Brandt’s Cormorants

What a treat to see the changing of the guard! The bird on the right had been sitting on the nest, squirming every now and then, enough to give us a peek at the eggs. Then it got up, and the bird on the left began to edge over to take its place. The first one flew off over the ocean, and the second one settled in for a good sit. I knew the parents shared duties, but this is the first time I’ve witnessed it. Please note the markings on the drainpipe, which appear to be an echo of the bird’s silhouette.

The Extras are because I can’t help myself. Most of the bird families in this rookery seem to have three kids—fuzzy prehistoric things that seem to be in perpetual motion. How they manage to all fit under the parent is a mystery. All those beaks and long necks and elbows! When they are settled down, you cannot see them.