Hi Everyone,

Saw a strange bird at my pond yesterday. It was the same size of
a woodduck (which is about 3/4 the size of a normal duck), black or VERY
dark blue, had a neck like a goose, and flew into and sat in trees. I'm
thinking it may be a baby herring that hadnt developed it's colors yet. I'm
in western PA zone 5. Any ideas?

Sam

I might have guessed [Double-Crested] Cormorant, except for the size you
mentioned in your earlier post, as cormorants are much bigger than wood
ducks.

Cormorants are generally despised by fishermen across the country; keep in
mind, however, that cormorants are also probably protected under the
Migratory Bird Act (or whatever the name is).

Also, Sam, just a gentle reminder: according to your post in the "walking
bridge" thread above (and your earlier posts about the *amazing* work you
have done on your property!), you've been "developing the area to be a
wildlife reserve."

BTW, I realize this is rec.ponds, so most of us are more concerned with
saving fish, but I think a cormorant or two would pale in comparison to the
damage that swans could do if they find your pond!

Anne Lurie
Raleigh, NC



"Sam Hopkins" wrote in message
...
Yeah it looks like it was a cormorant. I'm going to find it's nest
tomorrow
after work. They're a fish eater *GASP*.


"T. Barnes" wrote in message
...


Sam Hopkins wrote:

Hi Everyone,

Saw a strange bird at my pond yesterday. It was the same
size of
a woodduck (which is about 3/4 the size of a normal duck), black or
VERY
dark blue, had a neck like a goose, and flew into and sat in trees.
I'm
thinking it may be a baby herring that hadnt developed it's colors
yet.
I'm
in western PA zone 5. Any ideas?

Sam

A night heron? I have one on my farm pond nesting this year, they do
perch in
trees but I usually seem them lurking around the edges in underbrush. Do
a
Google search for heron pictures.
BTW...they eat fish.
jtb

If it goes for the fish it's gone, I don't care what color.
Use brooms, snow shovels, ect.


"Sam Hopkins" wrote in message
...
Roybn emailed that it may be a cormorant and I think it is. More info to
come.

Sam

"Sam Hopkins" wrote in message
...
Hi Everyone,

Saw a strange bird at my pond yesterday. It was the same
size
of
a woodduck (which is about 3/4 the size of a normal duck), black or VERY
dark blue, had a neck like a goose, and flew into and sat in trees. I'm
thinking it may be a baby herring that hadnt developed it's colors yet.
I'm
in western PA zone 5. Any ideas?

Sam

I might have guessed [Double-Crested] Cormorant, except for the size you
mentioned in your earlier post, as cormorants are much bigger than wood
ducks.

Cormorants are generally despised by fishermen across the country; keep in
mind, however, that cormorants are also probably protected under the
Migratory Bird Act (or whatever the name is).

Also, Sam, just a gentle reminder: according to your post in the "walking
bridge" thread above (and your earlier posts about the *amazing* work you
have done on your property!), you've been "developing the area to be a
wildlife reserve."

BTW, I realize this is rec.ponds, so most of us are more concerned with
saving fish, but I think a cormorant or two would pale in comparison to the
damage that swans could do if they find your pond!

Anne Lurie
Raleigh, NC



"Sam Hopkins" wrote in message
...
Yeah it looks like it was a cormorant. I'm going to find it's nest
tomorrow
after work. They're a fish eater *GASP*.


"T. Barnes" wrote in message
...


Sam Hopkins wrote:

Hi Everyone,

Saw a strange bird at my pond yesterday. It was the same
size of
a woodduck (which is about 3/4 the size of a normal duck), black or
VERY
dark blue, had a neck like a goose, and flew into and sat in trees.
I'm
thinking it may be a baby herring that hadnt developed it's colors
yet.
I'm
in western PA zone 5. Any ideas?

