A male cormorant waves his wings protectively over his mate, cooling her and the chicks against an unforgiving sun.

It was blisteringly hot that day. The stillness added a cloud of white-washed humidity that the birds were not finding comfortable. Their large nests, built on a stack of twigs, were located in a regular breeding spot, usually tempered by the fresh sea breeze that regularly blew in from the western shoreline nearby. They were in the perfect location to form a breeding colony. But today was different. As the heat set in, the uncomfortable squawks of the resident cormorants died down. Saving their energy, they positioned themselves in their nests with their backs to the sun. Those with mates and chicks covered what they could with their wings, while others simply stuck their heads under their wings.

On one of the uppermost nests, a male cormorant landed, placing himself behind his mate and spreading his wings out every now and then, offering some shaded relief to his family. Occasionally, he flapped his wings over them in an effort to press some cool air against the insatiable heat that pounded down on their nest. Over the day, the protective wrap mixed with his flapping seemed to help, allowing them to get through the day and eventually enjoy the respite of the cooler late afternoon, when once again the cries of the colony and its feeding activity resumed and the fresh sea breeze returned.

The Cape Cormorant is officially listed as endangered.

Feathered Friends Collection

Welcome to our feathered friends, with their flights of fancy, twitchers' delight, and the lightest touch.

Ever-present in our lives, birds fill the skies, settle in tree branches, and thrive on the ground. Their movements fill us with delight and awe, and their silence is broken by delightful songs or anxious craws. This collection celebrates these moments in time with our feathered friends.