Coot FracasKnowing how much @anonsally enjoys posts about…

Tuesday, October 9th, 2018

Coot Fracas

Knowing how much @anonsally enjoys posts about American Coots (Fulica americana), I wanted to share these photos of a coot dust-up I saw the other day at Lake Los Carneros.

I was photographing the original fight between Coots A and B, with Coot C an interested but apparently uninvolved onlooker (first photo above), when suddenly Coot D entered from the left, making a beeline for Coot C (second photo). Coot C was having none of it, and chased the interloper back from whence they came (third and fourth photo). Finally, the two original combatants settled into an uneasy détente (fifth photo).

I’ve tried, and so far failed, to come up with a compelling explanation for what all this fighting was about.

Postscript: While googling for the scientific name I saw this:

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🤔🤔🤔

Reposted from http://lies.tumblr.com/post/178901078911.

Tags: birds, amco, american coot, coot fracas, can you eat american coot?, the darkest timeline. Posted in Tumblr by jbc | Permalink | No Comments »

The American Coots are breeding at Lake Los Carneros; people out…

Thursday, April 26th, 2018

The American Coots are breeding at Lake Los Carneros; people out there to look for the Least Bittern have been seeing their babies. (Meanwhile, the coots have pulled their annual disappearing act at the Carpinteria Salt Marsh, which according to eBird tends to become coot-less around this time each year for a few months, I’m guessing because it’s not suitable for rearing young.)

A local birdwatcher posted this video shot at Lake Los Carneros today, and I wanted to share it with @anonsally, who has a soft spot for coots.

Reposted from http://lies.tumblr.com/post/173331421976.

Tags: birds, amco, american coot, lake los carneros. Posted in Tumblr by jbc | Permalink | No Comments »