DATE: Saturday, November 29, 1997           TAG: 9711290245

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B7   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:   18 lines

A WILD, WATERY MORNING

A few of the North Carolina coastal region's plentiful waterfowl

were out and about Friday morning at Lake Mattamuskeet in Hyde

County. One of the two cormorants, above, dried its wings in the

sun, then got right back into the water. At left, a great blue heron

spreads its wings and soars over the lake, perhaps in search of a

fishy breakfast. Cormorants are diving birds, sleek and streamlined

for the job. Herons have stiltlike legs and long, widespread toes,

perfect for their wading through mud and marsh. When they spot

likely prey, their long, sharp beaks help grab it.

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu