Cormorants were once an endangered bird but that has changed over the past generation with Pilot Island bearing the brunt of it. Cormorants do not like interacting with humans but since the US Fish and Wildlife Service has closed Pilot Island to the general public they have flocked there. The substantial amount of fecal waste has had deleterious effects for vegetation and is impacting surrounding locations according to Liberty Grove Adminstrator Walter Kalms.
US Fish and Wildlife has taken some steps to curb the population including oiling the cormorant eggs before they hatch. Liberty Grove would like more to be done.