-5- 
     
    
   
   
    
     crested cormorant nests (where the adults were sitting on eggs) and 
     
     got into a Great Cormorant nest at the west end of the same ledge, 
     
     approximately five feet from their own nest. Since the latter nest 
     
     already held three young (approximately three weeks old), it now 
     
     contained six young, while the central nest was empty. Although the 
     
     three chicks from the central nest could see their parents standing 
     
     at their vacant nest, they were unable to return to it because of 
     
    

    
     the aggressive behavior of the two Double—crested Cormorant pairs 
     
     separating them. Within a week, the central pair of Great Cormorants 
     
     began to nest again, despite the fact that their first clutch of young 
     
     were only several feet away. The three young from the central nest 
     
     were adopted into the west nest.Shortly after, there were only five 
     
     young in the West nest, as one fell oflfthis very crowded section of 
     
     the ledge. The remaining five were successfully raised and by July 
     
    

    
     15 all were flying. The central pair of Great Cormorants raised a 
     
     second family of 2 chicks which were flying by September 24. The 
     
    

    
     two pairs of Double-crested Cormorants between the two Great Cormorant 
     
     nests each successfully raised 3 young to flying age (50-56 days). 
     
    
   
   
    
     Although this storm resulted in many cormorant pairs losing 
     
     nests, eggs, and chicks we must realize that this is merely one way in 
     
     which nature ensures that animal populations do not become over 
     
     abundant in their habitat. Overall nesting success of cormorants at 
     
     Cape Tryon in 1976 was very good with most pairs raising from 1 to 5 
     
     chicks. Cormorants manage to survive despite annual losses by storms 
     
     and predators. Wehn man intervenes with resulting habitat destruction, 
     
     pollution, toxic chemicals and disturbance at breeding colonies, 
     
     their survival may be jeOpardized. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Geoff Hogan 
     
    

    
     Department of Biology 
     
     Brock University 
     
    

    
     St. Catherines, Ontario 
     
    
   
   
    
     Ed. Note: For those interested in reading more about cormorants, 
     
     the Fall 1976 issue of the "Environeer" has an article on 
     
     the general life history of our two cormorant species 
     
     on Prince Edward Island. 
     
    
   
   
    
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