Cormorants are medium-to-large sized waterbirds that are known for their ability to dive from the surface and pursue fish underwater. They have a slender neck, narrow wings, webbed feet, and a slender, hooked bill. Cormorants can be found near rivers, lakes, coasts, and wetlands across North America.
Like all birds, cormorants produce waste in the form of poop. Here is an overview of what cormorant poop looks like:
Color
Cormorant poop is white or off-white in color. It often has a chalky texture and appearance. The white color comes from the fact that cormorants produce both urine and feces through the same opening, called the cloaca. The uric acid in the urine gives the poop its whitish hue.
Consistency
Cormorant poop has a paste-like or loose consistency. It is often described as having a toothpaste-like texture. The poop can range from firm and thick to quite runny and liquidy depending on the individual bird and what it has recently eaten. The high liquid content comes from the fact that cormorants excrete both solid and liquid waste together.
Volume
Cormorants produce a significant volume of poop. Since they are relatively large birds, their poop is substantial compared to smaller bird species. The volume of poop produced depends on the size and age of the individual cormorant. On average, a cormorant may produce around 14 ounces or just under a pound of poop per day.
Odor
The smell of cormorant poop is often described as quite strong and unpleasant. The odor is reminiscent of ammonia. This is because the uric acid in the poop produces an ammonia-like smell as it breaks down and decomposes, especially in warm weather.
Appearance on Surfaces
When cormorant poop lands on docks, rocks, or other surfaces, it often appears as large whitish splats or streaks. The loose, wet texture of the poop means that it tends to splatter on impact. The poop is often visible from a distance due to its light color and significant volume.
Accumulation Under Roosting Areas
Cormorants often gather in large numbers and roost or rest together overnight and between feedings. Under these roosting areas, significant accumulations of poop build up. The accumulated poop can appear as thick white crusty layers coating the ground, docks, or rocky surfaces below the areas where cormorants regularly gather.
Impacts of Cormorant Poop
The large volume of poop produced by cormorants, especially when they gather in groups, can cause some notable impacts:
- Whitewashing of structures – Theaccumulated poop can cover and coat surfaces like docks, boats, and rocks.
- Fouling of waterways – Excess nutrients and increased biological oxygen demand from cormorant poop can reduce water quality.
- Damage to vegetation – The high acidity and ammonia content of the poop can damage or kill vegetation.
- Biological contamination – Salmonella, E. coli, and other pathogens have been detected in cormorant poop which poses health risks.
Poop as an Identification Clue
The appearance of cormorant poop can serve as an identification clue that cormorants either live nearby or frequent an area. People walking by a body of water often know that cormorants are present if they see the telltale signs of their whitish, splattering poop on surfaces near the water.
Differences From Other Bird Poop
Cormorant poop differs in several ways from the poop of other birds:
Bird | Poop Color | Poop Texture | Volume of Poop |
---|---|---|---|
Cormorant | White or off-white | Paste-like or loose | Large volume |
Seagull | White and black | Loose or liquid | Moderate volume |
Goose/Duck | Green or brown | Firm when fresh | Large volume |
Pigeon | White with black caps | Firm with some liquid | Small volume |
Key differences that help identify cormorant poop are its distinctly white coloration and large volume relative to other waterfowl species.
Removal of Cormorant Poop
Due to the volume and messy nature of cormorant poop, as well as the unsightly white staining it can leave behind, many property owners or municipalities attempt to remove accumulated cormorant droppings periodically.
Pressure Washing
For hard surfaces like docks, rocks, or boat decks, pressure washing is an effective removal method. The high pressure spray can blast away dried poop buildup. Detergents may also help emulsify and dissolve the remaining poop and associated stains.
Poop-Be-Gone
Specialty poop removal chemicals are also available, such as Poop-Be-Gone, which helps to dissolve and eliminate cormorant poop stains through enzymatic action. Proper protective equipment should be used, as these chemicals can produce noxious fumes.
Scrapping or Sweeping
For more delicate surfaces, or where pressure washing is not possible, manual scraping and sweeping may be required. Stiff brushes and scrapers can chip away at poop deposits which can then be swept up.
Habitat Modification
The ultimate solution may involve modifying roosting spots to make them less hospitable for cormorants, such as using exclusion netting or discouraging roosting on docks through the strategic placement of obstacles.
Protective Measures
Since cormorant poop is difficult to clean and stains surfaces, preventative measures can also be taken, such as:
- Covering surfaces like boat decks with tarps or canvas when not in use
- Installing a roof or awning over areas prone to poop deposition
- Placing meshes over water surfaces near docks or marinas to deter birds from swimming and roosting
Summary
In summary, the main characteristics of cormorant poop include:
- White or off-white color
- Paste-like or loose consistency
- Noticeable ammonia-like odor
- Large volume produced relative to other birds
- Tendency to splatter on surfaces below roosting areas
Understanding the appearance, composition, and potential impacts of cormorant droppings can help waterfront property owners or municipalities respond appropriately through poop removal, discouragement measures, and exclusion or deterrent techniques as needed.
Conclusion
Cormorant poop is the bane of many an oceanfront property owner’s existence. With its large volume, loose consistency, and staining potential, this bird droppings can quickly coat docks, rocks, boats and anything else in the vicinity of a cormorant roosting area with a thick white crust. The high ammonia content gives cormorant poop its characteristic and unpleasant odor. While difficult to remove entirely once dried on, an arsenal of poop removal techniques exists, including pressure washing, poop dissolving chemicals, scraping, sweeping and habitat modification. The first step in addressing a cormorant poop problem is understanding what the poop looks and smells like so that appropriate remediation and deterrent techniques can be applied.