Anhinga Swimming

Anhinga Swimming Freestyle

I thought I might see this Anhinga dive and catch a fish. Instead she swam passed me, rhythmically arching her neck back and forth as she propelled forward.

Anhinga Swimming
Anhinga Swimming

And she dropped lower in the water.

Anhinga Swimming
Anhinga Swimming

I wondered

Anhinga Swimming
Anhinga Swimming

how low

Anhinga Swimming
Anhinga Swimming

would she go? And why didn’t she dive?

Anhinga Swimming
Anhinga Swimming

She was making steady progress and after a few more beats rose back up a bit and swam out of my sight scoring points for style but not getting any breakfast.

Bear Island Wildlife Management Area, SC
Rice field canal
August 29, 2021

9 thoughts on “Anhinga Swimming Freestyle”

    1. Thanks! Anhinga actually hunt under water, spearing fish with their beak. Usually they will swim a few strokes then dive, sometimes making a big splash with their tail. They can stay under 10-15 seconds or more, and cover quite a distance. If successful they will pop up with a fish, which they swallow whole. It’s pretty interesting to watch.

Leave a Reply