Beautiful photo, Nawitka, with the wonderful rock surfaces and shadows. I envy you the sunshine that I didn't have for my nesting cormorants in New Zealand. Cheers, Mariyn
Thank you very much Michael Slattery and Marilyn(sorry not to reply sooner!). I'm glad to hear you enjoyed this photo. I did enjoy your New Zealand cormorants, Marilyn! They have chosen the same kind of cliff as this one. I wonder if my cormorants have haystack nests inside their caves too?
I am quite sure these are nesting here - although on my island (protection island) the cormorants put up nests on top of a bluff, it could well be that they can do this do to the lack of predators (both presently and historically), whereas cormorants nesting elsewhere look for cliffs to provide security. The other reason for our difference is because the cliffs of my island are quickly eroding, and where nests can be built they are already taken by Rhinoceros Auklets, with no space left for the cormorants to nest.
Also, in our waters there are pelagic and double-breasted cormorants. We might be photographing different species - and they might have different nesting preferences.
Thank you very much Dr. Dominic Ebacher for your very helpful information! I have recently taken another photo of cormorant nests in the cliffs, but in this one some nests are out on the ledges; and I was thrilled to see the haystacks that you showed in your photos. I really appreciate your help. The new photos are on a cliff on Galiano Island, not far from this location.
Comments
Michael Slattery, on September 24, 2007, said:
These guys really like isolation. :-)
Marilyn Whiteley, on October 23, 2007, said:
Beautiful photo, Nawitka, with the wonderful rock surfaces and shadows. I envy you the sunshine that I didn't have for my nesting cormorants in New Zealand. Cheers, Mariyn
Nawitka, on April 4, 2008, said:
Thank you very much Michael Slattery and Marilyn (sorry not to reply sooner!). I'm glad to hear you enjoyed this photo. I did enjoy your New Zealand cormorants, Marilyn! They have chosen the same kind of cliff as this one. I wonder if my cormorants have haystack nests inside their caves too?
Dr. Dominic Ebacher, on April 4, 2008, said:
Nawitka,
I am quite sure these are nesting here - although on my island (protection island) the cormorants put up nests on top of a bluff, it could well be that they can do this do to the lack of predators (both presently and historically), whereas cormorants nesting elsewhere look for cliffs to provide security. The other reason for our difference is because the cliffs of my island are quickly eroding, and where nests can be built they are already taken by Rhinoceros Auklets, with no space left for the cormorants to nest.
Also, in our waters there are pelagic and double-breasted cormorants. We might be photographing different species - and they might have different nesting preferences.
Just my thoughts,
Dr. Dominic Ebacher ebacherdom.blogspot.com
Nawitka, on June 24, 2008, said:
Thank you very much Dr. Dominic Ebacher for your very helpful information! I have recently taken another photo of cormorant nests in the cliffs, but in this one some nests are out on the ledges; and I was thrilled to see the haystacks that you showed in your photos. I really appreciate your help. The new photos are on a cliff on Galiano Island, not far from this location.