Huh? Did a beach umbrella get blown in to the water? Nope, that's a bird—but one that happens to be way beyond average! The Darth Vader look-alike is a black heron of Africa. And the heron's cloaked pose is a fishing trick: Those wrap-around wings shade the water from the bright sun. That might help the bird see its underwater prey. Even better, it might attract prey looking for a cool spot.

Art by The CharacterShop