We were amazed at how these Cormorants could stand, much less nest, on the edge of this sheer cliff at Natural Bridges State Park in Santa Cruz, California! Those chicks have to be really patient while they wait on their parents to bring them a meal, one false move and they would be fish (or shark) food!
Santa Cruz, CA July 6, 2008 Cormorants are diving birds, they swim in the ocean or lakes to catch fish. They can be a challenge to photograph because they disappear under water and pop up somewhere else! This was the closest photo I have been able to get of a cormorant, even though we have them in our lake in Oak Ridge!
and Himantopus mexicanus Palo Alto, CA July 2, 2008 I photographed these two shore birds together to show the difference in their bills. Avocets have an upturned bill which they often sweep side to side in the water. Stilts use their straight bill for probing in the mud. Different bill structures and lengths help birds in the same habitat keep from competing so much for food. This photo was taken at low tide at the Palo Alto Baylands.
