{"id":3555,"date":"2020-10-23T17:25:14","date_gmt":"2020-10-23T17:25:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/?p=3555"},"modified":"2020-10-25T05:09:14","modified_gmt":"2020-10-25T05:09:14","slug":"pelagic-cormorant-living-on-the-edge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress.viu.ca\/biol325\/2020\/10\/23\/pelagic-cormorant-living-on-the-edge\/","title":{"rendered":"Pelagic Cormorant: Living on the Edge"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Part I: Background Info on the Pelagic Cormorant<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As our boat motored through the swirling turbulent waters of Nakwakto Rapids I looked at the bare cliff faces of Tremble Island located in the middle of the passage. As we approached the rock, gangly black birds with long necks began throwing themselves from the steep walls. As we watched them fly away questions began to form. What were they and why were they here?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Pelagic Cormorants launching themselves off of Tremble Island (Photo: Danielle Lacasse)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Description & Identification<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cormorants are fish eating birds that are found in coastal areas. Cormorants have four webbed toes and are in the Order Suliformes formerly Pelecaniformes. The taxonomy has been reclassified due to genetic and behavioural characteristics (Kennedy 2001)<\/a>. Despite the fact that cormorants are diving birds, their feathers are not water repellent (this may help with buoyancy control). They can often be seen along the shore with their wings spread out to dry. Three different cormorant species call British Columbia home; the Double-crested, Brandt’s and the Pelagic. Interestingly, all three species forage near each other but prefer different substrates. Pelagic Cormorants fish in rocky areas for invertebrates and fish while Brandt’s forage in the water column and Double-crested head for flat sandy bottoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n