Observations of nesting double-crested cormorants in the Delta region of Mississippi

Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) breed across the northern United States and in Canada. Cormorants have been reported to nest sporadi cally in the southern United States. The only reported nesting by cormorant s in Mississippi was reported in Tunica county near clayton in May 1952. Du ring the 1998 annual Mississippi colonial waterbird survey by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, four nesting pairs of Double-crested Cormorants were found. Two nesting pairs were located at Lewis Swamp in Coahoma County Mis sissippi, and two nesting pairs were located at Jones Lake in Warren County , Mississippi. The two nests at Lewis Swamp were removed by an undetermined source within two weeks of their discovery. The nesting colony at Jones La ke increased from two to 31 nests over a four-month observation period. Of the 31 nests, 13 successfully fledged at least one young. Incubation of the first clutch began on 24 April 1998 and all young had fledged by 18 Septem ber 1998. If breeding cormorants continue to increase in Mississippi, the a griculture industry may have to contend with cormorant depredation not only as a seasonal occurrence but as a year-round issue.