Bears With Buns...Huh?

Any ornithologists out there? I know this picture isn't very large or clear, but I'm wondering if these are cormorants, as in "common cormorants," as in those silly birds who lay their eggs inside paper bags...

They were on the ferry pylons when we crossed the James River last week (our only way to be out on the water on nice days on our budget!). Remember the poem from grade school?

The common cormorant (or shag)

Lays eggs inside a paper bag

The reason you will see, no doubt

Is to keep the lightning out

But what these unobservant birds

Have never thought of, is that herds

Of wandering bears might come with buns

And steal the bags to hold the crumbs

My kind of poem - short and silly! So, can anyone (Dad?) confirm that these birds ARE cormorants? My inquiring mind wants to know. It's the cat in me.