Page - January 16, 2008
Estimated Population: 200,000
Ways to identify this species: black with green or violet sheen, white patch on flanks
Biology
- The Red Faced Cormorant is non-migratory and found only along the Alaskan coast, and the Aleutian and Commander Islands.
- It breeds in colonies located on cliffs or slopes which are also inhabited by other birds, and lays three to four eggs each breeding
- It eats mostly fish, particularly Pollock.
Threats
- Oil Spills and pollution pose a serious threat to an already very limited Cormorant population and their habitat.
- The bird is forced to compete for Pollock with the fishing industry and predators brought to their islands by humans also threaten Cormorants and their nests.
- Most of its breeding habitat is protected in the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge but it is still in close proximity to fishing lanes.