Dear Public Input…

Dear Public Input Coordinator, MNRF,

I am writing on behalf of the Rondeau Bay Waterfowlers Association (RBWA) for public comment on the proposal to establish a hunting season for double-crested cormorants in Ontario. The RBWA strongly supports hunting season on double crested cormorants rooted in science, with population monitoring where feasible. We do not wish to see the birds extirpated but their negative impacts mitigated.

The RBWA have strong concerns about the impact these birds have on the ecosystem including the public hunting opportunities within Rondeau Bay, as well as Ontario as a whole.

Over the past decade Rondeau Park has lost all the trees on two (2) islands due to nesting of double crested cormorants, as a result of the loss of vegetation, the wave action has eroded these islands away and now both completely underwater. The birds have since moved to another peninsula and the nesting has nearly killed all of the trees on this point as well. These islands and point serve as hunting blind locations in Rondeau Park’s A-Zone during the waterfowl season and have negatively impacted these public hunting locations, making Rondeau a place of interest regarding the impact of double breasted cormorants.

With the current proposal to list the double breasted cormorant as a game bird, a cormorant would be taken under a small game license. Currently hunters are allowed to hunt migratory birds within the boundary of Rondeau Provincial Park’s A-Zone but not game birds under a small game license. The RBWA would request that the MNRF consider what options can be implemented to mitigate the impact these birds have at provincial parks such as Rondeau.

Will waterfowl hunters within a provincial park (that permits waterfowl hunting) be permitted to harvest cormorants if they are a game bird? If so, the RBWA would propose further consultation with the MNRF to evaluate cormorant hunting season within the park limits, and if it should coincide with our current specific hunting days or be permitted throughout the entirety of the proposed season. The RBWA would anticipate the opposite side of Rondeau Bay, B-Zone, would be open during the entirety of the proposed hunting season.

Due to the negative impact these birds have had to the local ecosystem as well as the quality of public hunting locations within Rondeau Park we would request the MNRF consider permitting the harvest of these birds within provincial parks that currently permit waterfowl hunting.

If any additional information pertaining to the hunting practices specific to Rondeau is required in your consideration please contact the RBWA at admin@rondeauwaterfowlers.com.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Brendan Guest
Rondeau Bay Waterfowlers Association
Public Relations Officer