Cormorant Defenders International
Media Release

September 4, 2007

Cormorants On Middle Island Under Attack:
Public Statements By Parks Canada Suggests All Out Costly War On Native Birds

Cormorant Defenders International charge that staff at Parks Canada are laying the groundwork for an all out attack on a native bird in a wildlife sanctuary on Middle Island.

"We heard the same statements from the Ministry of Natural Resources – statements like - ‘The status quo is not an option' and 'the ecosystem is impaired and in crisis'." said Rob Laidlaw, Director of Zoocheck Canada and spokesperson with Cormorant Defenders International (CDI).  "We believe that Parks Canada staff will be recommending an all out assault on the cormorants, whether or not they have public support and despite the fact that they do not have history or science on their side."

"Once again we see a myopic approach to wildlife management." said Barry MacKay, Canadian Representative for the Animal Protection Institute and spokesperson for CDI.  "Parks Canada wants to keep one island in Lake Erie in an artificial state, preventing nature from defining the environment.  Instead, staff have decided that the current composition of plants and animals are to remain static.  The cormorants returned and messed up their plans."

"Parks Canada is hosting a biased media tour of Middle Island, pitching the argument to the media that the island is impaired and in crisis," said Ainslie Willock Director of Canadians for Snow Geese and spokesperson for CDI. "Instead Parks Canada should be showing what a vibrant water bird colony looks like."

"Since 1994, the Parks Canada has had its budget cut, resulting in closure of regional offices and cuts to the parks and sites rehabilitation program and the operating budgets of parks and sites,” said Liz White, Director, Animal Alliance of Canada and spokesperson for CDI.  "Parks Canada is spending scarce tax dollars on a misguided exercise which will result in the suffering and death of infant cormorants if nest destruction techniques are used and cruelty and death of thousands of adult cormorants if a cull is implemented. CDI documentation of the cull at High Bluff Island in 2006 showed dozens of badly injured birds left to suffer for as long as seven days."

 

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Film footage of the Presqu'ile cormorant cull available on the CDI web site at: http://www.zoocheck.com/cormorant/

For further information contact Rob Laidlaw, 416-285-1744 416-553-6801(cell), Liz White, 416-462-9541(w) or 416-809-4371(cell), Barry MacKay, 905-472-9731, Ainslie Willock, 416-922-4554.