The most widespread of our native cormorants on the American continent, one that at one time was nearly exterminated but recovered much like the Great Egret and Atlantic grey seal. ^u^; I'm shocked to find out that many people regard this beautiful, goose-sized diving bird as an "invasive"[sic] and a "pest", mostly out of jealous competition for fish.

There was a nesting pair of these beauts at Lake Douthat this summer--they've flown off now that their chicks have fledged but it was nice seeing them perched in pine boughs, drying their wings in the sun. ^w^