What is this?

[lovesgliders]

Definitely a cormorant (as others have already said). He is so adorable!

Some villages in third world countries "train" these birds to go fishing for them, trying a strong piece of reed or string around their necks so they can't swallow their catch. They are skilled fishers!

 

[C&Rman]

Hmm, a cormorant, I have no clue how to say that haha. He sure is friendly for being wild. Where the heck would he have came from? I dont have any ponds near me, the closest one is maybe 10 miles away then there is a second one that is probally 15 miles away. He can't fly sop I doubt he migrated here from one of those ponds, I named him Bill cause of his beak

What should I do with him? I kinda want to keep him.

peewee- I do want to keep him there is a ton of water snakes in my backyard I have killed at least 100 in the last month we have a small ditch running behind our fence so a bunch of snake come through here. I will have to catch fish for him this weekend could I feed him Sardienes? I have no clue how to spell that

 

[ranchhand]

Probably a lost cormorant. Anhingas have straight, unhooked bills.

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

You may want to check if it's legal for you to keep one as a pet. Many native species are illegal to keep and there are steep fines if you're caught.

 

[C&Rman]

Hmm I definatly will check my neighbors complain about everything so if they see this there is another thing for them to complain about.

 

[Ducker123]

if you tap in google images double crested comorant it looks very similar to those species, just a young one? that would be my guess

 

[Okie Amazon]

What the heck is it doing in UTAH????

http://www.nhptv.org/natureworks/doublecorm.htm


Maybe got blown off course by a storm?

 

[Oregon Blues]

I wouldn't feed him sardines. Salt won't be good for him.

 

[Okie Amazon]

Mighjt call around to some bait stores and see if they have any large minnows, or call fish farms and check on buying large bass/crappie fingerlings. Once they get to a certain size, they take up too much room (and eat too much) at the farms and they want to get rid of them. Evry couple of years some of the farms here in OK will come stock your pond with the big ones for free.

 

[Bleenie]

I think he/she is cute!