AT GROTON POND
Photo Paul Sykas
VIDEO DARLENE SPRAGUE
DOUBLE BREASTED CORMORANT
Protected under the migratory bird
treaty act of 1918.
Voice, silent , except for
piglike grunts in nesting colonies. Known to destroy vegetation with droppings.
Has webbed feet and feathers that are not waterproof. Often seen drying their wings
by standing on rocks and spreading them open to dry in the sun.
cooler months of the year, anytime from July to October. Female lays 3
eggs, both parents take responsibility in raising the chicks.
Young Island near Grand Isle on Lake Champlain has been destroyed
by these birds. Once the island was beautiful. The vegetation, trees and leaves
are dead. The island is covered in white bird guano. (bird poop) They defoliate the trees to build
their nest, and have destroyed the islands ecosystem.
In 1996 there were
over 5,000 birds nesting on six islands on the Lake. At one point the
South Hero Fire Department was called to "blast" the nests with eggs in them, out
of the trees. This proved to be somewhat sucessfulbut some feared they
would just move to an ajoining island and destroy that. (and they are)
The Lake Champlain Trust supports the legal control and efforts to control nesting
cormorants on theLake. Large blackish water bird, often stands erect on rocks or
trees branches with neck in an S position. Adults have colorful face skin,
gular pouch, and eyes (usually green). Bill is slender, hook tipped. Sexes are
alike. Flocks fly in lines or wedges like geese.
Food- loves fish,
especially yellow perch, and compete heavly with other water fowl, especially
the common loon, whose favorite food is also yellow perch. Ranges both on
coast and east inland.
Champlain. Private land owners are not allowed to disturb
them. Concerned land owners should contact the Vermont Fish and
The Naure conservatory , UVM researchers and
goverment agencies cooperated to do a 4 year study from 2008-2011. To
conduct experimental population control designed to reduce the number of nesting
The ideas was to treat the eggs in the nest with corn oil,
to prevent the eggs from hatching and reduce the numbers.
decreased markedly. In additon to oiling the eggs, management agencies
culled over 10,000 birds on Lake Champlain during that 4 year
For more information contact the Lake Champlain Land Trust or link onto
their web site at firstname.lastname@example.org to request further
photos Darlene Sprague
HERE A GOOSE, THERE A GOOSE, EVERY WHERE A GOOSE,
PUTTING ON THE SNEAK
check out the "Look" he has on his face
One solution to keeping critters off your lakeside property
GET A BIRD DOG !
PROTECTED BY FEDERAL MIGRATORY BIRD ACT OF 1918
INTERESTING THINGS ABOUT GEESE...........People sometimes have a love, hate relationship with geese. There are recognized easily. Enjoyed by birdwatchers, sportsmen and women,outdoor enthusiasts, and photographers. Migrating geese are a sure sign of fall, especially in New Enland. Vocie, deep, musical hooking or barking.......
On the down side they can damage property, crops, pose threats of disease and public safety problems. One approch is NOT to FEED WATER FOWL....exercise habitat modification, and use harassment technics. Sportsmen and women are offered a hunting season for harvest and then there is also the act of removing the geese with U.S Wildlife permits.
Nesting occurs as early as March and ends in May. Both male and female attend the nest. Once eggs have been laid, (4-5) average) incubation takes about 28 days. After nesting , geese molt, at this time lose their flight feathers and remain flightless, usually during June to early July.
GEESE PREFER OPEN AREAS THAT PROVIDE FOOD, SUCH AS GRASS AND WATER....UNFORTUNATELY ON PONDS AND LAKES, WHERE THE LAWN MEETS THE LAKE, YOU WILL HAVE GEESE, many property owners do not realize it, but they are offering to feed them by having the property readily accessable for them to graze upon.
There are several things that can be done to discourage them from grazing on your property. It is the responsibility of individual property owners to exercise these methods before implementing more drastic means.
Buffer zones can be planted around edges of lawns, remove vegetation that will attract them to your area, like tall reeds. Put up fencing or netting. Having a dog on the property is very sucessful. Buy and install motion dectector type water blasting guns or spread a repellent that will send geese looking for a new food source. If these methods are applied, property owners will have little problems with geese. There are wildlife and pest control companies that do this for a living.
Last on the list , obtain a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service, (which can be costly) to limit damage, human health and safety.
For further information about any of the above information, any number of web sites can be researched to purchase "goose repellants" or apply for permits to remove and reduce the goose population on private propery.
Canada Geese parents with the only known surviving gosling on Groton Pond after an intensive 2 year attempt to find goose nests with eggs and addle (oil) them to reduce the goose population from Groton Pond.
In this forever changing world many who live in a world of surrounded by wildlife, who do not want wildlife in their personal space. These are some of the reasons why............