Friday, June 17, 2011

Sea crow

Cormorant is French for sea crow.  Maybe you don't give them a second glance when you see them, but they are fascinating birds.  If they are on the water in singles or pairs, they are probably fishing.  They can hold their breath for an incredible length of time.  Imagine for a minute, chasing down fish underwater with your mouth!  They do it every day.  They are very successful at it so, if you watch one, you are likely to see the struggle that occurs to subdue the catch.  In this photo you can see the downturn in the tip of the upper bill, which allows them to pin their catch, making it difficult for the fish to get free. 

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