Cormerant

[Greene's Basin Girl]

We had a cormorant sitting on our raft today. I went out to float by my raft. The cormorant sat on my raft for a half-hour. I could have touched this bird I was so close. I am wondering if anyone has encountered this situation. A few boats drove by and they couldn't believe that he/she kept sitting there with me so close.

[Rattlesnake Gal]

Paul and I spotted this Cormorant resting on a raft when we were coming back from a trip to Green's Basin a couple years ago. He seemed completely unconcerned with boaters.

The word “cormorant” comes from the Latin name corvus marinus, which means sea raven.

These amazing birds can often be seen often seen perching on a rock, breakwater or raft with spread-wing postures, drying their wings.
(Jonas Pilot, thanks for the informative link! )

Some still believe it is to keep other Cormorants out of their space, because they will still strike this post in the rain. You decide.

They are a member of the pelican family and can dive down as far as 100', but usually go 20' - 30'.

The longest recorded dive is 71 seconds. Most stay under for less than a half a minute.

Check out Jonas Pilot's video, Homasassa Springs Wildlife Park, taken down in Florida that has some amazing footage of a couple of Cormorants swimming and eating.
(The Cormorants start at 5:40. Excellent video!)

Cormorants seem to be quite playful with their prey and the use of it's tail and feet while swimming gives the impression that it is part otter and maybe playful pup too! Impressive bird.

[Lakesrider]

I took this pic a while back of some going boating in Wolfeboro Bay.....

[shoppes on the bay]

wait until you find out just how much like cement cormorant droppings are!

maybe its their diet down here but they are a royal pain in the tail feathers to clean of you dock and boat! sticky and extremely oderous when wet and once dry -- you need a chisel!

[hilltopper]

Cormorants showed up on Lake Champlain in 1981 and their numbers exploded. Their droppings basically killed all the vegetation on the islands they chose to nest on. They're voracious feeders and had a negative affect on the fish population. These are not birds I'd be happy to see in numbers on Lake Winni!

[dayvsea]

Yah i think ecologically they are not a good thing...They will sit there sometimes till sun comes out then they dry their wings before they will fly...

[Slickcraft]

This one has spent a lot of time on this swim platform the last two days, two camps north of us on Welch. On occasion a 2nd slightly smaller one is on the platform as well. Word must be out amongst the birds that the camp owner claims good fishing in the area.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by Slickcraft

This one has spent a lot of time on this swim platform the last two days, two camps north of us on Welch. On occasion a 2nd slightly smaller one is on the platform as well. Word must be out amongst the birds that the camp owner claims good fishing in the area.

That Cormorant made a mess of my raft big time!! Time to get a paintball gun and have some target practice!

Dan

[ApS]

Originally Posted by shoppes on the bay

wait until you find out just how much like cement cormorant droppings are! Maybe its their diet down here but they are a royal pain in the tail feathers to clean off your dock and boat! sticky and extremely odorous when wet and once dry -- you need a chisel!

So this sight might indicate the need for a boat cover?

[Life is Wild]

For those of you who clicked on the link about wing-spreading, it does a good job conveying some of the newest finds on cormorant and anhinga behavior, but also mentions the turkey vultures also practice wing-spreading. It doesn't include, though, that one reason vultures spread their wings and bask in sunlight is to let the Sun's rays make their feathers inhospitable to some of the bacteria that collects on them as a result of touching carrion. This is true of African vultures, and I have no proof that it applies to the turkey vulture, but it is food for thought.