Friday, January 3, 2014

Hungry cormorant babies

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At Wakodahatchee Wetlands in Delray Beach, Florida, these two Double-crested Cormorant chicks beg incessantly for their parent to feed them. Adult males and female are indistinguishable, but I'll assume this is the mom.

Double-crested Cormorant feeding chicks 01-20131210

Instinctively, they peck at her yellow gular pouch to stimulate her to regurgitate.

Double-crested Cormorant feeding chicks 03-20131210

One chick thrusts its beak into her mouth.

Double-crested Cormorant feeding chicks 04-20131210

It reaches into her throat...

Double-crested Cormorant feeding chicks 06-20131210

...deeper and deeper!

Double-crested Cormorant feeding chicks 07-20131210

Its head is disappearing!

Double-crested Cormorant feeding chicks 05-20131210

The second chick takes its turn.

Double-crested Cormorant feeding chicks 02-20131210

The outlines of the youngster's sharp upper and lower mandibles are visible halfway down the mother's throat.

Double-crested Cormorant feeding chicks 08-20131210
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8 comments:

  1. RamakrishnanJanuary 3, 2014 at 5:39 AM

    Thanks for posting these incredibly amazing and captivating pictures. Awesome photography and pure joy to view these pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  2. KellyJanuary 3, 2014 at 6:49 AM

    ...an amazing series of photos...really interesting!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Coloring Outside the LinesJanuary 3, 2014 at 9:03 AM

    Wow- that's something I never would have seen! Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Carole M.January 3, 2014 at 1:36 PM

    Ken ...oh great to see the young ones!! It does look quite uncomfortable for the Mum though :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousJanuary 3, 2014 at 2:16 PM

    Great action and details you caught! Now I'm ready for spring.

    ReplyDelete
  6. SonjaJanuary 3, 2014 at 3:17 PM

    Great views of the feeding process - thanks for sharing them.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Mary Howell CromerJanuary 3, 2014 at 4:22 PM

    Amazing photography, just wonderful, stunning series...love them all!

    ReplyDelete
  8. David M. Gascoigne,January 3, 2014 at 6:20 PM

    Really great sequence. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete

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