We who live in the Portage Lakes have become very much aware of the increase in the size of the local Double Crested Cormorant population over the last 5 or so years.

Not too many years ago these birds were on the endangered species list as a result of the widespread use of DDT, so their recovery has been quite remarkable.

These showy black birds are very efficient catchers of fish as they can “fly” underwater just about as well as they can fly in the air. 
 

The ancient Egyptians used them for fishing. They would put cords on their feet and rings around their necks so they could not swallow the fish they caught. When the birds surfaced with a fish, they were reeled in and the fish collected.

Cormorants are very sociable and nest in large colonies. They are very active and can be seen swimming, flying, or roosting together in their colony on a very small island at the west end of West Reservoir, in the Portage Lakes State Park system.
 

Several nearby residents have told me that they really would like to find a way to discourage those birds from nesting on that island. The Cormorants fish diet produces high acid droppings, which is killing the vegetation below the nests. But because they are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, finding a way to control them may be difficult and would require a special permit issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.