Sam

A night heron? I have one on my farm pond nesting this year, they do
perch in
trees but I usually seem them lurking around the edges in underbrush. Do
a
Google search for heron pictures.
BTW...they eat fish.
jtb

If it goes for the fish it's gone, I don't care what color.
Use brooms, snow shovels, ect.


"Sam Hopkins" wrote in message
...
Roybn emailed that it may be a cormorant and I think it is. More info to
come.

Sam

"Sam Hopkins" wrote in message
...
Hi Everyone,

Saw a strange bird at my pond yesterday. It was the same
size
of
a woodduck (which is about 3/4 the size of a normal duck), black or VERY
dark blue, had a neck like a goose, and flew into and sat in trees. I'm
thinking it may be a baby herring that hadnt developed it's colors yet.
I'm
in western PA zone 5. Any ideas?

Sam

Try looking for the Green Heron it is much smaller and darker. There
also is a lesser blue heron that is smaller. Go to the link below and
than change the last 5 numbers to your zip code to see the birds in
that family in your area.
http://www.enature.com/localguide/lo...ipco de=08742

"Sam Hopkins" wrote in message
...
Thanks for the input but that's not him. This sucker was black and
the night
heron has white in it.

"T. Barnes" wrote in message
...


Sam Hopkins wrote:

Hi Everyone,

Saw a strange bird at my pond yesterday. It was the
same
size of
a woodduck (which is about 3/4 the size of a normal duck), black
or VERY
dark blue, had a neck like a goose, and flew into and sat in
trees. I'm
thinking it may be a baby herring that hadnt developed it's
colors yet.
I'm
in western PA zone 5. Any ideas?

Sam

A night heron? I have one on my farm pond nesting this year,
they do
perch in
trees but I usually seem them lurking around the edges in
underbrush. Do a
Google search for heron pictures.
BTW...they eat fish.
jtb

Sam Hopkins wrote:
Thanks for the input but that's not him. This sucker was black and the night
heron has white in it.

"T. Barnes" wrote in message
...


Sam Hopkins wrote:


Hi Everyone,

Saw a strange bird at my pond yesterday. It was the same

size of

a woodduck (which is about 3/4 the size of a normal duck), black or VERY
dark blue, had a neck like a goose, and flew into and sat in trees. I'm
thinking it may be a baby herring that hadnt developed it's colors yet.

I'm

in western PA zone 5. Any ideas?

Sam

A night heron? I have one on my farm pond nesting this year, they do

perch in

trees but I usually seem them lurking around the edges in underbrush. Do a
Google search for heron pictures.
BTW...they eat fish.
jtb






Then I think it may be a green heron. But that one doesn't
have a goose neck. In fact, it's neck it short, but the
size is about the same as a wood duck.

--
Bonnie
NJ
http://home.earthlink.net/~maebe43/

Sam Hopkins wrote:
Roybn emailed that it may be a cormorant and I think it is. More info to
come.

Sam

"Sam Hopkins" wrote in message
...

Hi Everyone,

Saw a strange bird at my pond yesterday. It was the same size

of

a woodduck (which is about 3/4 the size of a normal duck), black or VERY
dark blue, had a neck like a goose, and flew into and sat in trees. I'm
thinking it may be a baby herring that hadnt developed it's colors yet.

I'm

in western PA zone 5. Any ideas?

Sam






Didn't think of that. We have them at the local reservoir.
Neat bird to watch. They dive deep and come up at a great
distance from where they enter the water. I had forgotten
the size of your pond/lake ;-)

--
Bonnie
NJ
http://home.earthlink.net/~maebe43/

Welp cormorants are pretty big birds and this sucker was only the size of a
wood duck. It's possible it was an immature one or a immature Glossy Ibis
since it's "dark" and has a goose neck also. I dont remember the beak being
that big though. I'm gonna try to track it down and find it's nest and see
if I can get a better look with some binoculars.

I did see a few weeks ago in the field a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron which
was AMAZING.

