Cormorant Hunts for Prey at Westlake Pond

Skilled diving bird spotted searching underwater at Santa Cruz nature site.

Mar. 28, 2026 at 9:28pm

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A cormorant was photographed this week sticking its head into the water at Westlake Pond in Santa Cruz, California. Cormorants are highly skilled, visual diving birds that hunt by chasing fish underwater, often diving over 25 feet deep and holding their breath for over a minute.

Why it matters

Cormorants are an important part of the local ecosystem in Santa Cruz, playing a key role in the aquatic food chain by preying on fish. Observing their hunting behavior provides insights into the health and biodiversity of the Westlake Pond habitat.

The details

The cormorant was photographed this week using its hooked beak and strong webbed feet to propel itself underwater in search of prey. Cormorants sometimes work in groups to herd fish, demonstrating their advanced hunting strategies.

  • The photograph was taken this week at Westlake Pond in Santa Cruz, California.

The players

Cormorant

A highly skilled, visual diving bird that hunts by chasing fish underwater, often diving over 25 feet deep and holding its breath for over a minute.

Westlake Pond

A nature site located in Santa Cruz, California where the cormorant was photographed hunting for prey.

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The takeaway

Observing the hunting behavior of cormorants at Westlake Pond provides valuable insights into the local ecosystem and the important role these birds play in the aquatic food chain in the Santa Cruz area.