According to the WCS researchers, this is the first time anyone has been able to directly observe the underwater feeding techniques of these birds.
The international team of researchers, led by Dr. Flavio Quintana, associated with the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), fitted this South American sea bird with a small camera. The bird dove 150 feet (450 meters) underwater in 40 seconds, and then fed on the ocean floor for 80 seconds before returning to the ocean surface.
In one attempt, it was able to catch an elongated, snake-like fish before coming back up to the surface.
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The video was shot by the WCS group in Punta León, which is located in Patagonia, Argentina.
The imperial cormorant (species: Phalacrocorax atriceps) is a black and white cormorant that is native to many sub-antarctic islands, the southern South America, and the Antarctic Peninsula.
The bird is a very strong swimmer and a efficient predator of fish. It displays a number of adaptations for underwater hunting.
It is also nicknamed the Imperial Shag, Blue-eyed Shag, Blue-eyed Cormorant, and other similar names.
The 2.07-minute YouTube video "Cormorant's Deep Sea Dive Caught on Camera" shows this amazing feat. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZ4QAWKgBu4)
