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Joined: Aug 2004
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Does anybody know anything about El Cormorante flyways and seasonal habits?
I've only seen one ever at my place in ten years and this morning the sky was thick with them. I had three vigorously feeding on my pond.
Just trying to figure out if they're just passing through, or if they might hang around for awhile.
Holding a redear sunfish is like running with scissors.
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Joined: Apr 2003
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Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Apr 2003
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I don't know about their migratory patterns. They obviously move, but I'm guessing that they prefer to stay where they find a regular source of food and tolerable weather. This could be because I'm in a more temperate climate, but at the public lakes around San Antonio, they make DAILY flights to feed on the water just after daylight and stay all year. For the above reasons, they do not get a free pass at our ponds.
"Only after sorrow's hand has bowed your head will life become truly real to you; then you will acquire the noble spirituality which intensifies the reality of life. I go to an all-powerful God. Beyond that I have no knowledge--no fear--only faith."
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,097 Likes: 18
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Apr 2003
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Since our wonderful government see fit to federally protect this useless bird, get ready to see more of them. In one day, they can arrive in 1000's, and clear forage by the ton. They are increasing their numbers and range everyday, just get ready to see more of them if your state doesn't allow permits.
I treat them like coyotes, hang a dead one on a tree or fence clost to the pond, they also become afraid of gunshots...so just throw some lead in the general direction, it works.
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Joined: Aug 2004
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 8,854 Likes: 1 |
So are they migratory? Might they be just "passing through"?
Holding a redear sunfish is like running with scissors.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 473
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 473 |
Bruce, I don't know the answer to your question ....... but at the BarO they are definately "passing through" or "on".
20 acres of trees & 3/4 acre pond.
"Home of the future Texas state HSB record for Private ponds"
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Joined: Apr 2003
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Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Apr 2003
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Bruce, I live 1/4 mile from Lake Ray Hubbard in Dallas. When I moved here in 1990, I didn't know what they were, and didn't see them. Now, I can drive past the lake on any given day and see them at their usual hangouts. They're 24/7/365.
It's a power plant lake, so I'm not sure if that makes a difference or not.
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Joined: Apr 2003
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Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Apr 2003
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Bruce, This website suggests that they migrate: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1144&context=icwdm_usdanwrcIt also says: "Most of the interior populations are located from the Great Lakes west across the northern prairies of the United States in Canada." Considering that you're in the "Upper Central Midwestern Great Plains," that puts you in their neck of the woods. P.S.- Don't tell the cormorants on the Gulf Coast that they're the minority. They sure don't breed/act like it.
"Only after sorrow's hand has bowed your head will life become truly real to you; then you will acquire the noble spirituality which intensifies the reality of life. I go to an all-powerful God. Beyond that I have no knowledge--no fear--only faith."
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Joined: Mar 2005
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Moderator Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
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Moderator Hall of Fame 2014 Lunker
Joined: Mar 2005
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Their flyways are dodging lead and they like their fish un-seasoned. Usually a scout bird will come by and take a look and if it looks good (after a sample) he brings his friends by for the big buffet. You had better act fast or they will destroy a pond.
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Joined: May 2007
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Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: May 2007
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They are a migratory bird. And they are migrating now. I have some fairly often. I had aprox 30 the other day. IMO due whatever is needed to rid your pond of them. I don't know much about their patterns, but when they are in the area they seem to stay for a while. However, the more you harass them, the less they will stay around.
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Joined: Dec 2004
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Administrator Lunker
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Administrator Lunker
Joined: Dec 2004
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Bruce, They migrate through our area. One year we had 4 of 40 die of unknown causes. We let them rot on the shore. Sunil called it carnage. I call it natural selection.
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Joined: Apr 2003
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Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,097 Likes: 18 |
In Texas, they do not all migrate, just like doves...the lazy ones say what the heck, why flap my wings off, there's plenty of food here
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Joined: Dec 2004
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Administrator Lunker
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Administrator Lunker
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There are few things worse than a lazy bird that eats fish.
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Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,256
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Apr 2003
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"Only after sorrow's hand has bowed your head will life become truly real to you; then you will acquire the noble spirituality which intensifies the reality of life. I go to an all-powerful God. Beyond that I have no knowledge--no fear--only faith."
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,086
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,086 |
Its always a good idea to have a loaded gun just in case of need
I subscribe Some days you get the dog,and some days he gets you.Every dog has his day,and sometimes he has two!
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Joined: Jun 2005
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Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Jun 2005
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Cormorants fish at night? Noooooooo!
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Joined: Apr 2007
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Lunker
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Lunker
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Would a dog on the shore deter them?
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Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Jun 2007
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Great Pyraneese livestock guard dogs will not let any critters, land or water vaiety, stick around for long. Was a problem cleaning up dead tiapia last winter die off becasue Brutus and Belle kept chasing the buzzards.
N.E. Texas 2 acre and 1/4 acre ponds Original george #173 (22 June 2002)
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Joined: Aug 2004
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 8,854 Likes: 1 |
El Cormorante made another visit while I was at the farm this morning. Same time of day. This time there were eight of them. They passed low, looked me over, passed again, and then moved on. They are menacing. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-1NiqwZZsM
Holding a redear sunfish is like running with scissors.
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3
Fingerling
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Fingerling
Joined: Mar 2008
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i grew up in east texas on lake livingston and lots and lots of water turkeys ate my trotline bait which had hooks in them......
these were on the trot lines that i ran 24 inches under the surface to catch blue cats in the early morning chasing shad.
i forgot one on the beach one day with some hooks still baited and when i returned had 2 more caught on dry land....
so dont leave any trotlines/throwlines around your pond or you may hurt a water turkey.
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 328
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 328 |
They are thick on a lake where I learned how to duck hunt. To be honest, I never shot one but I really wanted to. At times they would come swimming by in large flocks chasing schools of baitfish. If I ever see one on my pond, I'm going home to get my Browning Gold.
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Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,721
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,721 |
Unless you only want to raise catfish get rid of them as quickly as you can. They are not good. I have tried to shoot them in the past but have not been succesful. I am not a good shot. I wish I had a fish large enough to eat one of them. I saw a shark on tv eating one.
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,596 Likes: 36
Lunker
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Lunker
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,596 Likes: 36 |
Bruce, they should just be passing through. We had a few last week on our pond too. Be glad that you don't have any standing timber in your pond, they need a "safe" place to dry out after foraging.
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Joined: Aug 2004
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Aug 2004
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Note to self.
Remove standing timber from pond.
Holding a redear sunfish is like running with scissors.
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,713 Likes: 35
Administrator Lunker
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Administrator Lunker
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,713 Likes: 35 |
50-60 Flying Botulisms were here today, no more. We don't have any standing timber so they just dry off on the bank in a closely knit group. When they are in this closely knit group it is the best time to scare them off. I use semi-automatic weapon fire at their feet. This really gets em dancing because it throws sand and gravel on them which they hate. I try to avoid actually hitting one with lead since they are protected by the act of some group of idiots hidden deep in the bowels of the government. Every spring they show up, I scare them off and don't see them again until the next spring. That is the good part of the story, I hope it stays that way!
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,948 Likes: 9
Moderator Lunker
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Moderator Lunker
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,948 Likes: 9 |
Be glad that you don't have any standing timber in your pond, they need a "safe" place to dry out after foraging. Just like Bob Lusk told me, "You can't catch a fish above the water". Cut them just above the water level so that you know where it is. I heard a few months ago that the government is going to consider relaxing the regulations regarding cormorants. I couldn't find an article about it though.
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