| Water Turkeys
seen in Piney Woods waterways By Jay V.
Huner With major reservoirs throughout the Piney Woods of Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, and Mississippi, most anyone who recreates on them has seen water turkeys. But, they sure don't look much like the Wild Turkeys we hunt in the surrounding woods. They look more like large black geese. But, look close. Our three water turkeys are basically black with long necks. Two species are often found in large flocks, have short tails, have hook-shaped bills, and are pretty much black all over. These are larger Double-crested and smaller Neotropic (once Olivaceous) Cormorants. The other has a long tail, an extremely long neck, a dagger-shaped bill, and a good bit of white on its wing and back. This is the Anhinga. Cormorants are often found in good-sized flocks and float on top of the water like a duck or goose. The Anhingas may gather in small bands but are almost never seen fishing in flocks and, when in the water, are completely submerged except for their long, snake-like necks, hence the name snake bird. The term "water turkey" surely comes from the showy black and white banded tail of the Anhinga. Some Native American tribes covet the feathers and tails for their tribal decorations to demonstrate their attractiveness. When opened and comparing these tail fans with those of Wild Turkeys, it is easy to see where how the name water turkey came into existence. Double-crested cormorants were rare or hard to come by in Louisiana from the late 1950s into the late 1980s. Their breeding range covered most of North America including Louisiana but their numbers declined greatly following the introduction of DDT and related pesticides that reduced their ability to produce viable eggs. Breeding was restricted to the big lakes in the northern USA and Canada. Thanks to restrictions on pesticide usage, the populations increased dramatically in the late 1980s and appeared all over the southern USA when the flocks migrated south for the winter. Now, there is evidence of breeding birds in our region, especially around Toledo Bend Reservoir. Neotropic Cormorants are about two-thirds the size of Double-crested Cormorants and have much longer tails. When both birds are nearby, it is reasonably easy to tell them apart but, with nothing to compare, most laymen cannot tell them apart. Neotropic Cormorants have greatly increased their numbers in the region's piney woods waterways over the past two decades moving from coastal regions inland, presumably because of warming climates. Anhingas are found in coastal areas year round but move inland to nest throughout the region. Anhingas do not seem to be very well adapted to flying with such small wings but they are good flyers and even better gliders. They are often seen soaring upwards in wide circles when warm updrafts occur over our waterways. Cormorants are not well-received by fish farmers and fishermen. Large flocks of Double-crested Cormorants have done major damage to catfish and minnow crops, primarily in the cold months of the year. These birds eat huge quantities of fish in natural waters and fishermen are of the opinion that this adversely impacts commercial and sports fisheries. Conservationists, however, are pleased to see healthy cormorant populations. So, there is a conflict! This has yet to be resolved to the satisfaction of the concerned parties. Anhingas often stab their prey. Watching them fish is very interesting. Their numbers are rarely so large as to cause problems to fish populations.
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A male Anhinga, seen in a Louisiana
lake, shows his stuff with beautiful wingspread.
Photo curtesy of M.J. Musumeche, New Iberia, LA