Cormorants: are there fewer on our lake Ont?

[Raven11:11]

i was on a boat cruise around Toronto harbor and the island and saw a few hundred sitting in the end of the island airport banks however I recall seeing waayyy more, like 4 times as many a few years ago in this vicinity....

Also, I was at a park on Lakeshore Blvd  - at the foot of 1st Street 3-4 yrs back and saw what seemed to be 1,000 - no kidding , 3 or so V- formations of them flying in perfect formation towards the island and very close to shore, 1 meter off the water. It was a scene never witnessed prior, except for perhaps a flock of seagulls ..

[zx003]

I have noticed less Cormorants on the lake at my cottage in parry sound, too. Not a severe decline as they were never particularly numerous there, but noticeable none the less. However, I am happy to see a dramatic INCREASE in the number of Common Terns and peeps. I highly doubt these population changes have anything to do with each other, but they are notable.

[Raven11:11]

where do you see  Terns?  and what are peeps?

[zx003]

The term "peep" refers to the 5 smallest sandpipers in North America- including the Least Sandpiper.

The terns reside on a small lake in Waubamik on the outskirts of Parry Sound. The lakes name is Trout Lake but that is not very significant as about 300 lakes in the area go by that name.

Look up Waubamik on google maps. Zoom out 1 size and look to the south west. Thats the lake with the common terns there. They live on little island. However, this isn't a great birding spot. The best birds I've seen there are broad winged hawk, merlin, scarlet tanager, veery, brown thrasher, rose breasted grosbeak, butterbutts, b&w warbler, american redstart and common yellowthroats.

[Rob'in'To]

From what I have learned this year is that there was supposed to be some large culls on the Cormorants spreading from as far as Point Pelee to Hamilton...  this is all west of us but probably would have some impact on us if done early in the season, prior to mating.