BRANDT'S CORMORANT
BRANDT'S CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax penicillatus)
“Brandt's Cormorants (Phalacrocorax penicillatus) were remarked by most early investigators at San Miguel Island, primarily on Prince Island, but few attempted to make any estimates of numbers. Streator (1888) commented on the “mass of living gulls and cormorants” on Gull [=Prince] Island. Appleton's notes state that about 100 pairs were nesting there on 5 and 6 June 1906, and he took 20 to 25 sets of eggs. Willett (1910) states that Brandt's were the most abundant of the cormorants on Prince Island on 15 June 1910. He also found several large colonies on San Miguel Island proper. Snyder (unpubl. field notes in WFVZ) found 500 nests on Prince Island on 12 July 1912 and collected one set of eggs. Evermann collected three sets there on 19 May 1919 (CAS 1327-1329); Peyton collected another set on 2 June 1928 (MVZ 4569), and Stevens (unpubl. notes in WFVZ) estimated several thousand pairs on Prince Island from which he collected one egg set on 25 May 1929 (SBM). In 1933, Sheffler collected two egg sets on 11 June (WFVZ 65937 and 65938). Sumner (1939) estimated at least 1,000 birds building nests and incubating eggs on 18 April 1939. Craig and Sheppard (unpubl. notes) estimated 1,500 pairs on Prince Island on 3-5 July 1965. In May and June 1968, the Smithsonian Institution's Pacific Ocean Biological Survey Program (P.O.B.S.P.) personnel (Huber 1968) estimated 1,500 pairs on Castle Rock and another 2500 pairs on Prince Island.” [Marine Mammal and Seabird Survey of the Southern California Bight, Volume 3, Issue 3. University of California Santa Cruz et al., July 1978]
CLICK HERE FOR MORE ABOUT BRANDT'S CORMORANTS
———————
- ANACAPA ISLAND
- SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND
- SAN MIGUEL ISLAND
- SAN NICOLAS ISLAND
- SANTA BARBARA ISLAND
- SANTA CATALINA ISLAND
- SANTA CRUZ ISLAND
- SANTA ROSA ISLAND
———————
FARALLON ISLANDS
ISLAND | COLLECTOR | INSTITUTION | DATE | NUMBER | SPECIMEN | |
Farallon Islands | J. A. Smith | UMZC | June 15, 1854 | UMZC-10/Phal/3/s/4 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Birds |
Farallon Islands | John S. Newberry | NMNH | June 1855 | USNM-A4501 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Birds |
Farallon Islands | Ferdinand Gruber | MVZ | June 1, 1862 | MVZ-4415 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Birds |
Farallon Islands | Chester Barlow | CM | June 14, 1895 | CM-E220 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Birds |
Farallon Islands | Chester Barlow | NMNH | June 14, 1895 | USNM-B26437 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Birds |
Farallon Islands | Chester Barlow | NMNH | June 14, 1895 | USNM-B26438 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Birds |
Farallon Islands | Chester Barlow | WFVZ | June 14, 1895 | WFVZ-9822 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Birds |
Farallon Islands | Frank Craig | WFVZ | July 6, 1887 | WFVZ-47048 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Eggs |
Farallon Islands | Frank Craig | WFVZ | June 24, 1892 | WFVZ-168720 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Eggs |
Farallon Islands | Frank Craig | WFVZ | July 4, 1892 | WFVZ-203151 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Eggs |
Farallon Islands | Fletcher G. Palmer | MVZ | July 13, 1945 | MVZ-93677 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | birds |
ANACAPA ISLAND
ISLAND | COLLECTOR | INSTITUTION | DATE | NUMBER | SPECIMEN | |
Anacapa Island | S. B. Peyton | ROM | June 11, 1915 | ROM-500406 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Eggs |
Anacapa Island | S. B. Peyton | UWBM | May 26, 1917 | UWBM-27001 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Birds |
Anacapa Island | M. C. Badger | WFVZ | May 27, 1917 | WFVZ-96635 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Eggs |
Anacapa Island | Charles Ashworth | WFVZ | May 13, 1927 | WFVZ-203108 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Eggs |
Anacapa Island | Elmer Paquette | WFVZ | May 14, 1927 | WFVZ-203162 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Eggs |
Anacapa Island | Charles Ashworth & R. E. Thompson | WFVZ | May 15, 1928 | WFVZ-73972 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Eggs |
Anacapa Island | Charles Ashworth & R. E. Thompson | WFVZ | April 19, 1931 | WFVZ-148934 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Eggs |
Anacapa Island | Charles Ashworth & R. E. Thompson | WFVZ | April 19, 1931 | WFVZ-27699 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Eggs |
Anacapa Island | Charles Ashworth & R. E. Thompson | WFVZ | April 19, 1931 | WFVZ-83200 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Eggs |
Anacapa Island | M. C. Badger | WFVZ | May 17, 1936 | WFVZ-95477 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Eggs |
SAN CLEMENTE ISLAND
1907 San Clemente Island: “Phalacrocorax penicillatus. Brandt Cormorant. During January and February, immense flocks were seen daily, flying from their roosting places on the rocks of the northwest coast to their feeding “grounds” along the northeast shore.
