Winter Double-crested Cormorant – Nikon D500, f10, 1/800, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Every winter since I moved to northern Utah in 2009 I have found a few Double-crested Cormorants overwintering at my local ponds but this winter has been very different. This winter has been warmer than normal and there has been less snow in the valley than is typical yet I haven’t seen a Double-crested Cormorant on the ponds in months.
Last winter I saw from one to six cormorants when I’d go down to my local ponds and when I would head to the West Desert I would usually see a few on the water of the ponds near the northern most points of the Oquirrh Mountains next to I-80 as well. I haven’t this winter though and it puzzles me.
I’ve checked out other locations where I have spotted overwintering Double-crested Cormorants through the years and haven’t found any there either.
About one year ago there was plenty of snow on the ground, the temps were below freezing and I photographed this adult Double-crested Cormorant as it rest on the bank of one of my local ponds. This was only one of four cormorants I saw that February morning, the other three were on the water fishing when I aimed my lens at this bird.
With a colder, harsher winter I would expect to see fewer Double-crested Cormorants overwintering here in northern Utah but this winter hasn’t been that harsh at all. In fact, it has been fairly mild.
It just seems odd and I wonder where they have been.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Double-crested Cormorant photos plus facts and information about this species.
That is interesting as the Double-crested Cormorants have not been seen here near Castlegar in the South Eastern part of BC, sort of North of Spokane, Washington this year at all. We usually photograph them in the early part of February.
Odd. In all my years birding in UT I observed cormorants over wintering.
I am sorry that you are missing your friends this season, and hope that they are surviving and thiving elsewhere.
I live in Spokane, WA and have seen cormorants on the Spokane River all winter. We, too, have had a mild winter. Maybe ours didn’t fly south this year?
I appreciate the points you make about the birds. It is very cold here, maybe the weather in surrounding areas make a difference. Great shot!
Interesting observation about the Cormorants. It will be interesting to see if they return in future years or not. Thanks for sharing.
Last year we learned that North America has lost approximately one-third of all its birds.
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/3-billion-birds-lost-since-1970-north-america
What exactly changed the number of Cormorants in one area of Utah? Perhaps too complex to ascertain… But we can help turn this number around by not using chemicals in our yards and planting local plants that provide food and shelter for our local birds…