* They will eat almost anything and will employ different techniques from hunting for live prey to opportunistic filching of dead fish and other animals' food.
* They have an enourmous range and are very adaptable. One South American species nests in a waterless desert and brings water and food from the ocean to its young, a distance of up to 100km. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc331083/)
* Very good at soaring, expending little energy compared to ducks and other waterbirds.
* Can take off near vertically from water or land, without requiring a long runway like cormorants.
* Highly intelligent including tool use (https://susancunninghambooks.com/blog/2018/8/23/the-secret-l...)
* They will eat almost anything and will employ different techniques from hunting for live prey to opportunistic filching of dead fish and other animals' food.
* They have an enourmous range and are very adaptable. One South American species nests in a waterless desert and brings water and food from the ocean to its young, a distance of up to 100km. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc331083/)
* Lifespan of many decades