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

I particularly love hearing great-tailed grackles while I work in the pond. This year we have 2 pairs. While we've have many baby birds (e.g., grebes, ducks, red-winged blackbirds, phoebes), so far, we haven't seen baby grackles. Thanks to Grant Pogson for the image.

Coyote parents find a safe den for pups in large territories. This year a family with 6 pups settled in at the quarry. They were very playful when awake, and slept safely in the limestone crevices. They have grown significantly and are substantially more mobile as June ends. Thanks to Grant Pogson for these images from when they were still quite small.