I did not take the picture above, but it is of a double-breasted cormorant and there has been one hanging out on south of the lake. It has been feeding in the lake and resting on my neighbors’ pier with a couple of female mallards. This type of cormorant, the only one found in Illinois, was put on the endangered list in 1974 when only 12 nests were counted along the Mississippi River in Carroll County, but has been making a comeback in recent years. Although the bird resembles a loon in the water it is actually a relative of the pelican. Of the five types of cormorants in the U.S. it is the only type that has moved inland, from the coastal waters, to build its nest and reside during the summer months. So, it is just visiting on its way to someplace else, but is nice to see around.
Submitted by Bonnie Marron