I remember seeing mysterious images of the Loch Ness Monster when I was a child. Its head and neck towered above the water. And who knew what was beneath the surface. Was it an ancient species of fish? An aquatic dinosaur?
Double-crested Cormorants are not unlike the mythical Loch Ness Monster. They sit very low in the water compared to birds such as ducks and loons. Sometimes, only their head and neck are visible.
Cormorants are less buoyant than other waterbirds because their feathers absorb more water. This is thought to assist them when they dive for fish. But it means they must spend a great deal of time drying their feathers after foraging.
The next time you see something in the water that reminds you of the Loch Ness Monster, it might be a Double-crested Cormorant.
