Cormorants, unfortunately,…

Cormorants, unfortunately, for other species, share the same nesting sites especial along the shoreline of the Bruce, such as Chantry island and the Fishing Islands. The proposal allows shooting from a stationary boat. If you have gone out in a boat to see the nesting sites in the islands, you would realize that there is no such thing as a stationary situation. Photographers are well aware of this situation. If hunters were allowed to shoot at will in the Islands then we would lose the nesting sites of a variety of other species such as Green heron, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, and others. Chantry Island is designated an Important Bird Area, and, as such, should continue to be protected, along with a buffer zone, particularly from any hunting intrusion. Any new regulation for hunting, such as this one, must also state that all IBAs , including an additional buffer zone, are specified as off-limits to hunting. While Cormorants may be plentiful, other species in IBAs are likely to be of Special Concern, Threatened or Endangered and should definitely be protected from the effects of hunting for Cormorants both in IBAs and in areas where Bird Species at Risk are known to exist. Representations by Bird & Birding experts as to harm likely to be caused to other bird species as by-blow of opening of hunting of Cormorants for this very long season, which includes both migration and nesting periods, should be solicited and acted upon in limiting Cormorant hunting areas. Recognizing the likelihood of continuing & future changes to bird populations, Bird & Birding experts should continue to have input; and actions based upon them should be a continuing process throughout any period in which hunting of Cormorants is allowed.
As a member of a large Birding club (Bruce Birding Club with well over 100 members) and associated with The Huron Fringe Birding Festival (widely known and award-winning) which attracts tourists and their dollars, both Canadian and American, to Bruce County and Grey, I believe it is important for the survival of the large number of bird species, including endangered species such as the Piping Plover, that live in and pass through this area and our tourism industry, to protect and nurture our bird population by ensuring that such a proposed Cormorant hunt does not, in any way interfere with the lives of other bird species or the enjoyment of these birds by enthusiasts and tourists in this Bruce Grey area and other similar areas throughout the proposed hunting area. I strongly urge you to take my concerns, and those of my fellow Birders, into your consideration as you look at allowing hunting of Cormorants.