Attacked by a cormonant (bird that can swim underwater)

[bgill]

That bird woulda felt the wrath of the "three-prong" - I don't get mad...I get EVEN!!!!

Here in the states in some parts there are so many Comorants that they are killing fish populations with thier poop!!!!

[shoutatthesky]

Here is the friendly fella I ran into. It didn't seem very worried about me at all.

Check out the hook on the beak!

[penguinator]

Has anyone even to bothered to think that the explanation is as simple as - the bird simply didn't like you? Maybe you were strutting around in a particularly arrogant manner that insulted his delicate sensibilities, or maybe you made a particularly racist remark towards his species? Either way I think most people can agree with me, when I say that the victim here is obviously the poor bird.



I was diving quite shallow (5-10m) the other day, and one of those actually appeared out of the weed right next to me and swam off. A bird is definitely one of the last things you would expect to see diving

[trux]

Originally Posted by penguinator

... A bird is definitely one of the last things you would expect to see diving

Yes, that's really amazing. One would expect they'd be happy with their ability to master the air element, but no, they have to show us they are better underwater too.

However, those who saw Albert's Hitchcock movie The Birds aren't surprised at all about this story. We know very well, that if the little bastards decide to take you out, nothing will stop them, not even water.

birds-camp%20eye.jpg

BTW, paradoxically, birds when diving, take advantage of the same diving reflex as mammalians do (bradycardia, selective vasoconstriction). And of course, they also dive on empty lungs. They are probably still quite buoyant anyway and have to use their initial velocity and/or propulsion to overcome it, but otherwise they'd pop up like a cork immediately.

There are some documents about it on the web, but unfortunately many of them require a subscription:
Diving physiology of birds: a history of studies on polar species
Journal of Applied Physiology -- Sign In Page
http://www.iworx.com/LabExercises/lo...Reflex-LS2.pdf

If you enter "diving reflex birds" into Google, you'll find quite a few other links though.

[Mayol]

one of the funniest story I ever heard

you made my day better thx !! xD

But seriously, attacking you at 50' sounds crazy ???!
What a cormoran !

[kevin sheets]

Thats a great story! I dive here in New England, and we have a lot of Cormonants here. I never had one do that. Are you sure it wasn't trying to mate with you? hehehehe just kidding I would like to see your encounter on video.
I have had the sea gulls get really aggressive with their nesting sites. I honestly believe they can crap on target!
Kevin

[naiad]

Originally Posted by kevin sheets

I have had the sea gulls get really aggressive with their nesting sites. I honestly believe they can crap on target!

I think they do. Some seabirds such as fulmars also vomit on target.

[freediver blue]

Originally Posted by naiad

I think they do. Some seabirds such as fulmars also vomit on target.

They vomit on there target !!! thats crazy