Cormorants at Play

Double Crested Cormorants are plentiful in North America. They are extremely skilled fishers and  have had their share of run-ins with the owners of fisheries and fish farms. They are not the most beautiful bird, but in flight and at play in the branches, they are quite fascinating to watch. But don't stand under the trees they are in! They are quite messy. You can always spot their usual hang-outs because the trees turn completely white, if you know what I mean.

  They have really cool black webbed feet for swimming and a sharply hooked bill for fishing. Quite formidable looking close up.

  They often perch with their wings outstretched after a dive in order to dry them out. Their feathers  are not completely waterproof. 

  Check out those landing gear!

  This one was a fly by, just buzzing some old friends.

  This isn't a great shot but I like seeing the frontal view with the feet out.

  Their call is more like a series of grunting noises than a song.

  They hang out in large groups but sometimes it is not at all clear that they like each other. They will often land right on top of each other for a favored spot. 

 But no matter how they act on land or sea, there are no inelegant birds in flight.