Bird Island - Brandt’s Cormorant - Part 4

     View From Bird Island Trail

Point Lobos State Preserve - June 27 -  Bird Island - A beautiful half mile trail leads to excellent views of the off shore rocks and the Cormorants.  Coincidentally, it was exactly one year since my last visit.  When I arrived at Bird Island the Cormorants were nesting and feeding their young; compared to last year there was a significant difference in population size.  The photo shows the difference between last year and this year.  Enlarging the image is helpful in seeing details.

                  Top photo 2018 - Lower 2019
The oval depression (below) is the prime real estate on the island and gets filled up quickly with the early nesters.  Many will return to the same nest they occupied the year before.

                                   2018
 Last year the oval area was packed; Brandt’s were everywhere.  This year the prime real estate had ample room to spare (below photo).  Perhaps they nested early, and the birds that I observed are the late comers, or could it be there are just fewer nesting Brandt’s, or last year's rainy season caused a change in their breeding cycle and they nested early.

         
 All by herself - Hopefully her mate is nearby, otherwise survival of her two nestlings is nil.  Nearby, predatory gulls and raptors were waiting for a chance to snatch an egg or a nestling.

I have to admit my recent Bird Island observations have left me in a curfluffled state of mind.  To satisfy my curiosity, I’m thinking that next year, on June 27 I will return to Point Lobos and its intriguing Bird Island.

The Cormorant Saga - Part 3

Point Lobos State Natural Reserve - Hundreds of newly arrived Brown Pelican find respite on Gibson Beach.  On this third and final adventure observing the nesting Brant's Cormorant, I am joined by my friend Cathy from Palm Springs.  Fifty days had passed since my first observation.

Both parents are active in feeding and protecting the young.  The small area around their nest is sacrosanct, anyone getting into their space is firmly scolded, and if not moving off, the invaders are pecked.  Nest tidying, unwanted items such as scraps of food, odd twigs, bits of eggshells, and dead hatchlings are tossed out.  Edible items such as food scraps and dead hatchlings may be eaten.   Included in nest tidying is adding fresh material.

From what I observed the average number of chicks per nest was about 2 - 3.  At 3 weeks of age the chicks are too large to shelter.  The adult stands at the edge of the nest, ready at a moments notice to protect them.   At 6 - 7 weeks adults may leave the nest unguarded but return to feed and roost.  The below photo shows chicks of all sizes.  Chicks will fledge (fly) about 50 days after hatching.  Adults will continue feeding for a couple of weeks after the chicks fledge.  (click on photos to see details)

Below photo - Parents perched on edge of nest.

Quite a few late comers have arrived since my last visit.  They seem to have had no trouble finding nesting sites.  

We discovered several Pelagic Cormorant nests in Brandt's territory.  Notice the large hole in the center of the rock formation, a cozy nesting site for a pair of Pelagic Cormorant.

At Sea Lion Point, a mile north of Bird Island, we checked on the progress of the Pelagic Cormorants.  Three nests had chicks.  The one on the left had small chicks that the parent was sheltering, below photo.  Both Pelagic and Brandt's extend their wings when they have small nestlings.

While looking at the far left nest, below photo, Cathy noticed a Pigeon Guillemot fly out from the left.  We concluded that a Guillemot and a Pelagic can nest in close proximity without a problem.  A portion of the Guillemot's head, bill and white wing patch can be seen.  The nests are roomier than I thought.  The center nest shows two large youngsters, and what are they doing - begging for food.

More than likely this is the last of the Cormorant Saga at Point Lobos Natural Reserve, but I cannot make any promises.  I may return during the rainy season, if we have one.   I am wondering if the low oval on Bird Island (below) is formed by water.   (photo - black specks Cormorants, beige specks Brown Pelicans)

The Cormorant Saga - Part 2

Point Lobos State Natural Preserve - Wednesday Morning 10:30 - after 154 miles, mostly on Highway 101, I found myself looking at probably a couple thousand nesting Brandt's Cormorant.  Thirty-four days had passed since my last visit to the rocky rookery.

 The rookery was bustling with activity.  Some of the juveniles appeared as large, if not larger than their parents, and like typical teenagers they were constantly begging for food.  At first all I saw was a mass of black.  Through binoculars, I began to see the nestlings.  At birth they are without feathers and sightless.  Within a week they are covered with fluffy down.  A nestling, needing to eat frequently, often has its bill extended up toward a parent's neck.  This action will stimulate the parent to regurgitate.  The nestling will feed by inserting its bill into the parent's throat.

I saw more juveniles than little ones because the little ones were tucked away under the adults.  Sometimes a tiny head would appear.  Tending the young is shared by both parents.  Nestlings are dark grey with whiteish speckles, particularly on their wings. (for details click on images)

Can you locate the three juveniles in the center of the above photo?

The nests, glued together with excrement, form a concretion.

         Nestlings lower center of above photo.

On a rock face, below the hustle and bustle of the rookery, was a Black-crowned Night Heron and a solitary Brant's Cormorant.  It was clear to me that they did not believe in the adage, "Birds of a feather flock together."

 

Pelagic Cormorants were located one mile north at Sea Lion Cove.

White excrement marks the nest sites; ten were occupied.  No little ones could be seen.  Compared to the Brandt's, the scene was serene.

In about two weeks I am planning on taking another jaunt to Point Lobos.  Hopefully, Pelagic chicks will be active.  On every visit to the Point Lobos Preserve I have shown my docent, state park pass and entered without having to pay a $9.00 fee.