Anhinga at the Pond
by Deborah Benoit
Title
Anhinga at the Pond
Artist
Deborah Benoit
Medium
Painting - Original Photography By Deborah Benoit
Description
In Port Orange, Florida there are several ponds. You will usually find an Anhinga or two hanging out there basking in the sun or fishing. I love to watch them. And if you get too close they will start making this weird sound to let you know to back off.
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In order to dive and search for underwater prey, including fish and amphibians, the anhinga does not have waterproof feathers, (unlike ducks, which coat their feathers with oil from their uropygial gland. Because the anhinga is thus barely buoyant, it can stay below the surface more easily and for longer periods of time.
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If it attempts to fly while its wings are wet, the anhinga has difficulty, flapping vigorously while "running" on the water. As do cormorants when drying their feathers, the anhinga will stand with wings spread and feathers fanned open in a semicircular shape, resembling a male meleagrine, which led to the anhinga being referred to colloquially as the "water turkey."
Uploaded
February 3rd, 2015
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