Canadian researchers are uncovering the ecological implications of a growing population of double-crested cormorants. A recent report says the birds “are clearly having a major impact on the present ecology of the island’s ponds.” In hopes of restoring the ecosystem, Parks Canada launched a five-year program to kill the birds in 2008—but the decision has opponents. “Cormorants are scapegoated for our activities,” said Barry Kent MacKay, senior program associate at Born Free USA. “The islands are not, or in my opinion should not be, maintained as essentially gardens, all manicured with the ‘undesirables’ weeded out. The cormorants belong there if anything does, and possibly more than, say, Kentucky coffee trees.”
Link: Great Lakes Echo