FOR WORLD BIRD WEDNESDAY and NATURE NOTES
This anhinga is spreading its wings to dry in the sunshine. Anhingas, like cormorants, are water birds that don't have water repellent feathers. That makes them less buoyant and more able to move quickly through the water. And that makes it easier for them to catch their fish dinner. But they can't fly at all well when their wings become water-soaked, so (after they've eaten) they perch somewhere to dry before moving on to the next meal site.
Anhinga is a Brazilian Indian word that means snake bird. When you see them in the water, it's easy to tell why they are named that. We watched a couple of them slithering through the water where we saw the baby alligators . For a while we thought that the birds might actually be chasing the babies, but it was probably fish.
Both cormorants and anhingas are seen around here. I think the anhingas are more elegant looking, but they can be hard to tell apart.
The cormorant (seen here) has a shorter beak with a downturned hook at the end.
Great photos! I had also read that the wingspread in the sun position is supposed to aid their digestion, don't know if it has been proven but they certainly are very cool birds.
Posted by: Celeste | March 15, 2012 at 01:26 PM
I have seen anhingas a lot sunning themselves. They look so odd! The first time I saw one, I thought it had broken something!
Posted by: Libby | March 14, 2012 at 03:14 AM
Nice shots of the Anhinga and Cormorant Sallie!
Posted by: Larry Jordan | March 09, 2012 at 03:49 PM
A new bird for me, and such interesting info. Very nice photos too!
Posted by: nature rambles | March 09, 2012 at 05:24 AM
Beautiful post.
Regards and best wishes
Posted by: Tatjana Parkacheva | March 08, 2012 at 02:16 PM
How cool! I've never seen an Anhinga in person. Nice job!
Posted by: heyBJK | March 08, 2012 at 11:41 AM
Aha! I remember seeing anhingas sunning themselves, but I didn't realize they don't have water repellent feathers. Love learning new details like this--thanks!
Posted by: Patricia Lichen | March 07, 2012 at 10:54 PM
Great captures! Love the last pic! So beautiful!
Thanks for sharing;o)
***
Hope you are having a nice week****
Posted by: Mildred | March 07, 2012 at 03:21 PM
Would love to be in Florida to see these marvelous sights. I did not know they lack oiled feathers to help them swim. Interesting. Great stuff as always Sallie!
Posted by: springman | March 07, 2012 at 03:10 PM
nice shots. I will soon post some too in my Costa Rica blog. It is a very cool bird.
Posted by: NatureFootstep | March 07, 2012 at 12:15 PM
Beautiful shots, Sallie. We see many cormorants here in melbourne too.
Posted by: Nick | March 07, 2012 at 12:09 PM
What beautiful captures, so filled with wonderful tones and textures.
Posted by: Jewaicious | March 07, 2012 at 08:36 AM
Looks like a BIG bird! :)
Posted by: EG Wow | March 07, 2012 at 07:23 AM
What an amazing bird! I've never heard of it.
Thanks for highlighting it.
Cheers from Cottage Country!
Posted by: Jenn Jilks | March 07, 2012 at 05:52 AM
Thanks for sharing this post. I have learned something new about the non water repellant feathers (it does make sense).
We have Cormorants and Darters in Australia and I have often wondered why they need to dry out their feathers.
Posted by: Liz | March 07, 2012 at 05:06 AM
Its fun to watch as they dive in the water and then pop up quite a ways away.
Nice captures, Sallie.
cheers :)
Posted by: Pam | March 07, 2012 at 03:46 AM
Downunder there's the darter - which is also known as the snake bird!! Snap!!
Posted by: Red Nomad OZ | March 07, 2012 at 03:42 AM
Hi there - very nice post - was just commenting about these two types of bird and here they are!
Cheers - Stewart M
Posted by: Stewart M - Australia | March 07, 2012 at 02:55 AM
Wow - that first shot is superb! What an amazing sight that must have been.
Posted by: Lady Fi | March 06, 2012 at 09:13 PM
I agree, the anhinga has a more interesting plumage but I like the beak of the cormorant.
Posted by: Martha | March 06, 2012 at 08:59 PM
Wonderful shots and information about these beautiful birds that we would never hope to see here. It must be great to see them shaking the water from their wings, Sallie.
Posted by: Hildred | March 06, 2012 at 08:31 PM
I enjoyed this post so much. The anhinga if a gorgeous bird.
Posted by: Carver | March 06, 2012 at 07:31 PM
Great shots of the bird. First shot timing is perfect.
Posted by: Rajesh | March 06, 2012 at 07:26 PM
Love it! The flapping of its "tails" looks like a fan! Definitely a neat capture!
Posted by: Ebie | March 06, 2012 at 06:24 PM
Some wonderful info about the Anhinga's they are so Beautiful when you see one up close..Love these Photos!!
Posted by: Sondra | March 06, 2012 at 04:17 PM
Wonderful shots Sallie.
I have never heard of anhingas! Cormorants seem to be a World wide species. I saw on a nature show on TV that in Japan they are used by the fishermen to catch their fish. Quite amazing - trained cormorants!
Cheers
Colin
Brisbane. Australia.
Posted by: Colin Huggins | March 06, 2012 at 02:27 PM
Hi Sallie, Great post on the Anhinga, they are cool looking birds. I love when they spread out their wings. Great shots.
Posted by: eileen | March 06, 2012 at 02:14 PM
Such a cool looking bird! I've seen cormorants in parts of New Jersey but not anhinga. Wish I could catch dinner like that. And all I have to do after is dry off my wings?
Posted by: Leora | March 06, 2012 at 02:06 PM
I like the markings on the Anhinga. Spreading their wings makes it look like they're wearing a cape.
Posted by: Barb | March 06, 2012 at 02:04 PM
Great post !! Boom & gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
Posted by: Boom & Gary | March 06, 2012 at 11:56 AM
A wonderful post Sallie.. every day is a school day for me.
Many thanks for sharing xx
Posted by: Andrew | March 06, 2012 at 11:54 AM
One stopped here a couple of years ago and the thing about their feathers is interesting..I will add this to Nature Notes when I get the post done Sallie...
Posted by: Michelle | March 06, 2012 at 11:53 AM
Great shots and good info. I didn't know the feathers of an anhinga are not waterproof.
Posted by: Pat | March 06, 2012 at 10:14 AM
Also makes them more vulnerable to the alligators. Great shots, especially that first one. No the second. OK, all. ;)
Posted by: Geogypsy | March 06, 2012 at 10:01 AM
Oops, that should have been oil glands not down. :)
Posted by: Carletta | March 06, 2012 at 09:53 AM
A waterbird without down - I've learned something today. :)
What a great wingspan - nice capture Sallie!
Posted by: Carletta | March 06, 2012 at 09:47 AM
wonderful shots! we get cormorants here, but i think we've had a rare anhinga, too. :)
Posted by: TexWisGirl | March 06, 2012 at 09:44 AM
Beautiful shots of a fascinating bird!
Mette
Posted by: CameraCruise | March 06, 2012 at 09:37 AM
fascinating bird
Posted by: Crafty Gardener | March 06, 2012 at 09:30 AM
Great shots! Fascinating info-including that about the cormorants! I'd never heard of the anhingas!
Posted by: hazelisles | March 06, 2012 at 08:29 AM