HERON AND CORMORANT COLONIES

OF HISTORY AND TERRITORY

Prepared by: Rokas, Gabija, Monia, Elisa and Simone.

About Heron and cormorant

Only after leaving Juodkrante Nida toward the ground without the steep Aries hill, who is another old grove - Herons Hill, named after the nearby gray heron and cormorant colonies. This is one of the largest bird colonies in Europe. 2000 years information, it moved 582 herons and cormorants in 1361. It is hardly possible to answer the question when herons settled near Juodkrante? The nineteenth century. they were in the middle of a normal part of everyday life. It is safe to assert that these long-legged birds lived in the seventeenth century, or even much earlier.

What prompted your move herons nesting in the northern districts of the southern Juodkrante? Historical records tell of their struggle with an aggressive animal - cormorants.

Cormorants, also known as the Sea of ravens „Corvus marinus ", in Juodkrante appeared in 1803. They settled near herons and cormorants who began to call the heron and cormorant colony to Juodkrante these nests.

Gradually herons were pushed to the edge. They began to migrate south Juodkrante. After 10 years, they formed two separate heron and cormorant colonies in the southern and northern outskirts Juodkrante. Cormorants and gray herons fight also describes strange cormorants and gray herons mutual struggle, which won for the time being, cormorants and gray herons pushed.

Cormorants have moved their colony to the south, near the heron. This time, the herons and cormorants relations man intervened. Taking into account the recommendations of the local rangers and local fishermen complaints. Prussian government allowed exterminated black newcomers. Until 1978. great cormorants have been very rare in the Lithuanian seaside views and in the Kuršių marios.

Later in these regions from time to time it has been found individual birds, mostly - in the spring and autumn migration periods. Other cormorants wave reached Juodkrante 1974 - 1978 m. Non-breeding birds were observed across the bay, in various years. Soon black birds had settled near the heron. Gradually herons were forced to dismiss most of their nests, this was in 1995. In 1995 they registered the lowest number of breeding herons.

It started to rotate in the first nesting cormorants in 1989. Their abundance curve growed and stabilized. What will be the consequences of their competition, the future will show. Cormorants and herons are protected by law because of their artificial reduction, so far there is no speech. Currently cormorant birds are quite common, but their abundance Marios is constantly increasing. Local fishermen and foresters are not satisfied with the this birds damage.