Alright, let’s address the question I get all the damn time: 

“Angela, what’s with your obsession with Anhingas?” 

Like seriously, people act like these birds are the most boring, everyday things ever. 

But here’s the thing—they’re not. 

And honestly, I think the Anhinga is one of the most overlooked and underrated birds out there.

Let me take you back to the first time I ever saw one. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t easy. People kept telling me, “Oh, they’re everywhere!” 

Sure, okay, Karen. Everywhere for who? Definitely not for me.

I looked and looked, and every time I came up empty-handed. 

Then, one day, I visited Huntington Beach State Park. That’s where it happened.

I spotted one—finally—perched near the causeway. It was a male, and let me tell you, he was in breeding colors. This bird had this crazy greenish-blue eye ring that looked like he was wearing eyeliner better than any human could. His feathers flared out like a lion’s mane, and I just stood there, floored.

I remember thinking, “Holy shit, this is one magnificent motherfucking bird.” 

It wasn’t just about seeing the bird; it was about the feeling it gave me—like I’d unlocked some secret part of nature that not enough people notice.

That moment stuck with me. Even now, every time I see an anhinga, I feel that same excitement. And it’s not just how they look. Have you ever watched one fish?

They don’t just catch fish; they spear them with their beaks, toss them into the air, and catch them like it’s no big deal.

 Oh, and don’t even get me started on their courtship dances. These birds are wild. The way they puff up, strut their stuff, and basically lose their minds during mating season—it’s chaotic and awesome, kind of like me.

Anhingas have so much personality, and they’re full of surprises. That’s why I got an Anhinga tattoo. 

For me, it’s not just a tattoo—it’s a reminder of that first magical moment and how captivated I was. Every time I look at it, it takes me back to that day.

So when someone says, “It’s just an anhinga,” I have to ask: Have you even watched this bird? They’re incredible, beautiful, insane creatures that deserve way more love than they get.

I think we all have that one bird, though. The one that totally stops you in your tracks and makes you go, “Holy shit.” If you don’t know what I’m talking about, just wait—you will. 

When it happens, you’ll know exactly what I mean. And when you do, remember this post, and know that I’m out here somewhere saying, “I told you so.”

So yeah, that’s why I love the motherfucking Anhinga.