The Baird Cormorant 



tail — that is, if that useful member can be spared from its frequent 

 duty of assisting the bird to maintain a precarious foothold on some 

 slight projection of the cliff side. Now and then also the bird voids 

 vigorously, distributing an impartial whitewash over all surrounding 

 objects. 



When the birds of a colony quit their nests, they launch out swiftly, 

 wagging their heads from side to side if the danger is above them. They 

 may join the puffins and gulls for a few rounds of inspection, but oftener 

 they settle in the water at some distance from the shore, a large com- 

 pany of them looking and acting very much like a flock of black geese. 

 It requires quite an effort on the bird's part to rise from the water, but 

 this is done with a single motion of the wings, unassisted by the feet, as 

 would be the case with heavy ducks and loons. If the Shag has been 

 diving, it may burst out of the water with the acquired impetus of the 

 chase ; and once under way, its flight is swift and vigorous and not alto- 

 gether ungraceful. 



Baird Cormorants are late nesters. Fresh eggs may be taken by the 



Taken in Washington 

 Photo by the Author 



A POPULAR NESTING SITE 



NESTS OF THREE SPECIES OF SHAGS 

 OCCUPY THIS POINT 



1959 



