Drying Out

The Anhinga is a bird that lives by the water (fresh) and feeds on fish.  So it is amazing that the bird cannot float!  It cannot produce the oils for its feather to make them waterproof like most waterfowl.  As a result once its feathers become waterlogged the bird would sink.  To prevent this the Anhinga must dry out its feathers regularly.  Here we see one with outstretched wings to catch the warmth of the sun to prepare it for its next trip to the water.