The great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) is a large, widely distributed waterbird known for its versatile hunting skills, striking black plumage, and distinctive wing-drying posture. It inhabits coastal and inland waters across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and parts of North America, thriving in both marine and freshwater environments. An agile diver, it hunts fish with precision, […]
This species occupies a very area on the Chatham Islands, New Zealand. The past 10 years, surveys indicate that the species is in decline. In 2011 the population was estimated to be about 1000 individuals. The breeding colonies suffered much from agricultural activities and feral mammals. These colonial ground breeding species trample their eggs while […]
Txamsem went walking, not knowing which way to turn. He went toward the sea; and, behold! he saw a house some distance away. He came near, entered, and sat down on one side of the fire. A man was there with his wife. This was the house of Chief Cormorant. The man’s wife arose and […]
The Kwakiutl coastal Indians of British Columbia say the birds did not select their own costumes, but that one of their ancestors painted all the birds he found at a certain place. When he reached the cormorant his colors were exhausted and he had only charcoal left, hence the cormorant is wholly black. A favorite […]
In Greek folklore fables the cormorant was once a wool-merchant. He entered into a partnership with the bramble and the bat, and they freighted a large ship with wool. She was wrecked and the firm became bankrupt. Since that disaster the bat skulks about until midnight to avoid his creditors, the cormorant is forever diving […]
Native dancers throughout California commonly blow bird bone whistles to accompany their movements. The shrill sound of the whistles was not appreciated by the 18th century Spanish explorer Pedro Fages, who encountered them among the Chumash. These people have been playing bird bone whistles for 3000 years, up to the present day. Archaeological examples include […]
Pygmy Cormorant (Phalacrocorax pygmaeus) Science Article 1 abstract The discovery of four bones of a Pygmy Cormorant Microcarbo pygmaeus during an excavation of a fortress in Central Spain indicates the presence of this species in the area during the Late Middle Ages. The probability that this bird could be a vagrant is very small. The […]
Neotropic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) Science Article 1 abstract We studied the breeding biology of Neotropic Cormorants Phalacrocorax olivaceus at Golfo San Jorge, Argentina,during 1999. A total of 104 nest platforms with signs of occupation was counted, at 66 (63.5%) of whicheggs were laid. Nests were built on top of medium to large bushes located up […]
Neotropic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) Science Article 3 abstract The present report is part of a larger study on the helminth fauna of Neotropical Cormorants,Phalacrocorax brasilianus (Gmelin, 1789) in Brazil, particularly, in the southernmost State of Rio Grande do Sul. Thenematodes which were found loose in the proventriculus/ventriculus or in groups of adults of different ages […]
Neotropic Cormorant (Phalacrocorax brasilianus) Science Article 4 abstract First record of Syncuaria squamata (Linstow) (Nematoda, Acuariidae) in Neotropical cormorants Phalacrocorax brasilianus (Gmelin) (Aves, Phalacrocoracidae) in Brazil. The nematodes of the genus Syncuaria Gilbert, 1927 are parasites of birds of the orders Pelecaniformes, Ciconiiformes, and Podicipediformes. Eleven species are considered valid in this genus, however, two […]