January 19, 2022 Dear…

January 19, 2022

Dear Minister Paccini and Mr. Morris,
Subject: ERO number 019-4093 — Amending the Darlington Provincial Park Management Plan to allow for the management of native species

This is in response to the “Invitation to Comment” on the “Proposed Amendment to the Darlington Provincial Park Management Plan”.

These comments are specific to the Double-crested Cormorant population management in the proposed amendment.

I oppose the inclusion of double-crested cormorant management in the amendment for the following reasons.

1. Double-crested cormorants are a native species that imparts changes to habitat beneficial to other species. For example, in areas at Tommy Thompson Park habitat modifications from nesting cormorants reduced or even eliminated invasive European fire ants (Myrmica rubra; Gupta et al. 2017) which could benefit ground nesting birds. (Footnote European fire ants reduce arthropod biodiversity (Naumann and Higgins 2015) and can reduce nest attendance of ground nesting gulls (Defisher and Bonter 2013) and are present at the adjacent Second Marsh Wildlife Area (see http://www.friendsofsecondmarsh.ca/files/recreation-and-trails/))

2. The language in the amended section is vague and lacking definitions/metrics. For example, how is ecological integrity measured? At what point, should cormorants start nesting at DPP, will cormorant impacts to ecological integrity be measured? At what point is a local population considered hyper abundant? Which best practices are being referenced for cormorant management? (Footnote Some may consider McDonald et al. (2018) best practices, while others may proceed to lethal control.)

3. Run off from the surrounding farmlands and roads likely pose a much greater risk to McLaughin Bay wetland than would activities from nesting cormorants, but a detailed comparative risk analysis should be undertaken.

4. The peer reviewed literature on cormorant interactions with nesting habitat and their management is extensive, yet none of it is referenced in the amendment. Wildlife management is inherently linked to scientific approaches and therefore, evidence from the scientific literature needs to be presented to provide a rationale for why this particular amendment should be included.

Literature cited
DeFisher, L. E., and D. N. Bonter 2013. Effects of invasive European Fire Ants (Myrmica rubra) on Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) reproduction. PLoS ONE 8(5): e64185. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0064185

Gupta, A., K. Rudmik and G.S. Fraser 2017. Evidence for a negative effect of Double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) on invasive European fire ants (Myrmica rubra). Canadian Field Naturalist 131: 347-349.
McDonald, K., R. Toninger, A. Chreston, I. Feldmann and G.S. Fraser 2018. Living with double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus): A spatial approach for non-lethal management in Toronto, Canada. Waterbirds 41(2): 208-220.

Naumann, K. and R. J. Higgins 2015. The European Fire Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) as an invasive species: impact on local ant species and other epigaeic arthropods. Canadian Entomology 174: 592–601. https://doi.org/10.4039/tce.2014.69