MorganHeim_Cormorants-1706
Clatsop County recently spent over $70 million to refurbish the Astoria-Megler bridge. Just a few years later, the bridge has been covered in highly-corrosive guano from the thousands of cormorants nesting on it. In 2022, the county plans to prevent the birds from nesting, and begin a years’ long process of maintenance work. The process could include aggressive blasting of the bridge with water cannons from fire boats.Scientists are skeptical that the county will be successful in preventing nesting. Because of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, as soon as birds begin to nest, attempts to curb cormorant activity will have to cease.