03/05/2020
GREAT CORMORANT‼️
Widespread throughout the world, these beautiful birds has a pretty primitive appearance, its long neck giving it an almost reptilian look. This bird is a supreme fisher, and this ability may be used in the Far East to man’s advantage, or considered as competition in several other countries where these cormorants are persecuted❗️
On land Great cormorants are clumsy but they are fast and agile when swimming.
Capable of diving up to 150 meters and staying up to 70 seconds under water, Cormorants are excellent fish hunters. Diet includes numerous kind of fish along with crustaceans, amphibians and insects.
As their feathers get easily water logged, drying it becomes quite a need to prepare themselves for the next set of dives and that’s one reason you often find them perched on ground or on logs stretching the wings open against the wind or the sun. This may also aid in the digestion of prey❗️
The word ‘Cormorant’ comes from Latin 'corvus marinus', meaning ‘Sea Crow'.
Great cormorants have been seen swallowing small pebbles for extra weight in order to dive more easily, which they regurgitate after feeding❗️
These birds incubate their eggs with their large webbed feet. The eggs are placed on top of their feet, where they are warmed between their feet and their body❗️
Great cormorants are often regarded as competitors by fishermen, though are sometimes used to catch fish, wearing a neck collar to stop them swallowing the fish and send off from a boat to fish❗️
This image is from one of the world class birding destinations, the beautiful fresh water lake fringed with papyrus - Lake Naivasha in Kenya ‼️