Brandt's cormorants (Phalacrocorax penicillatus) preening themselves on guano-stained rocks along the California Central Coast. These seabirds are strong divers and can reach depths of 45 meters as they forage for fish. Unlike ducks, their feathers are not waterproof, so after a dive, they find a windy or sunny spot to preen and spread their wings to dry. The cormorant family is found worldwide in marine environments, but this North American species ranges along the Pacific Coast from Alaska to the Gulf of Mexico.