Let's learn about these birds during their breeding season.
Some time ago, I posted some pictures of Great Egrets nesting in a bird rookery close to my home. I’ve been keeping an eye on this rookery for the entire bird nesting season and taking pleasure in observing various species courting, nesting, and raising their young there, such as Wood Storks, Little Blue Herons, Tricolored Herons, and Anhingas.
Anhingas are commonly found in freshwater wetlands throughout the southeastern United States, as well as Central and South America. These birds, scientifically known as Anhinga anhinga, share a resemblance with cormorants but can be distinguished by their slender bill and spread-out tail when flying. When swimming, the anhinga sits lower in the water than its cormorant counterparts, causing only its neck to emerge, resulting in its nickname “snakebird”. It’s not uncommon for both anhingas and cormorants to bask in the sun with their wings outstretched.
When it’s time for the anhinga birds to mate, you’ll notice something interesting about the male. He grows additional crest feathers on his head and his eye area may turn a vibrant emerald green color.
The male anhinga starts the courtship process by flying high in the air and gliding around the vicinity until he finds a suitable location for nest-building.
Next, he busts out some impressive maneuvers, gracefully oscillating his wings and bowing his head while lifting his tail towards the heavens.
When the female agrees, the male provides nesting supplies for her to construct a platform, which is usually located in a tree or bush hanging over the water. The couple then takes turns incubating the eggs for a duration of around 30 days.
Anhingas often prefer to nest in colonies during bird nesting season instead of being solitary. These colonies are usually composed of diverse waterbirds. Despite being territorial when it comes to selecting a nest location, they generally get along with other birds nearby as long as they don’t directly interfere with the nest.
