Filenews 30 August 2021 - by Pavlos Neophytou, PHOTO - VIDEO: Giorgos Constantinou
Cyprus is located at the crossroads of three continents and is the largest migration corridor of migratory birds in the Mediterranean, twice a year, from Europe to Africa and Eurasia in autumn and quite the opposite in spring. More than two hundred and ten species of migratory birds use Cyprus either as a stopover to rest before continuing their journey or to hibernate, while others breed here.
"Two of these birds are the Cormorants, who are migratory birds and belong to the Phalacrocoracidae family and visit our place in autumn from Southern Europe and Asia heading to Africa to hibernate and the opposite in spring," George Constantinou, naturalist - researcher and President of the Association of Natural Heritage and Biodiversity of Cyprus, tells philenews.
He points out that these are waterfowl that are found in lakes, rivers, streams, marshes, salt marshes, dams, in the sea, lagoons and generally where there is water with enough fish. They are carnivorous and feed mainly on cephalopod fish, and other molluscs. Also cormorants are distinguished for their incredible fishing abilities.
The two types of Cormorants that we meet in our country are:
1. Great Cormorant or Great black cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) - Linnaeus, 1758 - Cormorant.
2. European shag or Common shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis desmarestii) - Linnaeus,1761 - Shag.
Excellent swimmer and skilful fisherman
"The first species, the Cormorant, is a black bird with a yellow beak and a purely migratory species that overwinters in some lakes and dams of our country, you do not reproduce in Cyprus. He is an excellent swimmer and skilful fisherman, diving to capture his prey and we can meet him both in salty waters (sea) and in sweet waters. It nests on trees and rocks on rocky islets and near wetlands. It makes its nest with seaweed and lays in the spring 3-4 white eggs which are incubated by both parents for about 28-31 days. In some countries cormorants have been used by fishermen as assistants in fishing for thousands of years. They have them on their boats with a noose on their necks so they can't swallow the fish they catch", says George Constantinou.
"Every winter many Cormorants overwinter in the dam of Athalassa and you can see them this season fishing nonstop the fish that are in the dam. I have watched them there countless hours and during the day they eat nonstop consuming huge amounts of fish. Even when they are full and their stomach does not fit other fish they continue to dive and catch fish, not being able to eat them, they leave them on the surface of the water. The Herons know this and follow the Cormorants by taking advantage of easy meals. In the short breaks they take from fishing you can see them sitting on the branches of trees above the water with their large wings open in the sun to dry them. The opening of their wings reaches from 121 to 149 centimetres," according to the naturalist.
The Shag is a little smaller
The second species, Thalassocookkas, includes 3 subspecies across the planet. In Cyprus and Greece, it is found mainly as an epidemic species in almost the entire marine territory, from Cyprus as well as Crete it is referred to as a permanent species. As George Constantinou notes, Thalassokorakas breeds in our land in inaccessible, rocky areas and uninhabited rocky islets, such as the islands of Kleides in Apostolos Andreas, Petra tou Limnitis, Geronissos in Pegia and the islet of Agios Georgios in Akamas. The Shag is quite similar to the Cormorant but is a little smaller. It dives to capture its prey and is one of the most dire divers among the cormorants, having been counted to dive up to 45 meters. The shag can only be found in the sea.
Nest from algae - From 2 to 5 chicks
"The breeding season begins in spring, where this species usually nests in colonies," says George Constantinou, stressing that it builds its nest in the soil with various plant materials, such as algae. "They lay 2-5 white eggs that both parents incubate for about a month," he adds, while feeding the chicks is also undertaken by both parents. Chicks leave their nest at about 2 months.
Both species of cormorants that we meet in our country are strictly protected species.
