tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post5532972682669951112..comments2024-03-29T01:41:15.713+00:00Comments on Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park birds: Ralph Hancockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-10594771892591393982014-12-28T08:46:05.261+00:002014-12-28T08:46:05.261+00:00Oh gosh!!! Yes, I did notice that Ralph, but deci...Oh gosh!!! Yes, I did notice that Ralph, but decided tactfully not to mention it. :)Cathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09683657915069578017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-85470139269757835292014-12-27T23:59:35.205+00:002014-12-27T23:59:35.205+00:00Someone on that Guardian page suggests eating Corm...Someone on that <i>Guardian</i> page suggests eating Cormorants. Here is the <a href="http://www.guy-sports.com/humor/stories/strange_cormorant_recipe.htm" rel="nofollow">classic recipe</a>. Perhaps worse, <a href="http://cormorants.freehostia.com/cormo_receipts.htm" rel="nofollow">these ones</a> seem to be seriously meant.Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-90047672487864923662014-12-27T22:35:36.652+00:002014-12-27T22:35:36.652+00:00I regularly see cormorants perched on little islan...I regularly see cormorants perched on little islands in the River Thames, at Henley. Are they breeding there, or just flying in for a morsel?<br /><br />There is a report here (repeated elsewhere) about the problems of cormorants migrating inland. http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/aug/11/anglers-cormorants-cullCathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09683657915069578017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-77299191736623824102014-12-27T21:42:13.164+00:002014-12-27T21:42:13.164+00:00I'm wondering why cormorants wouldn't alwa...I'm wondering why cormorants wouldn't always have bred inland. A lack of fish in slow moving water before people created many stocked lakes? Predation, competition with ospreys? Jim n.L.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-35263657174020746452014-12-27T20:18:44.653+00:002014-12-27T20:18:44.653+00:00I like your honesty :) It is a fascinating busine...I like your honesty :) It is a fascinating business, trying to puzzle out bird behaviour.Cathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09683657915069578017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-22369362494159513072014-12-27T19:25:00.674+00:002014-12-27T19:25:00.674+00:00I really don't know. I used to believe the fea...I really don't know. I used to believe the feather-drying theory implicitly, and then along came another convincing theory, and now I am as confused as anyone.Ralph Hancockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11686354797977020917noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8278510471239667560.post-39934193180049231082014-12-27T18:36:54.847+00:002014-12-27T18:36:54.847+00:00I had a long debate about the cormorant issue. Th...I had a long debate about the cormorant issue. There are other theories for the spread-wing posture.<br /><br />This is one point of view: "Cormorants apparently use spread-wing postures only for drying their wings and not for thermoregulation. Although cormorant plumage also retains water, only the outer portion of the feathers is wettable, so an insulating layer of air next to the skin is maintained when cormorants swim underwater. This difference in feather structure may explain why cormorants can spend more time foraging in the water than Anhingas, and why cormorants can inhabit cooler climes, while the Anhinga is restricted to tropical and subtropical waters." <br /><br />What do you think Ralph?Cathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09683657915069578017noreply@blogger.com