Showing posts with label Palm Beach County. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Palm Beach County. Show all posts

Friday, January 3, 2014

Hungry cormorant babies

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