Of all the things that seemed important, one was a book. A small field guide of Illinois birds. Its pages have been turned and returned many times and the cover is nearly loose from its spine.
Funny thing about birds, they do not know there are state lines, or boundaries, and fly wherever they wish.
The return trip was greeted with a wonderful sight. Bluebirds. Eastern Bluebirds, which makes sense, North Carolina is definitely east. The trees beyond the patio were full of them, busily scouring the pine needles in search of a tasty morsel.
The pond, Beaver Lake....silly city names, had a new visitor. It was an odd looking avian and the pages of the field guide began to flutter. Found it......a Double Crested Cormorant. Not the fairest of birds to admire and its Latin name literally means "Sea Crow". The field guide stated that the Double Crested Cormorant will strike a pose with wings outstretched, facing the sun, to dry off. It also said they are often seen flying in a large V-formation and roosting in large groups in trees near water. Not this incongruous Cormorant, this one is a loner.
He shows up early each morning, when the water is empty of all activity. He dives for breakfast, staying under the surface for nearly 20 seconds and resurfaces far from his initial entry. Then, he waits, and he waits, and he waits.
He waits for the geese, the Canadian honkers, to come and break the smooth surface of the water with many a beating wing and the occasional plop of a failed landing. Sometimes he waits for hours, but he is patient and almost seems excited at their arrival. Because then it is time for some fun.
The incongruous Cormorant likes to play "Duck, Duck, Goose" and takes full advantage of the last word in the game. He disappears from sight and comes up under as many unsuspecting geese as possibly possible. Their reaction is as hilarious as his antics.
Then, this brown bird with the long snake-like neck, does something that is truly incongruous.... he stays. He stays all day, with the geese. He swims with them, and sits on the bank with them. Sometimes he stands with wings stretched out to the sun and the geese do not seem to mind. They seem to have forgotten his most unfavorable game of goosing a goose.
Just before sunset, the geese began to gather in formation and fly out of Beaver Lake, always heading to the north. When the water is still and the incongruous Cormorant is satisfied they are not coming back, he takes flight. It takes him three revolutions around the perimeter of this water hole to gain enough elevation to clear the surrounding trees. On the third turn, he always heads to the east.
Where he comes from or where he goes is anyone's guess. Maybe he decided he needed a new set of friends. Perhaps he had always aspired to be a goose. Whatever the reason, this drab colored Sea Crow does not see any racial lines drawn between himself and the rest of the bird world.
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