White-Breasted Cormorant in Ireland: Habitat, Behavior, and Conservation Status
Introduction: Meet the White-Breasted Cormorant
The White-Breasted Cormorant is a beautiful seabird, and is pretty much commonplace near water—be it on coasts, rivers, or lakes in Europe and Africa. These birds are very common in Ireland along coasts and rivers. They're sitting on rocks, pillars, branches of trees, with their wings stretched out, drying up.
The Great Cormorant is the most common cormorant species in Ireland, but you will hear some refer to it as the "White-breasted Cormorant," especially when they are in breeding plumage. This term is widely applied to the Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo). This is more so if you’re European, since these birds have a white throat and underparts.
And here is what we know about these White-Breasted Cormorants found in Ireland: What they look like, where they are, what they eat (yes, we want to know about that), what they mean to the environment, and what we are doing about protecting them.
What does a White-Breasted Cormorant look like?
In Ireland, the ‘White-breasted Cormorant’ is not always regarded as a full species. This is especially true for the Great Cormorant during breeding season.
What to look for:
* Large, dark-colored waterbird
* White patches on its throat and chest (more visible in larger birds during mating season)
* Long neck and bill that curves at the end
* Black or dark brown feathers
* Eyes and face that appear slightly green in the skin
Cormorants are excellent swimmers and divers, and they readily pursue fish underwater.
Cormorants in Ireland
Two types of cormorants can be seen in Ireland:
1. Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
* The bird you will undoubtedly encounter the most
* White-breasted Cormorant is a name used in the breeding season for this bird.
* It lives by the sea, lakes, rivers, and estuaries.
2. European Shag (Gulosus aristotelis)
* Great Cormorant is bigger
* This one had a darker greenish hue to the feathers.
* About four-fifths of its life is spent at sea
The White-breasted Cormorant is what is generally associated with the Great Cormorant and those in particular breeding/migrating in Ireland.
Habitat: Where to Find Them in Ireland
Cormorants can adapt to where they are and do well in Ireland.
Spots you'll see them:
* Rocky Shores
* Cliffs and Islands by the Sea
* River mouths and Harbors
* Lakes and Water Storage spaces inland
* Rivers and Canals
They often pick spots where they can see well and get to fishing spots easily.
What They Eat and How They Get It
Cormorants are like pros at hunting
fish, and almost every time they are eating stuff from the water.
What Do White-Breasted Cormorants Eat?
* Fish of small to medium size
* Eels (but not freshwater eels)
* Flatfish
* Fish in rivers, such as perch
How They Hunt:
*
Jump down into the water
*
Push through the water with their webbed feet
*
Grab fish with their pointy beaks
*
Come back up and swallow their food whole
After they snag food, cormorants stand
with their wings all spread out to dry because their feathers get wet.
What They Do During the Year and When They Move
Cormorant numbers in Ireland vary year-round.
Here's how it changes:
* Winter: More birds from northern Europe come to get warm.
* Spring and summer: They make nests and raise families.
* Autumn: The baby birds move away.
Ireland is a good spot to breed and stay in the winter because the weather is decent and there's water everywhere.
How They Breed and Nest
White-breasted cormorants nest colonially and frequently come back to the same sites from one year to the next.
Where They Nest:
* Cliffs by the sea
* Islands by the shore
* Trees by lakes and rivers
* Things made by humans
How They Breed:
*Lay 3–5 eggs
* Both bird parents sit on the eggs
* Babies come out after about 28–31 days
* Parents feed the kids fish, bringing them up through their throat
The whiteness of their chest and face is visible during this time.
Cormorants and Fishing in Ireland: A Fair View
People who fish sometimes criticize the cormorants.
What People Worry About:
* Not as many fish in bodies of water
* Competition with fishing businesses
What Science Says
Research shows that cormorants usually eat small fish and are part of nature's water systems.
Good wildlife helps to protect nature and makes sure people can live a good life.
Here's why cormorants are so important to the environment
Cormorants, especially the white-breasted cormorant, are an essential feature of Ireland's natural landscape.
Why they're important:
* They keep fish populations where they should be.
* They get rid of weak or sick fish.
* They indicate whether the water is clean.
* They make the area healthy with their waste.
If cormorants are healthy, it often means that the water bodies are healthy too.
How safe is Ireland?
* Protected by Irish and EU regulations for wild animals.
* Protected by EU bird regulations.
Cormorants are not endangered, but their populations are being monitored.
Difficult things:
* Disturbances where they live
* Dirty water
* Conflicts between people and wild animals
* Bad weather
Good laws can make it possible for people and their animals to get closer together.
How to Identify a White-breasted Cormorant in the Field
Pay attention to these things:
* Look for the white color on its throat and chest
* Note how large it is and how long its neck is
* Look for its dry feathers
* See if it flies directly over water
If you're still learning, you can use binoculars.
Places to Learn More
* Bird Watch Ireland – What Kinds of Cormorants Do They Have
* National Parks in Ireland
* Royal Bird Society
People rely on these organizations for information on how to protect birds.
Conclusion: A Bird You Need to Know
In Ireland, the white-breasted cormorant symbolized the bronze color of the rich waters. In Ireland, the Icelandic white-breasted subspecies is considered a symbol of the country's aquatic life. With expert angling and the local environment, water birds and wildlife will brighten the waters.
Ireland continues to protect its natural heritage so that the white-breasted cormorant remains visible and essential.
FAQs:
Q1. Is the white-breasted cormorant a species in its own right in Ireland?
strictly no: it is the breeding plumage of the great cormorant.
Q2. Cormorants, are they protected in Ireland?
Yes, there are national and EU wildlife legislation that protect them.
Q3. Why do cormorants spread their wings?
They soak their feathers in water, so they dry them after diving.
Q4. Where in Ireland has white breasted cormorant been recorded?
Inland on lakes, rivers, and estuaries, as well as along the coast.
Q5. Are cormorants bad for fish stocks?
They are a natural part of the ecology and generally feed on common species of fish.