-4- C 
     
    
   
   
    
     If this project is approved, all Maritimers will be affected. 
     
     In the past, similar developments have proceeded too fast and with- 
     
     out proper environmental impact studies. I feel it is important 
     
     that we become informed and be prepared to make a decision in favor 
     
     or against such a project. What we don't know can sometimes hurt us 
     
     very much. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Kathy Martin 
     
     Biology Department 
     
     University of Prince Edward Island 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     SUMMER STORM IN A CORMORANT COLONY 
     
    
   
   
    
     Have you ever stopped to think what happens to wild birds and 
     
     mammals during high winds and rain storms, while you are sitting home, 
     
     warm and dry? Such a day occurred on June 12, 1976, on Prince Edward 
     
     Island. I would like to relate some consequences of this storm at the 
     
     Cape Tryon Cormorant colony which I observed while conducting research 
     
     on these birds. 
     
    
   
   
    
     Cormorants nest in colonies on inaccessible cliff ledges on 
     
     Prince Edward Island. The colony at Cape Tryon is the largest on the 
     
     Island with approximately 500 nests built during 1976. Approximately 
     
     375 of these nests were built by Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax 
     
     auritus) and 125 built by Great Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbcfl. The 
     
     colony is crowded and competition is intense among the birds for 
     
     suitable nesting ledges. Early arriving birds in March and April claim 
     
     the most desirable ledges for nesting while late comers must utilize 
     
     ledges which are marginally suitable. Wide ledges are most preferred 
     
     because they offer secure support for the nest and there is less chance 
     
     that young birds will fall off. High ledges are better than low ledges 
     
     as there is less chance of losing the nest in rough weather. However, 
     
     birds nesting on very high ledges close to the cliff top may lose 
     
     eggs or young to marauding foxes, as was observed several times this 
     
     past summer. 
     
    
   
   
    
       
     
    
   
   
    
     On June 12, 1976, the wind was from the north at 30 knots, 
     
     gusting to 45 and accompanied by heavy rains. That day along the north 
     
     shore the gulf was a sea of foam rolling in great swells on to the 
     
     beach. Waves breaking against the nesting cliffs sent up sheets of 
     
     spray well over 100 feet. The cormorants probably sensed the oncoming 
     
     storm and braced themselves to withstand the onslaught. Adults which 
     
     remained on their nests, covered their eggs and young as best they 
     
     could. Extremely large waves were capable of sweeping entire nests 
     
     off the low and more vulnerable ledges. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The following day, June 13, I recorded the losses. Forty—five 
     
     Double—crested cormorant nests built among the fallen rocks at the 
     
     west base of the colony were destroyed. This area is especially 
     
     vulnerable to rough weather. In 1975 all nests built here suffered a 
     
     similar fate although in 1974 most of these nests were successful. 
     
     The majority of nests built on ledges less than 30 feet above the water 
     
     were also swept away. However, 3 Double-crested cormorfiht nests 
     
     built at 20-30 feet above water on ledges in a small cave were still 
     
     intact, the crashing waves obviously missing them. Birds nesting on 
     
     ledges higher than 30 feet were largely unaffected although in several 
     
     instances, young birds apparently fell from these ledges as well. On 
     
     June 13, birds which suffered no losses were carrying on their parental 
     
     duties as usual, while birds which lost their nests stood on vacant 
     
     ledges, some already showing interest in trying to nest again. 
     
    
   
   
    
     One rather unusual consequene of the storm involved lost chicks 
     
     on a ledge approximately 40 feet above the cliff base. This ledge 
     
     held six nests — three Great Cormorants and three Double-crested 
     
     Cormorants. During the course of the storm, three young Great 
     
     Cormorants (approximately three weeks old)fifrom a central nest on 
     
     this ledge somehow managed to make their way past an) adjacent Double-