While this is a hot topic and a controversial one at that, I am wondering at what point any balance is going to kick in?
What do I mean?
Well looking back at other attempts to restore balance by culling, is it a sure road to success? I don't know. I would guess that the Cormorants and Sawbills are there as much because of the depradation of their natural coastal resources as the discovery of new food sources in the river systems etc and better management of these coastal systems would probably be of more long term benefit than a cull, just not very likely I suppose given the generally blinkered approach the politcal class have to this sort of thing.
But when is the natural balance going to start to show? I mean you can't have huge roach shoals being devoured by swarms of birds indeffinately, once the Roach are gone surely the birds will fail too as the food source becomes unable to support them?
I am not trying to persuade to any viewpoint here, I just wondered about how the cormorants can continue in numbers without fish to feed on?