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Project Noah Nature School
Phalacrocorax auritus
Black in color, with orange on the beak/bill. Long neck. It would occasionally start beating its wings like it was going to take off, but never moved. It looks like a heron or stork of some kind.
It was perched in the center of a large duck pond that has turtles. frogs & huge carp in the warmer months.
They are awesome birds. I am planning to look for one tomorrow. Their neck are long, hence the common name "snake bird"
Cormorants are interesting because, unlike most other birds, they do not produce oils to "waterproof" their feathers, since they have to dive and swim for their food. When they emerge from the water, they rest with their wings outspread (occasionally flapping or beating them as well) to dry before they can fly again. That explains the behavior you saw!
Spotted on Feb 22, 2012
Submitted on Feb 24, 2012
