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When It's Time to Relax

These guys sitting in the warm glow of the late afternoon after what was probably a long day of work made me think of old Miller High Life commercials.

 

The area around the Orcas Island Ferry landing is the ideal hunting ground for Pelagic cormorants who feed in the protected inlets such as this. Unfazed by the comings and goings of the ferries, these birds are drying off from their daily swim for food before returning to their nests.

 

Despite being seabirds who can dive as deep as 140' for their food, cormorants lack waterproof plumage, and thus seek out remote safe places, such as this ferry bumper, to preen and dry their feathers. Also, because their feeding requires considerable swimming, their wings are relatively short and provide less in-flight efficiency than most other migratory birds.

 

Although I doubt we share a taste in suds, these guys have undoubtedly earned a beer today.

 

Recognition:

Accepted for Display - JUL 2022 Darkroomers Photographic Club, and can be found in the Photographic Arts Building in Balboa Park, San Diego.

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Uploaded on July 26, 2022
Taken on April 4, 2009