Analysis of anthropogenic debris in Gulf of Maine double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auratus) nests
The Center for Coastal Studies, in collaboration with scientists at Manomet Inc., and the Shoals Marine Laboratory completed a project in fall of 2021 focused on two breeding colonies of double-crested cormorants: Isle of Shoals, Maine and at the Provincetown, Massachusetts breakwater.
The southern Gulf of Maine is subject to significant amounts of anthropogenic debris; the results of coastal development, fishing and tourism industries. The teams quantified anthropogenic materials incorporated into a random sampling of nests and were able to assess the efficacy of Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) or drones, for monitoring nesting sites (Report in progress).
