Dilemma as rare birds devour rare fish

[Shyriath]

http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/science/11/13/germany.bird.fish.reut/index.html

BERLIN, Germany (Reuters) -- A protected species of bird is devouring rare fish in the German state of Bavaria and creating a dilemma for local officials who now want federal permission to kill birds that once appeared headed for extinction.

The population of cormorants -- black, long-beaked fishing specialists which can stay underwater for up to 30 seconds -- has ballooned to over 6,000 in the Alpine state.

And they are feeding on rare fish species such as grayling and pearl fish, which are unique to the region, German officials said.

"The problem is that a protected bird is eating protected fish," a spokesman for the Bavarian environment ministry said this week.

Looks like this could get messy...

[alarimer]

1. cormorants

They are a problem in many US states as well- since the banning of DDT, their numbers have increased and their ranges have extended. I am not sure why exactly. I don't know the situation in Germany but it is a sticky one. It is hard to control those birds with nonlethal methods.

[1a2b3c]

3. In washington

We called them "long necked bastards". They ate all the trout.

[RebelOne]

4. So??? They have to eat, too.

[blindpig]

2. endemic vs local rarity

as then fihies appear from this article to be endemic to Barvaria while the comorants have a much larger total range in which stable populations exist I'm afraid the birdies may have to take it on the chin.