Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Oregon
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

We propose to use two species of diving waterbirds, double-crested cormorants and Brandt’s cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus and P. penicillatus), as sampling platforms to map a variety of physical characteristics at the mouth of the Columbia River (MCR; e.g., temperature, conductivity, depth, and bedform morphology). This work would enhance the physical characterization at the MCR, which is a primary objective of the RIVIT II DRI, and expand on the animal-based sampling that the RIVIT II DRI has previously supported. The study would leverage off of our telemetry and other research experience with cormorants and other waterbirds at the MCR.