Shag

Shag

Phalacrocorax aristotelis

The shag is widely distributed on the western coast of the Murmansk region, in Norway, Iceland, the British Isles, Ireland, the coast of Western Europe as far as the islands of the Mediterranean and also on the coast of southeastern Europe. In some places it is resident, in others a dispersive bird. It is found exclusively on seacoasts, mainly ones with steep rocky cliffs. In winter it is also found on the coasts of the North and Baltic seas. Only rarely does it stray inland. It nests in looser colonies than the common cormorant. The nest, made of seaweed, grass, leaves and small twigs, is placed on rock ledges. As a rule the female lays two to six eggs between the beginning of April and end of June, which the partners take turns incubating for thirty to thirty-two days. Within half an hour of hatching the young are already clamoring for food, which the parents give them three to four times daily. The young feed by thrusting their heads into the throats of the parent birds. They remain in the nest for 47 to 50 days and then take to the water, though they are as yet unable to fly. They begin to try their wings at the age of 55 to 58 days. The rate of mortality among the young is high as many as eighty percent may die during the first year, whereas that of adult birds is around fourteen percent. The shag feeds exclusively on fish, for which it dives to depths of twenty meters.

Size of egg	56.6-74.6X34.9-41.7 mm
Length	76 cm. Male and female have similar plumage.
Voice	Usual note a loud, rasping croak

Cormorant

Cormorant

phalacrocorax carbo

Cormorants breed over Asia, Europe and North America, In Europe, the species is found in large numbers on coasts but also inland on rivers and lakes. Both a dispersive and a migratory bird, when migrating it keeps close to the shore, It nest, as well as in trees, and the gatherings may number several thousand pairs of birds. Inland, cormorants can be found breeding in heroines.

Nests on rock ledges are only sparingly lined, nests in trees are woven of twigs and grass stems.

The bird may build a new nest using the foundation of an old one. Both partners take part in the construction, in tree colonies breaking twigs with their strong beaks. The female lays three to five eggs between April and June, both partners taking turns to incubate for 23 to 29 days. The chicks do not open their eyes until three days after hatching. Food is taken from the parent’s throats. After 35 to 56 days in the nest, the juvenile birds form flocks and range widely together with the adult birds. Cormorants feed mostly on fish, occasionally on crustaceans, and especially crabs, which it may catch in great numbers. They hunt in small groups, say eight birds, harrying the fish into a compact shoal, pursuing their prey underwater. Undigested bones and scales are regurgitated. In parts of their range, cormorants will be found in company with pelicans.

Size of egg	56.2-70.8 X 33.8-44.4mm
Length	91.5 cm. Male and female have similar plumage.
Voice	Various guttural groans.

Gannet

Gannet

Sula bassana

In Europe, gannets breed on the coasts of Ireland, England, Scotland, Brittany, Norway, Ice Land, Faroes and other small island in the area. This is a truly pelagic species which spend most of its life on the open sea, although young birds occasionally stray inland. The birds arrive at their breeding grounds between February and early April,

forming enormous breeding colonies (one, in the Outer Hebrides, is 70,000 strong), generally on rocky island, on an open, elevated spot. The nest is made of seaweed, Grass and pieces of wood and there may be as many as two or three to a square meter. The female lays a single, thick-shelled egg, which both partners incubate in turns for 39 to 46 days. Sometimes the chick takes more than a day to peck its way out, and up to another three days before opening its eyes. Covered With a thin coat of down and having a fantastic appetite, it is fed by the adult birds day and night, taking food by thrusting its head right into gannet’s throat. By 11 weeks the chick weighs a kilogram more than an adult. It abandons the nest at 75 days, as yet incapable of flight, but able to swim. Sometimes it travels as far as 70 kilometers from the colony before taking to the air, usually between 95 and 107 days. Having abandoned the colony, a young gannet must fend for itself, which it does by catching herring, mackerel and sardines. An excellent diver, it hunts by day and night.

(Migratory bird)

Size of egg	62.0-87.5X41.0-54.0 mm
Length	91.5 cm. Male and female have similar plumage.
Voice	Usually a barking sound ‘arrah’ and similar noises.