Branta Issues > Issue №2 (1999)

Species composition, size and mass of fish in the diet of Cormorant on the islands of Molochnyi liman and in the Obitochnyi Bay of the Azov Sea

Dеmchеnko V.A., Pokusa R.V., Scmionov A.G., Mityai I.S.

Due to a narrow feeding spectrum of Cormorant and recent population increase a need to estimate consumption of food by this species appeared. Efficiency of fishing and diet of Cormorants are determined by the type of waterbody, composition and availability of fish fauna. To study size, mass and composition of the fish prey, their remains belched by adults and chicks of different age were analysed. Ten species of fish from 4 families were recorded with predominant gobies (mainly Neogobius melanostomus). Average mass of the prey belched at a time approximates 142 g. Estimated consumption of fish by Cormorants amounts from 155 to 330 tones on the Bolshoi Island and from 55 to 120 tones on Podkova Island.