Cormorant behaviour

[Thunderbird+]

This morning I saw a cormorant in typical pose stood at the edge of a large pond with its wings out-stretched and gently shaking them. The bird flew off as I approached and when I got to where it was I noticed 5 small perch close to the surfice, which swam away.

This left me with the notion that the cormorant had somehow managed to mesmerise the fish into comming to the surfice in a cunning style of angling. Any thoughts on this ?

[heathfield]

Unlike ducks, for example, cormorants don't produce enough oil in their skin to waterproof the feathers, so they have to dry out their wings. This is what they're doing when they stand with their wings stretched out. It's thought by some researchers that this pose also aids the digestion of any fish they've swallowed. Perch habitually swim close to the surface, and it was more likely coincidental that you saw them where you did - they were probably just unaware of the cormorant's presence.

[Thunderbird+]

Thanks heathfield, Good answer. I tend to agree with the researchers in thinking there is a bit more than wing drying going on. Yes seeing the perch at that spot could well have been a coincidence.

[Thunderbird+]

Thanks in a pickle, Yes I've seen film footage of the Black Egret, making a cowl with its wings to lure fish into the shade, amazing stuff, You could be right, although it was a cool, dull and drizzly morning.