I dont mind these birds living there I had just hoped it would be later
rather than sooner. I just stocked the pond a few weeks ago and was hoping
to get the fish population started before predators moved in. =(


"Sam Hopkins" wrote in message
...
Hi Everyone,

Saw a strange bird at my pond yesterday. It was the same size
of
a woodduck (which is about 3/4 the size of a normal duck), black or VERY
dark blue, had a neck like a goose, and flew into and sat in trees. I'm
thinking it may be a baby herring that hadnt developed it's colors yet.
I'm
in western PA zone 5. Any ideas?

Sam

Bonnie Espenshade wrote:
Sam Hopkins wrote:

Roybn emailed that it may be a cormorant and I think it is. More info to
come.

Sam

"Sam Hopkins" wrote in message
...

Hi Everyone,

Saw a strange bird at my pond yesterday. It was the same size


of

a woodduck (which is about 3/4 the size of a normal duck), black or VERY
dark blue, had a neck like a goose, and flew into and sat in trees. I'm
thinking it may be a baby herring that hadnt developed it's colors yet.


I'm

in western PA zone 5. Any ideas?

Sam






Didn't think of that. We have them at the local reservoir. Neat bird
to watch. They dive deep and come up at a great distance from where
they enter the water. I had forgotten the size of your pond/lake ;-)


Forget what I said. My head isn't working this morning. I
was thinking of a loon! That's the one that dives and comes
up far away!


--
Bonnie
NJ
http://home.earthlink.net/~maebe43/

Roybn emailed that it may be a cormorant and I think it is. More info to
come.

Sam

"Sam Hopkins" wrote in message
...
Hi Everyone,

Saw a strange bird at my pond yesterday. It was the same size
of
a woodduck (which is about 3/4 the size of a normal duck), black or VERY
dark blue, had a neck like a goose, and flew into and sat in trees. I'm
thinking it may be a baby herring that hadnt developed it's colors yet.
I'm
in western PA zone 5. Any ideas?

Sam

Thanks for the input but that's not him. This sucker was black and the night
heron has white in it.

"T. Barnes" wrote in message
...


Sam Hopkins wrote:

Hi Everyone,

Saw a strange bird at my pond yesterday. It was the same
size of
a woodduck (which is about 3/4 the size of a normal duck), black or VERY
dark blue, had a neck like a goose, and flew into and sat in trees. I'm
thinking it may be a baby herring that hadnt developed it's colors yet.
I'm
in western PA zone 5. Any ideas?

Sam

A night heron? I have one on my farm pond nesting this year, they do
perch in
trees but I usually seem them lurking around the edges in underbrush. Do a
Google search for heron pictures.
BTW...they eat fish.
jtb

Sam Hopkins wrote:

Hi Everyone,

Saw a strange bird at my pond yesterday. It was the same size of
a woodduck (which is about 3/4 the size of a normal duck), black or VERY
dark blue, had a neck like a goose, and flew into and sat in trees. I'm
thinking it may be a baby herring that hadnt developed it's colors yet. I'm
in western PA zone 5. Any ideas?

Sam

A night heron? I have one on my farm pond nesting this year, they do perch in
trees but I usually seem them lurking around the edges in underbrush. Do a
Google search for heron pictures.
BTW...they eat fish.
jtb

Yeah it looks like it was a cormorant. I'm going to find it's nest tomorrow
after work. They're a fish eater *GASP*.


"T. Barnes" wrote in message
...


Sam Hopkins wrote:

Hi Everyone,

Saw a strange bird at my pond yesterday. It was the same
size of
a woodduck (which is about 3/4 the size of a normal duck), black or VERY
dark blue, had a neck like a goose, and flew into and sat in trees. I'm
thinking it may be a baby herring that hadnt developed it's colors yet.
I'm
in western PA zone 5. Any ideas?

Sam

A night heron? I have one on my farm pond nesting this year, they do
perch in
trees but I usually seem them lurking around the edges in underbrush. Do a
Google search for heron pictures.
BTW...they eat fish.
jtb