(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Daily Bucket: Who gives a Coot? [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2024-07-25 Since the extreme heat over the last month has kept me from going outside, I thought we all would enjoy a look at the one of my favorite birds, the goofy American Coot (Fulica Americana). Info sourced primarily from Wikipedia, a Sibley’s field guide to Western Birds and Birds of the Northern California Coast. First off, the Coot is a member of the Family Rallidae that includes Rails, Soras and Gallinules. This bird is the most abundant waterfowl in the US and has the most widespread distribution in North America with an estimated population of approximately 6 million. Hawaii has its own endemic species of Coot (Fulica Alai) that is smaller bird but has a larger shield above its bill. Unfortunately, the Hawaiian Coot is endangered due to habitat loss. There is also a Caribbean Coot primarily found on the Caribbean islands. The Daily Bucket is a nature refuge. We amicably discuss animals, weather, climate, soil, plants, waters and note life’s patterns. We invite you to note what you are seeing around you in your own part of the world, and to share your observations in the comments below. Each note is a record that we can refer to in the future as we try to understand the phenological patterns that are quietly unwinding around us. To have the Daily Bucket in your Activity Stream, visit Backyard Science’s profile page and click on Follow. Coots are primarily black/grey with with white tail feathers. They have bright red eyes. They have a prominent white bill with a white shield with a red dot between the eyes. They are about 15-16 inches long with a wingspan of 24 inches. They have 3 large toes rather than webbed feet. Their habitat includes marshes, estuaries, swamps, lakes, ponds and other fresh/brackish water rich environments. Unlike the other shorebirds in the family that hide in vegetation along the shore, the Coot is often out on the open water. They frequently gather in large flocks and mix well with ducks and geese in the water. Small raft of coots forage in open water Coots and Shovelors amicably feed in the same shallow waters. Coots are omnivores that eat vegetation, water insects, small crustaceans, tadpoles, small fish and snails. They feed both on land and dabble in the water for food. The actions are very similar to that of a dabbling duck, leading to the mistaken belief that a Coot is a duck. Coot on the right in a full dabbling dive with his white fringed tail sticking straight up in the air. Coots openly graze on a pond embankment They build floating nests that must be constantly repaired due to the corrosive effect of water on natural elements. They lay up to a dozen eggs. The chicks are bright red on the head with a bright red bill when first hatched. After a couple of weeks, they moult into a mousy grey black color with grey beaks. Two fledgings follow their mom on a pothole lake in Montana. Because they have toes instead of webbed feet, Coots have an unusual swimming pattern, bobbing from side to side with each stroke. They can move quite quickly in the water creating a wake behind them. Moving quickly on a still pond creates a long wake. Coots do migrate from the northern reaches of the continent to as far south as Panama. They are year round residents in the southern states and the west where water remains open throughout the year. Hope you enjoyed a look at this common bird with very unique properties. Here’s one more photo: Foraging on an open pond — note the water vegetation sticking up above the water level. We’ve got a couple of more days of 100+ temps before they drop to the low 90s. Of course, with the hot weather, we have several wildfires including one started by lightning near Portola. What’s up in your neck of the woods? [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/7/25/2257497/-Daily-Bucket-Who-gives-a-Coot?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/