pecking order?

The cormorant and ducks swam up to this contraption (I'm not sure what it is) at the same time. The ducks went right up and sat on it. The cormorant proceeded to throw what appeared to be a fit in the water! Well, the ducks didn't seem to notice nor care. After exerting a lot of energy splashing around in the water, the cormorant finally came back, but sat there for a while with its wings sprawled out. Again, the ducks did not seem to notice nor care!

The ducks also started napping whereas the cormorant stood there on guard. It seems as though the ducks had a much more relaxing time.