Subject: Re: Brandt's Cormorants on pilings (was: Brandt's Cormorant ID
Date: Nov 8 07:54:06 1997
From: bboek at olympus.net - bboek at olympus.net
Thank you Scott Downes, Martin Muller, and Michael Hobbs for setting me
straight about Brant's Cormorants using the pilings at the Edmonds ferry.
I will never say "never" again! But I suspect these are not your typical
Brandt's Cormorants...
Actually, yours are very interesting sightings, as the nearest breeding
records of Brandt's Cormorants, in Washington, anyway, are on coastal
islands near Capes Alava and Flattery, as shown in Speich and Wahl's
Catalog of Washington Seabird Colonies.
Anybody else know of Brandt's Cormorants acting "territorial" in Puget
Sound or the Stait of Georgia during breeding season (April-July)? In
good breeding years at the Farallon Islands, new colonies appear at
previously unused sites, if birds seem so inclined. Could it happen with
lingerers at wintering sites?
Bob Boekelheide
Sequim
Scott Downes writes:
>Since I used to ride the Edmonds ferry every day in commute I can verify
>that they are regular on the pilings. Throughout the summer I found a pair
>on the pilings in breeding plumage and one adult would always be hunkered
>down on the piling. Although its not normal, this seems suspect for
>possible breeding, though I never saw an egg. Can anybody confirm nesting
>of these birds?