We had similar cull programs for cormorants in the Great Lakes. I was given an “opportunity” to conduct a study where we’d spray oil on cormorant eggs instead of destroying them. If eggs are destroyed, the cormorants may renest. If the eggs are just sprayed (and the young die in the egg), the cormorants continue to nest and by the time they realize the eggs won’t hatch, it is too late to renest.

Despite having a chance to work with some good scientists who would have been a boon to my not yet started career, I turned it down. My advisor, who had been neutral to that point, smiled and said, “I didn’t think you’d go for it–good for you”.

A few years later, I started hearing some of the same arguments for shooting loons(!). Fortunately, that didn’t gain much traction, at least in our area.

Next, is acid rain increasing swan predation by pike ?