Both brownish young and adults were numerous. Specimens in full breeding plumage, i. e. with white filaments along the sides of head, neck and back, were secured in February and March. Breeds in small numbers on the northwest coast.” [“Visits were made to Clemente in January, February, March, April and October, 1907.”]
Linton, C. B. Notes from San Clemente Island The Condor 10:82-86, March 1908
1984 San Clemente Island: “BRANDT'S CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax penicillatus). Abundant year-round, breeds in small numbers. Most
numerous Jan to Apr when large feeding flocks of up to 4550 have been recorded. Nesting records: NW coast, small numbers, 1907 (Linton 1908); Seal Cove, nest with young, 9 Apr 1972 (Leatherwood and Coulombe 1972); Bird Rock, 15 nests; Castle Rock, 1 nest; Seal Cove 6 nests, all 10 Jul 1974 (Lee Jones); Castle Rock, I nest 8 May 1975 (Lee Jones); Seal Cove, 2 nests; south of Mail Pt., 4 nests; east end of the active airfield, 3 nests, all 15 May 1976 (Robert Cohen); and Seal Cove, 12 nests 18 Jul 1975 (Lee Jones). ”
The Birds of San Clemente Island, 1984
ISLAND | COLLECTOR | INSTITUTION | DATE | NUMBER | SPECIMEN | |
San Clemente Island | Edgar A. Mearns | NMNH | [1894] | USNM-19631 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Birds |
San Clemente Island | C. B. Linton | DMNH | February 15, 1907 | DMNH-5517 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Birds |
San Clemente Island | C. B. Linton | MCZ | October 9, 1907 | MCZ-316507 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Birds |
San Clemente Island | Irwin D. Nokes | WFVZ | February 6, 1915 | WFVZ-2912 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Birds |
San Clemente Island | Irwin D. Nokes | WFVZ | February 6, 1915 | WFVZ-2915 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Birds |
San Clemente Island | Irwin D. Nokes | WFVZ | February 6, 1915 | WFVZ-2916 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Birds |
San Clemente Island | J. T. Brollini | LACM | August 7, 2001 | LACM-111620 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Bird |
SAN MIGUEL ISLAND
ISLAND | COLLECTOR | INSTITUTION | DATE | NUMBER | SPECIMEN | |
San Miguel Island (Prince Island) | J. S. Appleton | WFVZ | June 6, 1906 | WFVZ-21670 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Eggs |
San Miguel Island (Prince Island) | J. S. Appleton | WFVZ | June 6, 1906 | WFVZ-21671 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Eggs |
San Miguel Island (Prince Island) | J. S. Appleton | WFVZ | June 6, 1906 | WFVZ-21727 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Eggs |
San Miguel Island | O. W. Howard | LACM | June 14, 1910 | LACM-95570 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Eggs |
San Miguel Island | O. W. Howard | WFVZ | June 14, 1910 | WFVZ-95584 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Eggs |
San Miguel Island | George Willett | WFVZ | June 15, 1910 | WFVZ-6363 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Eggs |
San Miguel Island (Prince Island) | G. K. Snyder | WFVZ | July 12, 1912 | WFVZ-95592 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Eggs |
San Miguel Island | L. G. Peyton | MVZ | June 2, 1928 | MVZ-4569 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Eggs |
San Miguel Island | L. G. Peyton | ROM | June 2, 1928 | ROM-500405 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Eggs |
San Miguel Island | W. J. Sheffler | WFVZ | June 11, 1933 | MVZ-184876 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Eggs |
San Miguel Island | W. J. Sheffler | WFVZ | June 11, 1933 | MVZ-65937 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Eggs |
San Miguel Island | W. J. Sheffler | WFVZ | June 11, 1933 | MVZ-65938 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Eggs |
SAN NICOLAS ISLAND
1897 San Nicolas Island: “Phalacrocorax penicillatus—Brandt's Cormorant. Seen commonly everywhere we went. Mr. Gaylord found a small colony nesting on the north side of San Nicolas Island...Entire List of Water-Birds Observed. [March 26-April 4; May 11-June 9]. The party [of the second trip] consisted of Joseph Grinnell, who had immediate charge of the expedition, and gave special attention to the ornithology and entomology of the islands; Horace Gaylord, who collected mammals; and Harry Gaylord and James Brittan [Britton] who devoted their time to archaeology. The party left San Pedro harbor May 11 in a large fishing schooner... [returning June 9, 1897]”
Grinnell, Joseph The Islands of Santa Barbara, San Nicolas and San Clemente, in the Spring of 1897 Pasadena Academy of Sciences Publication No. 1, August, 1897 (26 pages).
