Sea Diving Cormorant

Wow, it makes me wonder how deep the Neotropic and Double-crested Cormorants at Arizona's lakes might be diving!?!

From AudubonMagazine.org, Aug. 4th, 2012 ~

Imagine plunging 150 feet down into the ocean in 40 seconds. Cool, right? Now imagine propelling yourself down through the water with wings. New video footage reveals that that is exactly how the imperial cormorant, a South American seabird, hunts for fish.

Researchers from the Wildlife Conservation Society fitted one lucky cormorant with a tiny camera to observe its feeding behavior for the first time. The cormorant dived an amazing 150 feet down to the seafloor in 40 seconds, fed on the bottom for 80 seconds, and returned to the surface just as quickly with a fish. The camera is strapped to the cormorant’s back, and viewers can see the bird’s head bob along as it propels itself to the seafloor.

Birding at the Mall?!!

There's a hidden treasure at Tempe Marketplace (Rio Salado Parkway & McClintock) - a wheelchair accessible riparian preserve! Park in the northwestern-most parking lot, and head toward the wide, hard packed gravel ramp leading up to a long fenced path. The path offers great views of the Tempe Marsh Riparian area east of Tempe Town Lake. Be sure to bring your binocs to get a good look at the egrets, blue heron, cormorants, shore birds, ducks, coots and occasional osprey or hawk. Don't forget to look up at the billboards along the path - you may see a hawk looking back at you.

***UPDATE*** See NEW Photos taken after record rainfall, and Salt River Project releases along the upper Salt River, flooded the Tempe Marsh area. Last 3 images in slide show are photos taken on Jan 23, 2010.