Google wasn't my friend on this one so lets see if the sages of this forum have the answer.

Just watched HUGE flock of Cormorants fly past - would guess at 10 000 to 30 000 birds. They then settled on the sea in a ginormous raft.

Anybody know why they do this, it's not for feeding purposes as there is no sign of Gannets, fish, etc. (unless they are ganging up to hunt the whales who are also around ) nor is it for migration as they are not seasonal.

They seem to do this a couple of times a year, where they come from in such numbers who knows, as normally there are only a couple of hundred around.

wiki linky

I suppose it simply because as these birds usually come together in huge groups when on land they'd be expected to do the same when landing on the sea...?

probably also a lot easier for flying birds to see a huge group all floating together on a big ocean from far away.

Certainly the first time this tropic has come up on Locost Builders

[Edited on 13/8/09 by Mr Whippy]

Saw a great program the other week about millions of sardines moving up the coast of S A and the predators waiting for them to arrive. Could the cormorants be part of this, although you seem a little west.

quote:

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Originally posted by PAULD
Saw a great program the other week about millions of sardines moving up the coast of S A and the predators waiting for them to arrive. Could the cormorants be part of this, although you seem a little west.

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So the cormorants must know something that the others don't