ISLAND | COLLECTOR | INSTITUTION | DATE | NUMBER | SPECIMEN | |
San Nicolas Island | L. R. Howsley | WFVZ | May 30, 1951 | WFVZ-103270 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Eggs |
San Nicolas Island | L. R. Howsley | WFVZ | May 30, 1951 | WFVZ-103271 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Eggs |
San Nicolas Island | L. R. Howsley | WFVZ | May 30, 1951 | WFVZ-103272 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Eggs |
San Nicolas Island | L. R. Howsley | WFVZ | May 30, 1951 | WFVZ-103273 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Eggs |
San Nicolas Island | L. R. Howsley | WFVZ | May 30, 1951 | WFVZ-103274 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Eggs |
San Nicolas Island | L. R. Howsley | WFVZ | May 30, 1951 | WFVZ-103275 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Eggs |
SANTA BARBARA ISLAND
1897 Santa Barbara Island: “Phalacrocorax penicillatus—Brandt's Cormorant. On Santa Barbara Island this bird was nesting in large rookeries. These rookeries were generally situated nearly to the base of the precipitous sides of the island, often but a few feet above the water line. A sloping shelf of rock or heap of fallen boulders was usually preferred. The nests were built as close as they could rest. They were made of turf and seaweed, and were filthy with excrement, so different from the neat-looking nests of the Farallone Cormorant. On May 15, we took about 30 sets of three and four eggs each. They were in all stages of incubation, and several nests contained young just hatched. One specimen of this Cormorant was taken... Entire List of Water-Birds Observed. [March 26-April 4; May 11-June 9]. The party [of the second trip] consisted of Joseph Grinnell, who had immediate charge of the expedition, and gave special attention to the ornithology and entomology of the islands; Horace Gaylord, who collected mammals; and Harry Gaylord and James Brittan [Britton] who devoted their time to archaeology. The party left San Pedro harbor May 11 in a large fishing schooner... [returning June 9, 1897]”
Grinnell, Joseph The Islands of Santa Barbara, San Nicolas and San Clemente, in the Spring of 1897 Pasadena Academy of Sciences Publication No. 1, August, 1897 (26 pages).
ISLAND | COLLECTOR | INSTITUTION | DATE | NUMBER | SPECIMEN | |
Santa Barbara Island | Joseph Grinnell | MVZ | May 15, 1897 | MVZ-573 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Eggs |
Santa Barbara Island | G. K. Snyder | PSM | July 3, 1912 | PSM-11722 | Phalacrocorax penilillatus | Birds |
Santa Barbara Island | G. K. Snyder | WFVZ | July 3, 1912 | WFVZ-95593 | Phalacrocorax penilillatus | Eggs |
Santa Barbara Island | G. K. Snyder | WFVZ | July 3, 1912 | WFVZ-95594 | Phalacrocorax penilillatus | Eggs |
Santa Barbara Island | G. K. Snyder | WFVZ | July 3, 1912 | WFVZ-95595 | Phalacrocorax penilillatus | Eggs |
Santa Barbara Island | G. K. Snyder | WFVZ | July 3, 1912 | WFVZ-95596 | Phalacrocorax penilillatus | Eggs |
Santa Barbara Island | L. Nyman | WFVZ | May 30, 1920 | WFVZ-114682 | Phalacrocorax penilillatus | Eggs |
Santa Barbara Island | H. W. Carriger | WFVZ | March 27, 1927 | WFVZ-34459 | Phalacrocorax penilillatus | Eggs |
Santa Barbara Island | H. W. Carriger | WFVZ | March 27, 1927 | WFVZ-34460 | Phalacrocorax penilillatus | Eggs |
Santa Barbara Island | J. R. Pemberton | WFVZ | March 27, 1927 | WFVZ-2916 | Phalacrocorax penilillatus | Eggs |
Santa Barbara Island | J. R. Pemberton | WFVZ | March 27, 1927 | WFVZ-2917 | Phalacrocorax penilillatus | Eggs |
SANTA CATALINA ISLAND
ISLAND | COLLECTOR | INSTITUTION | DATE | NUMBER | SPECIMEN | |
Santa Catalina Island | F. Stephens | SDMNH | March 21, 1893 | SDNHM-9 | Phalacrocorax peniicillatus | Birds |
Santa Catalina Island | Frank Stephens | SDNHM | March 23, 1893 | SDNHM-10 | Phalacrocorax penilillatus | Birds |
Santa Catalina Island | G. Willett | WFVZ | April 11, 1904 | WFVZ-95586 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Eggs |
Santa Catalina Island | G. Willett | WFVZ | April 11, 1904 | WFVZ-81597 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Eggs |
Santa Catalina Island | W. Berry Collection | CAS | 1950 | CAS-87594 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Birds |
SANTA CRUZ ISLAND
1886 Santa Cruz Island: Eli Whitney Blake, Jr. visited Santa Cruz Island twice in 1886: from July 4- July 24, and again August 6-September 3. During his visits, Blake camped in a canyon near Platt's Harbor. He noted:
- “Phalacrocorax penicillatus. BRANDT'S CORMORANT. — Abundant along shore; nests on isolated rocks.”
