Imperial Cormorant
Imperial Cormorant or King Shag or King Cormorant (Phalacrocorax atriceps albiventer)
Nesting on a Pink Pond. Steeple Jason Island. FALKLAND ISLANDS.
RANGE: Coasts of South America, Subantarctic Islands, Antarctic Peninsula
They usually breed in closely packed colonies often associated with Rockhopper Penguins and Black-browed Albatross on flat cliff top sites. The nest is a column of mud, tussock grass and algae. 2 - 4 eggs are layed. They feed offshore, often in flocks pursuing feed, usually small schooling fish.
The Jasons (Grand and Steeple) are a chain of islands 40 miles (64km) north and west off West Falkland towards Patagonia. Steeple is 6 by 1 mile (10Km by 1.6km) in size. From the coast the land rises steeply to a rocky ridge running along the length.
This island has the largest Black-browed Albatross colony in the world with 113,000. The island is owned by WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society)
