Low Flying Cormorant

by Donna Kennedy

Title

Low Flying Cormorant

Artist

Donna Kennedy

Medium

Photograph - Photographs

Description

Original Fine Art Photography by Donna Kennedy-Photographed at Virginia Lake in Reno, Nevada

The gangly Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) is a prehistoric-looking, matte-black fishing bird with yellow-orange facial skin. Though they look like a combination of a goose and a loon, they are relatives of frigate birds and boobies and are a common sight around fresh and salt water across North America perhaps attracting the most attention when they stand on docks, rocky islands, and channel markers, their wings spread out to dry. These solid, heavy-boned birds are experts at diving to catch small fish.
From a distance, Double-crested Cormorants are dark birds with snaky necks, but up-close they're quite colorful with orange-yellow skin on their face and throat, striking aquamarine eyes that sparkle like jewels, and a mouth that is bright blue on the inside.
Cormorants often stand in the sun with their wings spread out to dry. They have less preen oil than other birds, so their feathers can get soaked rather than shedding water like a duck. Though this seems like a problem for a bird that spends its life in water, wet feathers probably make it easier for cormorants to hunt underwater with agility and speed.
The oldest known Double-crested Cormorant was more than 22 years old, banded in Ontario in 1984 and found in Louisiana in 2006.

Thank you to the Administrators that Featured this photo in the following Groups:
-Canon Full Frame Cameras
-Intent of the Artist
-Fine Art America Professionals
-USA Photographers ONLY
-Birds In Flight
-Wild Birds of the World
-Lady Photographers and Artists

Uploaded

July 14th, 2023

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