Monday, November 27, 2017

BIRD OF THE MONTH - DOUBLE CRESTED CORMORANT biblebuffjournal

THE DOUBLE CRESTED CORMORANT  

KNOWN ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST IN ALL SEASONS   

FORAGE - FEEDING HABITS
Usually diving from surface and swimming underwater, propelled by feet (may sometimes use wings as well). it may forage singly or in groups, in clear or muddy water, at mid to upper levels of water more often than near bottom.   

THE YOUNG - EGGS  
3-4, sometimes 1-7 in the nest.  Bluish white, becoming nest-stained. Incubation is by both sexes, 25-33 days, typically 28-30. Y
Both parents feed the nestlings, and after 3-4 weeks, the young may leave ground nests and wander through colony, but return to nest to be fed. Usually first fly at about 5-6 weeks, probably independent at 9-10 weeks.

In Birch Bay and Blaine  WA there is a colony of Cormorants out in Drayton Harbor.    They are quite a sight to see. 

BELLINGHAM WA - BIRD WATCHING 
WHAT CORMORANTS EAT 
With fish and other aquatic life, their diet varies with season and place, includes very wide variety of fish, also crabs, shrimp, crayfish, frogs, salamanders, eels; sometimes snakes, mollusks, plant material.

NESTING HABITS   
COLONIES - they are usually at 
 first breeds at age of 3 years. Nesting in colonies, sometimes mixed with wading birds and others. The male displays to female on water by splashing with wings, swimming in zigzags, diving and bringing up pieces of weeds. 
   At nest site, male displays by crouching and vibrating wings while calling.

 Site of the nesting  is near water on cliff ledge, on the ground of an island, or at any height in tree. The nest is built by the female with materials brought by the male. Made of a platform of sticks and debris, lined with finer materials.

It can be stinky   They do not destroy their nests - they rebuild and rebuild over the old nests. 

They do not make much sounds except at nesting sites while feeding in flocks with a deep guttural call, almost like a pig's squeel.   Like little baby pigs this is what they sound like.

Although their nests are close to each other, they can be seen better when they rest on rocks and pilings or on trees, holding their wings outspread...which may be a way of drying their feathers.

They usually swim low in the water with little more than the head and neck showing 


PSALM 146.
1. PRAISE YE THE LORD.  PRAISE THE LORD, O MY SOUL.
2. WHILE I LIVE WILL I PRAISE THE LORD: I WILL SING PRAISES UNTO MY GOD; WHILE I HAVE ANY BEING.
3. PUT NOT YOUR TRUST IN PRINCES, NOR IN THE SON OF MAN, IN WHOM THERE IS NO HELP.
4. HIS BREATH GOETH FORTH, HE RETURNETH TO HIS EARTH; IN THAT VERY DAY, HIS THOUGHTS PERISH.
5. HAPPY IS HE THAT HATH THE GOD OF JACOB FOR HIS HELP, WHOSE HOPE IS IN THE LORD.
6. WHICH MADE HEAVEN, AND EARTH, THE SEA, AND ALL THAT THEREIN IS: WHICH KEEPETH TRUTH FOR EVER.
7. WHICH EXECUTETH JUDGMENT FOR THE OPPRESSED:  WHICH GIVETH FOOD TO THE HUNGRY.  THE LORD LOOSETH THE PRISONERS.
8. THE LORD OPENETH THE EYES OF THE BLIND; THE LORD RAISETH THE THAT ARE BOWED DOWN: THE LORD LOVETH THE RIGHTEOUS.
9. THE LORD PRESERVETH THE STRANGERS (ALIENS); HE RELIEVETH THE FATHERLESS AND THE WIDOW: BUT THE WAY OF THE WICKED HE TURNETH UPSIDE DOWN.
10. THE LORD SHALL REIGN FOR EVER, EVEN THY GOD, O ZION, UNTO ALL GENERATION. 
PRAISE YE THE LORD. 

JAMES 1: 17 -22
17.EVERY GOOD GIFT AND EVERY PERFECT GIFT IS FROM ABOVE, AND COMETH DOWN FROM THE FATHER OF LIGHTS, WITH WHOM IS NO VARIABLENESS, NEITHER SHADOW NOR TURNING, 18. OF HIS OWN WILL BEGAT HE US WITH THE WORD OF TRUTH, THAT WE SHOULD BE A KIND OF FIRSTFRUITS OF HIS CREATURES,19. WHEREFORE, MY BELOVED BRETHREN, LET EVERY MAN BE SWIFT TO HEAR, SLOW TO SPEAK, SLOW TO WRATH 20. FOR THE WRATH OF MAN WORKETH NOT THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD.
21. WHEREFORE LAY APART ALL FILTHINESS AND SUPERFLUITY OF NAUGHTINESS, AND RECEIVE WITH MEEKNESS, THE ENGRAFTED WORD, WHICH IS ABLE TO SAVE YOUR SOULS.22. BUT BE YE DOERS OF THE WORD, AND NOT HEARERS ONLY, DECEIVING YOUR OWN SELVES.