[obol] "Chinese" Cormorant

[Dan Gleason]

The cormorant used by Chinese fisherman is a different species from  
cormorants on the west coast of North America. The term "Chinese  
Cormorant" used to refer to NA cormorants could refer to any species  
but is most often used to refer to Double-crested Cormorant. The  
Double-crested Cormorant is native to North America, is not found  
elsewhere and was not introduced. It is the most wide-ranging of all  
NA cormorants and is the only cormorant routinely found on inland  
waters. None of the six species (Neotropic, Great, Pelagic, Red- 
faced, Brandt's and Double-crested Cormorant) found in NA were  
introduced, although some evidence suggests that Great Cormorant may  
have arrived only after the last of the major glaciation periods -  
still far too long ago to be introduced by people.

Cormorants are often the target of blame by the fishing industry.  
They are known to take some salmon but it's unclear just how many.  
There is evidence for them taking many salmon from areas in the east  
where rivers are stocked with Atlantic Salmon. The impact on wild  
salmon is not as well known. Most of the species (fish and inverts.)  
that Double-crested Cormorants prey on are not near the surface. They  
feed most often on the bottom and to a lesser extent, at mid-depths.  
Except in some shallower waters, they typically don't feed in the  
same strata where salmon are usually found.

Dan Gleason
-------------
Dan Gleason
dan-gleason at comcast.net
541 345-0450


On Mar 18, 2008, at 11:37 AM, Barbara & John Woodhouse wrote:

> Two days ago, during a radio discussion on Public Broadcasting, one
> of the speakers referred to the possibility of predation of salmon on
> the Sacramento River in CA by a number of agents. In the list he
> gave, he mentioned the "Chinese Cormorant". What is this bird that he
> referred to? I have looked in the fattest books on birds that I have
> and am unable to find reference to it. My interest was aroused
> because I had heard the name used about 10 years ago. At that time
> the speaker told me that the Double-crested Cormorant was a Chinese
> Cormorant, introduced to these waters, .... At that time I thought
> the idea a bit far-fetched and dismissed it. Is there an explanation
> for this name?
>
> No, this is not April 1; close, but not!
>
> John Woodhouse
> Tillamook
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