Here They Come!

  This time of year sees a whole new bunch of critters on the Bayou especially in the way of birds. Birds are migrating southward with the coming of winter and they either stop in for a rest before heading on their merry way or they spend the winter with us.  It makes me happy to see the thousands of waterfowl visiting the area.  Each visit to the pier during late fall, gives me the chance to see new birds.  Some of these are new to me while others are returning friends.  

  A couple of days ago, huge flocks of cormorants could be seen gathering in the Bay.  This is crazy since all of the flocks were flying in FROM the south.  Shouldn't they be heading south if they are migrating? Thousands of birds accumulated in the Bay.  I have never witnessed this many cormorants here at any given time.  Usually, there are at most a few dozen or perhaps even up to a hundred but never this many! When they landed in the water, they immediately started swimming toward each other until there was a thick mass of black as far as I could see. Then, as quickly as they came, the cormorants took flight and disappeared from sight....heading northward!

  The cormorant is a funny bird that will resort to diving beneath the water when threatened instead of taking flight.  They are excellent divers that can swim for long distances beneath the surface.  Perhaps this is why their collective name is a "Swim" of cormorants!  This ability and their hooked beak makes them experts at fishing.  While it was exciting to see so many birds in the Bay at one time, I am sort of glad to see that most have ventured on to parts unknown.  With their fishing expertise, my catches would have most likely come to a halt if they had stayed.  Happy fall...happy migration!