Double Crested Cormorant Taking Flight
by Brian Tada
Title
Double Crested Cormorant Taking Flight
Artist
Brian Tada
Medium
Photograph - Digital Photograph
Description
A double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus auritus) skims the water as it takes flight over Richardson Bay in Mill Valley, California near San Francisco on a late afternoon.
It is the most numerous cormorant and inhabits coastal areas of the ocean, bays and lakes throughout North America. It is distinguished from other cormorant species by its bright yellow-orange throat pouch and facial skin. They exhibit decorative tufts of feathers or "crests" above each eye during the summer. Adults have brown-black plumage and are 36 inches (91 cm) long with a wingspan of 52 inches (132 cm).
The double-crested cormorant was first noted during an expedition on the Columbia River below the mouth of the Umatilla River, Oregon on October 20, 1805.
Related to pelicans, this intriguing waterbird feeds on fish and aquatic invertebrates and is an excellent diver and underwater swimmer, using its powerful webbed feet. Its vision is designed for both aerial and underwater environments, with a soft eye lens and powerful eye muscles which transform the shape of the lens to adapt to closer-range focusing underwater to find prey easily. Its hooked bill is designed to capture fish, which it flips upward and swallows whole, head-first. After emerging from the water, this medium-large shorebird is often seen holding its wings in spread-eagle fashion to dry in the sun.
Both the male and female work together to build a nest of sticks, twigs and seaweed. The female lays up to seven eggs, and both parents incubate the eggs for about a month. Both parents also feed and care for the young, which are ready to fly within 35-40 days.
How we as humans can learn valuable and important lessons in teamwork from God's creation! I am reminded of the beautiful illustration in 1 Thessalonians 5:11:: "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as you in fact are doing." (Tree of Life Bible translation)
*****
Grateful to God and thankful to the administrators for the honor of featuring this image on the home pages of the Fine Art America groups::
* WATER BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY, 08.16.15
* BIRD WATCHERS, 11.06.15
*****
Photo copyright © 2015 Brian Tada. To the glory of God. All rights reserved. No part of this image may be downloaded, copied, distributed, photographed or made into an artistic derivative in any way, without expressly written permission from the artist.
Uploaded
July 25th, 2015
Statistics
Viewed 4,708 Times - Last Visitor from Seattle, WA on 04/15/2024 at 10:25 PM
Embed
Share
Sales Sheet
Similar Images
Comments (16)
Gary F Richards
Outstanding cormorant composition, lighting, shading, excellent color and artwork! F/L voted
Kim Tran
Wow....such a charming pose and gorgeous detail and reflection Brian, love the water surface too! l/f
Laurie Search
The light on his wings is so, so beautiful, Brian, and what fantastic timing and beautiful reflections!!! :)))vf
Betsy Zimmerli
Like the water pattern perpendicular to the back lit wing feathers! f/l
Brian Tada replied:
Hi Betsy, thank you for your kind words! I'm honored you like this image and took time to comment on it. Grateful for your f/l support, thank you! God bless you, have a wonderful weekend!
Doug Kreuger
Wow!! Absolutely stunning capture of this large aquatic bird! Love the sunlit feathers, reflection and ripples on the water! L&F
Brian Tada replied:
Thank you very much, Doug, for the honor of your visit, kind support and encouraging words! It's the first time for me seeing a cormorant close-up in person, truly a majestic bird. Thanks so much for your gracious L&F support. God bless you, have a great day/weekend!
Hanne Lore Koehler
Fantastic action capture, Brian! Beautiful light and reflection! L/F
Brian Tada replied:
Greetings Hanne, thank you so very much for your most kind comments on this image! Greatly appreciate your L/F support. God bless you and your beautiful artistry!
Mitch Shindelbower
Excellent capture Brian well done ! l/f
Brian Tada replied:
Mitch, thank you so much for your kind comments, greatly appreciated! Thank you for the honor of your visit and l/f support and your continued encouragement. It is an honor. Blessings, have an awesome week!
Asbed Iskedjian
This bird has a very fast flight speed, you did a great in-flight shot Brian by frozen it in his flight pose, with the backlit effect.
Brian Tada replied:
Thank you very much, Asbed, for your very kind and thoughtful comment! Greatly appreciate it. Thanks for your support and encouragement. God bless you, and have a wonderful weekend!
Chris Flees
l/f/shared
Brian Tada replied:
Thank you so much, Chris, for your l/f support and sharing, greatly appreciate it! Blessings!
Chris Flees
what a fantastic capture Brian. I absolutely love watching Cormorants they have a personality that is unique even for waterbirds.
Brian Tada replied:
Thank you very much, Chris, for your wonderful comment and the honor of your visit! This was my first time seeing a Cormorant "up close", and I so agree with you, they are truly unique and a marvel to behold. Thanks for stopping by! God bless you, have a super day/week!
Kathy Bucari
Gorgeous bird and capture, Brian! I agree with you. I am always amazed at God's creations! F/L
Brian Tada replied:
Hi, Kathy! Thank you so much for your "gorgeous" comment, greatly appreciate that and the honor of your visit! Thank you for your F/L support, too! God's masterpieces are indeed stunning. Blessings, have an awesome day/week!
Deborah A Andreas
Wow!....what a magnificent capture of this incredible bird! The lighting and water reflection are beautiful! Fave
Brian Tada replied:
Thank you very much, Deborah, for the honor of your visit and kind words! Especially the "wow" part! This image was truly a gift from God. Am always astounded by His creation... Thanks so much for favoriting this image! God bless you, have a super evening/day!
Recently Viewed
