Observations of Nesting Double-Crested Cormorants in the Delta Region of Mississippi

Migration Patterns of Double-Crested Cormorants Wintering in the Southeastern United States

“…Four (14%) of the cormorants remained in the southeastern U.S. throughout the summer. One adult non-migrant cormorant may have nested in the southeastern U.S., a phenomenon recently documented by Reinhold et al (1998), although no attempt was made to locate the nest. Body mass was hypothesized to possibly influence migratory status; however, a difference in the body mass of migratory and non-migratory cormorants was not detected, and it was concluded that poor body condition at the time of capture was likely not the stimulus to forgo migration.…”

“…Recent evidence suggests that some cormorants are year-round residents in the southeastern U.S. These birds do not migrate north to breed but nest in the southeastern U.S. (Reinhold et al 1998). Specific information regarding cormorant migration patterns is needed to better understand whether aquaculture in the southeastern U.S. influences the distribution of cormorant nesting colonies.…”

Microsatellite Variation of Double-Crested Cormorant Populations in Eastern North America

“…If genetic differentiation is sufficient, it is possible that this resident population may warrant special consideration in management and any control efforts. In addition to the population in Florida, smaller colonies of nonmigratory birds have become established in other areas of the southeastern United States (e.g., Mississippi Delta, Reinhold et al 1998;Louisiana, Hatch and Weseloh 1999).…”

Increased Abundance and First Breeding Record of the Neotropic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) on the Alluvial Plain of Mississippi

“…Although Double-crested Cormorants did not breed in the Delta region of Mississippi historically, nesting of this species has occurred there over the past decade (K. Hanson and B. Dorr, National Wildlife Research Center, Starkville, MS, unpubl. data;Reinhold et al 1998;Sauer et al 2007). The increase of Double-crested Cormorants in Mississippi has coincided with a dramatic increase in commercial production of Ictalurus punctatus Rafinesque (Channel Catfish) in Mississippi (Glahn and Stickley 1995, Glahn et al 2000b, Mott and Brunson 1997.…”

“…Surveys of likely and confi rmed Double-crested Cormorant breeding colonies have been conducted by MS-WS in the Delta region since 1994, with the fi rst documented Double-crested Cormorant nesting occurring in 1998 (Reinhold et al 1998 (Knight and Knight 2003). The fi rst and second records for the state were seen at Bellefontaine Beach in Jackson County in 1979 and1980, respectively.…”