AZGFD Cormorant Counts: September

Count Cormorants with the Arizona Game & Fish Dept.

The AZGFD needs your help in conducting research statewide to characterize cormorant populations and their distributions and impacts on fish.

Three options for helping out: 

1. Assist with a one-day cormorant count at assigned water bodies or within a specific area that may contain multiple waters. You can sign up to help on any or all of the count dates (see below). This statewide count will take place during 7:00 AM – 12:00 PM, and will occur on the specified dates over the next year:
   • Fall count: September 16, 2017
   • Winter count: January 20, 2018
   • Spring count: March 17, 2018
2. Visit a specified area at least once a month or 3 times during each quarter to document and record the presence and location of tagged cormorants. Time of day is flexible. This effort will start after June 2017 and we will notify volunteers to start looking for tagged birds once we begin captures. Volunteers assisting with this effort and the above opportunity may be asked to survey their assigned count areas.
3. Assist with direct observations of cormorants feeding to determine size (and species as feasible) of fish being eaten at each site. This effort will focus primarily on community fishing waters in urban areas and time of day for observations is flexible. We’re asking volunteers to visit designated sites during each quarter of the year. These observations can also be made when you’re out fishing at other places, hiking, or picnicking near water where there are cormorants present!

How to sign up!!

• Email Larisa Harding ([email protected]) for a copy of the Volunteer enrollment form. The department needs volunteers throughout the year, so even if you can’t help more than a day or two, please inquire!
• Attend a training session! Training sessions will be scheduled primarily in August to prepare volunteers for the September count and increased cormorant activity in the fall. Location of training will be determined based on where volunteers are located. Training may take up to 2.5 hours and includes an orientation and discussion of survey methods for the quarterly counts (see above #1) and feeding observations (see above #3).
• Be prepared to complete some simple Department volunteer forms. Your time and effort allow us to provide ‘match’ for federal dollars that go directly to wildlife management and conservation!
• Share this information with your friends and family, and recruit a buddy to be part of your observation team!

For more information, please contact

Larisa Harding ([email protected], 623-236-7301) or Esther Rubin ([email protected], 623-236-7379)