Flightless Cormorants (Phalacrocorax harrisi) & Research.
Researchers are reading data PIT tags which have previously been inserted into the birds. PIT (Passive Integrated Transponder Tag) are small microchips about the size of a grain of rice injected under the skin. Hand held scanners are used to detect the PIT tags. The scanner reads the electro magnetic code & displays the individual number.
Isabela Island. Western Isles of Galapagos Islands
ECUADOR. South America
These are the largest of the world's 29 cormorant species and the only one that has lost the power of flight. They live very locally to the shores of Isabela and Fernandina Islands and although they can not fly still retain vestigial wings which help them to balance when jumping from rock to rock. As they do not produce much oil to waterproof their wings they must dry out their wings when they return to shore. Nests are constructed of seaweed, flotsam and jetsam and are never more than a few meters from shore. Usually up to 3 eggs are layed.
ENDEMIC TO GALAPAGOS