The Hamilton Spectator
(Aug 8, 2005)
I recently spent some time visiting the most beautiful spot on Hamilton Bay. The place is a little inlet just around Carrol's Point. It can be seen from the High Level Bridge with a good set of binoculars, or by boat which is by far the preferred route. It is close, yet away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Lots of birds and animals everywhere, and lots of large shady trees.
This is the spot where in the 1930s and 1940s people flocked to the warm, sandy beach to fish and swim.
My story, however, has a sad ending. By fall of next year, I believe that Carrol's Point will look like a bomb hit it. The large beautiful trees around its perimeter will be dead, many of the birds and wildlife will be gone and the water will look like a giant septic tank, all because of a bird called the cormorant.
You can see what's to come by looking at their nests surrounding this area. About eight years ago, I visited Manitoulin Island and saw the destruction they caused to the trees and the good fishing areas. They are excellent swimmers and can easily clean up on the perch, bass or other fish that live in the shallow waters. They nest in trees and their excrement, which is very acidic, kills the trees. This can be easily seen from the Eastport expressway where there are thousands of cormorants and lots of dead trees.
Hamilton has a lot of people and organizations which claim to be helping to bring back the bay. We have tree counters who got a large grant to count the trees. We have the Royal Botanical Gardens working to protect this area, and The Bay Area Restoration Council that claims to be cleaning up the bay.
Yet nobody has the courage to do the right thing and reduce the number of cormorants, for fear they might hurt someone's feelings or by not pleasing everyone, lose a few votes.
Anyhow I've said what I wanted to say. If anyone wants to see the prettiest spot on the bay. Do it now, for by next year it will be gone.
-- Len Wilson, Hamilton
Photo #1- Too many cormorants could spell trouble for the bay.
Photo #2- "They nest in trees and their excrement kills the trees."(Forum Photo)
(Aug 8, 2005)
I recently spent some time visiting the most beautiful spot on Hamilton Bay. The place is a little inlet just around Carrol's Point. It can be seen from the High Level Bridge with a good set of binoculars, or by boat which is by far the preferred route. It is close, yet away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Lots of birds and animals everywhere, and lots of large shady trees.
This is the spot where in the 1930s and 1940s people flocked to the warm, sandy beach to fish and swim.
My story, however, has a sad ending. By fall of next year, I believe that Carrol's Point will look like a bomb hit it. The large beautiful trees around its perimeter will be dead, many of the birds and wildlife will be gone and the water will look like a giant septic tank, all because of a bird called the cormorant.
You can see what's to come by looking at their nests surrounding this area. About eight years ago, I visited Manitoulin Island and saw the destruction they caused to the trees and the good fishing areas. They are excellent swimmers and can easily clean up on the perch, bass or other fish that live in the shallow waters. They nest in trees and their excrement, which is very acidic, kills the trees. This can be easily seen from the Eastport expressway where there are thousands of cormorants and lots of dead trees.
Hamilton has a lot of people and organizations which claim to be helping to bring back the bay. We have tree counters who got a large grant to count the trees. We have the Royal Botanical Gardens working to protect this area, and The Bay Area Restoration Council that claims to be cleaning up the bay.
Yet nobody has the courage to do the right thing and reduce the number of cormorants, for fear they might hurt someone's feelings or by not pleasing everyone, lose a few votes.
Anyhow I've said what I wanted to say. If anyone wants to see the prettiest spot on the bay. Do it now, for by next year it will be gone.
-- Len Wilson, Hamilton
Photo #1- Too many cormorants could spell trouble for the bay.
Photo #2- "They nest in trees and their excrement kills the trees."(Forum Photo)
