Winter is winding down despite the fact that more cold weather is on the way for today and tomorrow. Leaves are popping out on the deciduous trees and some early flowering plants have little buds. Cardinals and titmice are chasing each other around in an attempt to claim territory and mates, and some of our wading birds are getting the lovely flowing plumes of their mating plumage. Double crested cormorants (Nannopterum auritum) don’t change much for breeding season, but their already blue eyes become a very intense, icy blue and the skin on their faces becomes a more brilliant yellow-orange color. It’s a very attractive contrast. The colors on the face also really pop against the dark feathers. This bird, perched on a log at Three Sisters Springs, definitely has the blue eyes, but the skin is not yet fully colored. It seemed to be very content basking in the sun of a warm afternoon and wasn’t at all disturbed by passing boats and kayaks or by curious onlookers on the bank. It’s always nice to see confidence in the bird world.