COOTS AND GREBES

     One afternoon this September, I saw a group of  American coots and three pied-billed grebes floating together on shallow water by a grass-covered, alluvial island in Lake Onalaska, a large back-water off the Mississippi River in Wisconsin.  I saw those water birds via a live camera at the lake and our home computer screen.

     Though unrelated, these handsome, interesting birds have characteristics in common because the habitat they share shaped them to fit into it, for their survival.  They long ago adapted to it to live, get food and reproduce in it.  

     Coots and grebes are built like ducks to easily float on water surfaces.  Both kinds have lobed toes that allow them to push gracefully, powerfully and efficiently through water.  But both species must run over water to get air-borne.  

     Coots have slate-gray feathering and white beaks.  And they look like half-breeds between ducks and chickens, but are related to neither.  Pied-bills are brown all over.  Both feathering colors camouflage their owners on water and among shoreline reeds and grasses.  

     Coots and grebes slip easily underwater, from the surface, to procure food.  Coots ingest algae and other kinds of water plants, and some aquatic invertebrates.  Grebes consume tadpoles, aquatic invertebrates and smaller fish.  Obviously, these species inhabit the same habitats at the same time because there is little competition for sustenance.  

     However, flocks of American coots also walk about on land, like chickens, to pick up grain and invertebrates, and pluck grass, all of which they ingest.  But when disturbed on land, coots quickly skitter and fly to water, and relative safety.    

     Because of the way they are built, coots are equally adept on land and in water.  They are generalists, meaning they are not adapted to one specific niche.  Being a generalist is a valuable survival trait. 

     Grebes travel and feed either alone or in small groups.  They usually are secretive, as well as camouflaged, making them a treat to find among emergent vegetation such as cattails and reeds.  

     American coots and pied-billed grebes are always interesting to experience, anytime, anywhere.  They are handsome birds and have interesting habits on water and land.  

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

SPRING ON THE UPPER CHESAPEAKE

      I visited the Upper Chesapeake Bay at the Community Park of Northeast, Maryland one afternoon about the middle of March a few years ago, as I had several times in different seasons before that day.  This time, I went there to spot migrating water birds of various kinds.        Because of their high numbers, gulls and ducks were the dominant birds on the ice, and strips of open water among the slabs of ice because of the warming weather in March.  Most of the handsome ring-billed, herring and great black-backed gulls stood picturesquely on slabs of ice.        The attractive, adult ring-billed and herring gulls are mostly gray on top, white below, and look much alike, except the herrings are larger and have a red mark on their beaks, whereas each ring-bill has a black "ring" around its bill.  Largest of these gulls, the stately, mature black-backs have black backs and upper wings and are white below, making a striking, attractive plumage pattern.        All three of thos
Read more

DADDY-LONG-LEGS

     During summer, over the years in southeastern Pennsylvania, I've seen many daddy-long-legs on the bark of tree trunks on lawns, and in parks and woods.  They blend into the color of tree bark well and are difficult to see.  Many people never see them at all until those camouflaged little critters are pointed out by people in the know about them.        Daddy-long-legs have eight, really long, thin legs, but they are not spiders.  But they are arachnids, and related to spiders.  These attractive, little creatures, called daddy-long-legs because of their long legs, have quarter-inch, compact bodies raised on stilt-like legs.  They have two dark eyes and feel the vibrations of birds and other predators with their legs.  But these arachnids have no venom, or silk to make webs.        Daddy-long-legs, like all other living beings, are part of several food chains.  They consume tiny invertebrates and decaying plant and animal materials they find on tree bark.  And, in turn, many of
Read more

FATHER FINCHES FEEDING FLEDGINGS

     While sitting on our back deck to enjoy the lovely scenery and weather during the afternoon of July 21, 2023, I noticed a tiny, red speck in our tall Norway spruce tree on our suburban lawn in southeastern Pennsylvania.  Peering at that red spot with 16 power binoculars, I saw it was a beautiful male house finch feeding three fledgling house finches; his offspring.  Those gray and dark-streaked young birds fluttered their wings vigorously while being fed invertebrates and seeds.  And the wild charm of those birds was decidedly enhanced by the deep-green of the needled spruce boughs.        Those four house finches were a lovely, exciting sight to me.  I know that species of small birds raises young in our neighborhood every summer, including a pair of house finches that hatch offspring on a support under an awning over our deck.  But never before had I watched a father house finch feed his young outside their twig and grass cradle.  And when that male finch flew off the spruce lim
Read more