Double-Crested Cormorant
What a strange looking bird you say? Well, this is a double-crested cormorant! It is a young bird, hatched this year. When its adult feathers come in, they will all be a rich black color. Double-crested cormorants were previously on the endangered species list in Illinois, but their populations are increasing in the state and the species is no longer considered at risk of vanishing. Cormorants love to swim! They dive under water and capture fish with their hooked bill. They bring the fish to the surface of the water, flip the fish into the air, and swallow it head first!
This cormorant arrived at Willowbrook from another wildlife rehabilitation center with a shoulder injury. The injury is improving, but staff is not sure if it will improve well enough for the bird to fly. We are looking at nature centers and zoos that may be able to display the bird for educational purposes.
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