This double-crested cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) is resting in the sunshine on one of the wildlife floats we've added to the pond.
Although this float has a turtle ramp (visible on the right), and is most popular with ducks, cormorants make occasional appearances. Without oily waterproof wings like ducks have, cormorants use this spread-wing-in-the-sun posture after a dive to warm up and dry off. Why haven't cormorants evolved to have oily wings? Cormorants are impressive underwater divers, and soaked wings allow them to be more negatively buoyant which helps them catch the deeper fish they dive after.
Photo by Song Nelson
