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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stuttgart, Arkansas » Harry K. Dupree Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Cntr » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #164641
Title: MINIMIZING USE OF AQUACULTURE PONDS BY DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS (PHALACROCORAX AURITUS) AND OTHER FISH-EATING BIRDS

Author
item Radomski, Andrew
item COLLINS, CHARLES - CFA
item Freeman, Donald

Submitted to: Eastern Wildlife Damage Management Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/6/2003
Publication Date: 4/2/2004
Citation: Radomski, A.A., Collins, C.M., Freeman, D.W. 2004. Minimizing use of aquaculture ponds by double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) and other fish-eating birds. In: Eastern Wildlife Damage Management Conference Proceedings. p. 71-78.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Methods used to minimize double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) and other fish-eating birds (egrets, herons, ducks) at aquaculture facilities have limited success because of the birds' ability to acclimate or ignore the applied technique. The objectives of this study were to evaluate and quantify the effects on minimizing double-crested cormorants and other fish-eating birds using exclusion barriers positioned every 30 m at aquaculture ponds in southeastern Arkansas. We measured the long-term (November 2000 - April 2001) effectiveness to deter cormorants and conspecifics, such as egrets and herons, and measure the impacts to nontarget species, such as coots and ducks. The exclusion barrier limited double-crested cormorant access significantly (4- to 8-fold) and similarly to the conspecific species, but other water birds (ducks and coots) were not affected by this treatment. Observations were made from permanent, 4.2 m towers during 4-hour blocks between 0900-1700 hr. Over 200 hours of observations resulted in 23,200 cormorant observations at the site. Eight treatment ponds averaged 429 cormorant landings (1.9 birds per hour) compared to 4,240 cormorant (15.6 birds per hour) on 8 control ponds. Although the physical barrier did not excluding all cormorants and other fish-eating birds from a pond, this technique offers a nonlethal, cost-efficient, easy to set-up and takedown, and low maintenance method to minimize depredation at aquaculture facilities.