish farms located at intervals (0.5, 2, and 4 km) from a large roost site were compared to evaluate the effectiveness. Although not exclusive to all fish-eating birds, this technique offers a cost-efficient, easy to setup, and low maintenance method to minimize depredation at aquaculture facilities. |
