QUESTION:
Are the cormorants in Antarctica like or unlike those in the 
Channel Islands off the coast of California?

        Alice Young's Students
        Lake Forest, CA
        

ANSWER from Robin Ross, UCSB Researcher, Member of the LTER Team
            UCSB, Santa Barbara, California
            Wed, 12 Mar 1997 10:35:44 -0800 (PST)


Dear Students,

The cormorants in the Antarctica Peninsula, the subantarctic islands and on
the coasts of South America do not look like those in the Channel Islands
off the coast of California.  They are called "blue-eyed" shags because of
their bright blue eyes.  They are black and white, with white stomachs and
a black back with white bars on it, and a two golden spots near the beak. 
They do eat fish so there are some similarities in habits, but the
appearance is very different.

Thanks for the question!
Robin