Date: 4/26/24 5:19 pm From: Kimball Garrett via groups.io <cyanolyca818...> Subject: [LACoBirds] Cormorant madness at Marina del Rey
Birders,
What are the chances that the hundreds (sometimes even thousands) of cormorants that sit on the breakwater at Marina del Rey are nearly all Brandt's most of the time, but nearly all Double-crested sometimes, and (on at least one eBird list) nearly all Pelagics??? Close to zero, I imagine. I would urge observers to either inspect the cormorants on the breakwater more carefully (a scope is obviously necessary) or to make liberal use of the "cormorant, sp." option in eBIrd.
For the record, I usually see mainly Brandt's on the breakwater (with a few Double-cresteds often present, and sometimes some Pelagics), but maybe at times the species mix changes.
Also, please be on the lookout for nesting activity by cormorants on the breakwater -- Brandt's nested there last summer, perhaps for the first time.
Kimball Garrett Juniper Hills, CA (where I never see Brandt's or Pelagic cormorants)
