Subject: [Tweeters] RE: Cormorants on navigation tower, Half Moon Bay,
Date: Apr 26 06:24:15 2015
From: Kelly McAllister - mcallisters4 at comcast.net
Here's a link to a few photos:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/29002564 at N08/17276136935/
I believe that most of the nests are the coarse stick nests of
Double-crested Cormorants but the bottom platform of the left tower may be
dominated by the more algae-dominated nests of Pelagic Cormorants. I don't
know that the Brandt's Cormorants are nesting on the tower but they're
clearly present. It sure would be fun to take a kayak out for a closer look.
Kelly McAllister
From: bill shelmerdine [mailto:georn1 at hotmail.com]
Sent: Sunday, April 26, 2015 6:08 AM
To: tweeters; Kelly McAllister
Subject: Re: Cormorants on navigation tower, Half Moon Bay, Westport
Kelly et. al.
Good question. All three cormorants appear to nest and at least roost on
the tower. Last weekend when I was out there I estimated the following: 70
Double Crested, 30 Brandt's, and 20 Pelagics. This is surely an under
counting and a rough estimate due to views being obscured by the structural
members of the tower etc. Honestly I thought there would be more Brandt's
and less D.C.'s there. There is definitely a hierarchy there. The
Pelagic's occupy perimeter locations; the Brandt's dominate the lower
platform, and the D.C.'s tend to dominate the upper platforms, but their
larger size and preferred perches on the cross beams obscure the birds in
the centers of the platforms.
Good Birding...
Bill Shelmerdine