1907 Santa Cruz Island: “Phalacrocorax penicillatus. Brandt Cormorant. Abundant.” [“At 11:30 p. m., November 19, 1907, my father (H. Linton), Mr. George Willett, and myself left San Pedro harbor in a dilapidated fishing smack and in company with a crawfisherman, one “Cold-foot” Jorgensen. We arrived off the south end of Santa Cruz Island at 10:30 the following day during a stiff norwester. For various reasons we were unable to make camp until the 22nd. It may not be amiss to state here that twice during the blow we were nearly wrecked: once while at anchor in Potatoe Harbor, a broken anchor allowing the boat to drift within the breaker line and nearly onto the rocks. In this instance the timely arrival of Willett and H. Linton in a small boat, saved the day, and incidentally the fishing smack. At another time (the engine having broken down) we were blown nearly onto the rocks of Anacapa Island; but with father at the wheel and Willett and I on the “sheet” we managed to hold her off. I mention the foregoing, and the many sleepless nights spent on the rocky shores, “running” the surf several times each day (with attendant duckings), etc., merely as a warning to those who seem inclined to believe a field naturalists ’ life “strewn with roses”. (Its ’ generally strewn with cacti!)”]
Linton, C. B. Notes from Santa Cruz Island] The Condor 10(3):124-129, May 1908
ISLAND | COLLECTOR | INSTITUTION | DATE | NUMBER | SPECIMEN | |
Santa Cruz Island | C. B. Linton | MCZ | November 29, 1907 | MCZ-180271 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Birds |
SANTA ROSA ISLAND
1927 Santa Rosa Island: “Phalacrocorax penicillatus. Brandt Cormorant.” [“Through the generosity of Mr. Silsby M. Spalding who placed at our disposal his splendid cruiser Padariva I the writer accompanied by H. W. Carriger, Dudley DeGroot and 0. W. Howard was enabled to spend the period from March 25 to April 5, 1927, inclusive, among the Channel Islands off the coast of southern California.”]
Pemberton, J. R. Additions to the known avifauna of the Santa Barbara Islands The Condor 30(2):144-148, March-April 1928
NOTE: All Santa Rosa Island collections are post 1950.
ISLAS CORONADOS
ISLAND | COLLECTOR | INSTITUTION | DATE | NUMBER | SPECIMEN | |
Islas Coronados | C. S. Thompson | WFVZ | April 3, 1912 | WFVZ-203109 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Eggs |
Islas Coronados | C. S. Thompson | WFVZ | April 3, 1912 | WFVZ-203115 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Eggs |
Islas Coronados | C. O. Reis | LACM | June 5, 1915 | LACM-3643 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Birds |
Islas Coronados | Irwin D. Nokes | WFVZ | June 5, 1915 | WFVZ-95587 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Eggs |
Islas Coronados | Irwin D. Nokes | WFVZ | June 5, 1915 | WFVZ-95588 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Eggs |
Islas Coronados | Irwin D. Nokes | WFVZ | June 5, 1915 | WFVZ-228255 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Eggs |
Islas Coronados | K. W. Kenyon | USNM | 1935 | USNM-B41951 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Birds |
Islas Coronados | K. W. Kenyon | USNM | 1956 | USNM-B41956 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Birds |
ISLA SAN MARTIN
1913 Isla San Martin: “Phalacrocorax penicillatns. Brandt Cormorant. Present in large numbers, though not so numerous as the last. On the north side the young gathered in big droves and resembled Penguins as they tried to waddle out of our way. ” Wright, H. W.The Birds of San Martin Island, Lower California The Condor 15(6):207-210, November-December, 1913
ISLAND | COLLECTOR | INSTITUTION | DATE | NUMBER | SPECIMEN | |
Isla San Martin | W. V. Mayer | LACM | April 13, 1951 | LACM-51882 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Birds |
Isla San Martin | W. V. Mayer | LACM | April 13, 1951 | LACM-51883 | Phalacrocorax penicillatus | Birds |