Since I used to ride the Edmonds ferry every day in commute I can verify
that they are regular on the pilings. Throughout the summer I found a pair
on the pilings in breeding plumage and one adult would always be hunkered
down on the piling. Although its not normal, this seems suspect for
possible breeding, though I never saw an egg. Can anybody confirm nesting
of these birds?

Scott Downes
sdownes at u.washington.edu
Seattle WA



On Wed, 5 Nov 1997, Martin Muller wrote:

> Bob Boekelheide, Tweeters,
>
> You wrote (among other interesting things):
>
> snip
>
> >As for roosting sites, Brandt's Cormorants seem to have a strong
> >preference for rock under their feet. Their favorite perches are
> >definitely offshore rocks. I have very rarely seen them on logs, such as
> >in Port Angeles harbor, and I have never seen them on piers or pilings
> >such as used by Pelagics and Double-cresteds.
>
> snip
>
> My best look at Brandt's Cormorants was after getting on the Edmonds to
> Kingston (WA) ferry, one very early morning (in April '92). Right there on the
> pilings next to the ferry. Don't know if they roosted there, but morning
> flights were only just starting. Pictures of the birds' faces turned out
> moderately Okay, due to slow shutter speed and boat vibration. Great look
> though and speaking of gorgeous details...because of the low light, the most
> photogenic bird's eye (the one turned to the camera) was a deep, deep
> saturated blue.
>
> Seems that almost every time someone says they "never" see something, someone
> else reports seeing just that. Makes for very tedious reading; all those
> caveats.... :^)
>
> Martin Muller
> Seattle, WA
> MartinMuller at classic.msn.com
>
>