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Double-crested Cormorant


Double-crested Cormorant
Photo Information
Copyright: Jim White (jmirah) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 506 W: 5 N: 1135] (4665)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-10-08
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D90, Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED-IF AF-S VR, 67mm UV filter
Exposure: f/10.0, 1/320 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Three of A Kind [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2009-10-20 1:42
Viewed: 202
Points: 26
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Double-crested Cormorant
Phalacrocorax auritus

Order: PELECANIFORMES
Family: PHALACROCORACIDAE

Info on the Double-crested Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorants are common inhabitants of seacoasts and inland waters, rarely observed out of sight of land. They may be seen swimming low in the water, often with little more than their heads and sinuous necks showing, but they are more evident at daytime resting places on rocks, pilings, or trees. Resting birds often hold their wings in a spread-wing posture, characteristic of many cormorants, which is thought to aid in drying wet feathers. Cormorants dive from the surface and hunt their prey underwater using powerful strokes of their totipalmate feet (in which all 4 toes are connected by web, as in other pelican-like birds). These prey may be schooling fish or bottom-dwelling fish and invertebrates; a great variety of species has been reported. Cormorants are gregarious birds, often nesting in large numbers at diverse sites—on the ground on islands free from predators, in trees, or on various artificial structures. These colonies are conspicuous, not only because of the visible whitewash but also, downwind, because of the powerful reek of guano and rotting fish.

The Double-crested Cormorant is the most numerous and most widely distributed species of the 6 North American cormorants. In the U.S. and Canada, it is the only cormorant to occur in large numbers in the interior as well as on the coasts, and it is more frequently cited than the others as conflicting with human interests in fisheries.

Cormorants have been persecuted throughout history; recent great increases in numbers have spurred renewed controversy and may soon make parts of this account out of date. These increases have been most notable in the north and east of the breeding range (subspecies P. a. auritus) and where these birds winter in the southern states, especially near catfish farms. Cormorants feed opportunistically on fishes that are readily available and often congregate where these fishes are most easily caught. In natural environments, fish species of direct interest to recreational or commercial fishermen rarely make up a large part of the cormorants’ diet. Exceptions may occur, especially after fish-stocking releases or at aquaculture facilities, but even here the magnitude of the economic impact is difficult to establish unambiguously.

The Birds of North America Online
mamabear, maurydv, nasokoun, marius-secan, Argus, Noisette has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Jim,
This is an excellent capture. Very good composition and BG!
Well done!
Best Regards,
Alina

Interesting trio. Groups of three are always pleasing to the eye. Great color and composition.

Buen momento de este grupo de aves nostradas con gran color luz y naturalidad
Buen trabajo
un saludo

Hello Jim,
a fantastic scene of these Double-crested Cormorants (like as the Great Cormorant) taken with very good timing, superb sharpness and lighting, splendid colours, very pleasing composition.
TFS
Best regards
Maurizio

hello Jim
very good sharpness composition
you can see the green eyes
great details and beautiful colours
greeting lou

hello Jim
interesting scene with very intensely attractive colours (their eyes...!) and very good details,very fine output!
TFS thanks for sharing
Nasos

Hello Jim,
Excellent photo, very nice composition with sharp detais and natural colours.
Marius.

Gracias por tu amable crítica Jim, además viniendo de un excelente fotógrafo como tú es doblemente valorada !
Interesante tu trabajo, con las típicas tonalidades de tu particular estilo.
Gran profundidad, que permite apreciar casi perfectamente los tres pares de ojos :-)
Bien encuadrada y buen equilibrio del conjunto.
Saludos: Josep Ignasi.

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3821 W: 190 N: 11376] (35063)
  • [2009-10-20 12:26]

Hello Jim,
The lighting is so ggod here that the eyes of these Double-crested Cormorants glisten like emeralds in this shot.
Superb POV, composition, sharpness and BG presenting these three in a fine way.
Thanks and all the best,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • joey Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2001 W: 226 N: 6845] (24727)
  • [2009-10-20 12:34]

Hi Jim,

A razor-sharp shot of these three Cormorants.
Nice light and natural colours.
Excellent poses.

Well done,

Joe

Nice immage,good photo and so interesting that birds eis.Best regards.Alin.

Hello Jim
superb shot of this three Cormorants looking in the same direction
the details are wonderful, great lighting and beautiful composition
a very fine capture
Have a good night
Jacqueline

Hello Jim,

Seems like those guys are standing there enjoying the sun!
And they seem to be happy with life hehehe...
Well framed with good details in the birds!

Greetings,
Pablo -

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