Three Little Birds...

Well, they are not really so little. The much loved Bob Marley song which tells us "Don't Worry about a thing, 'Cause every little thing gonna be alright" came to mind when we took this photo of these three Cormorants.

Photos and Story By J.C. Martin For WestportLocalPress.com

Cormorants like these can often be spotted sitting on the large log which has sat in the middle of the Saugatuck, just north of the Ruth Steinkraus Cohen bridge for several years now. It is a frequent resting spot for these large, black birds with the orange spots on their faces. The Cormorant most common in North America is typically 27.6-35.4 inches long and weighs 42.3-88.2 ounces , with a wingspan of 44.9-48.4 inches.

There is a reason they are all sitting on the log with their wings open. They are not waterfowl, like ducks. Water just "rolls off a ducks back" as we all know. This occurs because of the physical structure of their feathers in additional to a special oil they secret which coats their feathers making them fairly waterproof. Cormorants on the other hand have feathers that absorb water, which helps them dive more easily by reducing buoyancy. This is why you often see them perched with their wings spread out, drying their feathers after a dive. 

These three likely just finished several dives to feed. Cormorants are skilled at catching fish, using their long, hooked bills to snag prey and their webbed feet to maneuver underwater. Some species have even been trained by humans to help with fishing, says Quark Expeditions. When watching them in the water you will see them disappear as they dive and come up some distance from where they dove. Cormorants can stay underwater for up to 2 minutes while hunting for food, though most dives are shorter, typically around 30-70 seconds. Although not common they can actually dive to depths of 25 feet or more.

We borrowed this musical addition technique that we love from Dan Woog, 06880 blog. Always worth a listen, this song inspiration is often linked to Marley's appreciation for nature and the joy he found in the songs of small birds, which he saw as messengers of positivity.

Here are links to Bob Marley and The Wailers, Three Little Birds: Album Version

And also, here is the Official Music Video which has a wonderful animation sequence

You can learn more about the story of this much loved Marley song here: ‘Three Little Birds’: The Story Behind Bob Marley’s Slow-Burning Classic