This female coot appears for feeding looking as if she has been digging in the mud at the bottom of the bay. Some coots are quite good divers and have no trouble in water 15 feet deep. Most are not, though.

Brants Geese (Branta bernicla) are in south bay in greater numbers than last year. At least forty have been counted on one day. These geese were seen at Chula Vista Bayfront Park by the mole pier. These small geese usually stay in salt water and eat eelgrass. The name "Brant" comes from the sound of the goose call.

The flock of blackbirds comes to eat crumbs every morning after sunrise. On the third week of the month they seemed to be gone. Then the next day only females appeared, except for this one male. This picture shows a male holding his head upward in what appears to be a display of dominance. One male quickly showed this posture before attacking another male intruder.

If you look up in the sky above these birds, there is nothing to see.

Here is a movie showing a female blackbird making the same display and song as the males. Click on this link to see Female blackbird display and call, (7 seconds long, 2.5 Megabytes)

Two other calls come from other blackbirds nearby. Often a male will make his call and display, and his mate will respond with the same.

Coots gather to drink water from a leaky faucet. Even though the parking lot and storm drains are flooded with irrigation water, this is much safer. Almost anything may come pouring into the bay from the streets.

Here is a movie about how the ducks and coots fight over the water. Click on this link to see Water Fight, (17 seconds long, 7 Megabytes)

The ducks take up territory under the dripping faucet and are able to fight off all comers. In the second half of the movie, the coots make a comeback, attacking the ducks to drive them away from the water.

The blue heron is attracted to the morning coot feeding when small fish come to eat crumbs left by the coots. At times the hungry coots may gather around the heron looking up hopefully as if the big bird may feed them.

The big bird watches patiently, standing still until a fish comes near. Some of the fish are large enough to swallow an entire cracker and may cause difficulty for the bird. From the length of this heron's beak, he appears to be a male.

The herons are gone after sunrise when the fish stop feeding. The fish can be easily seen in the darkness by using a flashlight, but will run away from the light.

Beaky (center of the picture at right) has been driven out of his territory, and makes his best effort to stay away from the other coots. He hides in various places along the dock. When I appear he can be hand fed for a short time until the other coots discover this. Then, if he stays too long, he will be attacked and must escape by swimming away underwater.

It is easier to throw worms to Beaky, to avoid the other birds, but by March he tires of eating them. Below, Beaky eats pudding from a plastic fork.

On March 28, all the winter resident coots have suddenly changed to spring migratory coots. Just like flipping a switch, everything is different.

The migratory coots now will not challenge Beaky, and Beaky drives them from his territory at the boat. He attacks intruders, holding them under the water and pulling feathers.

On March 29 Beaky is still a bit shaky, but now stands his ground in his old place on the boat's swim step. After four months of ordeal, he is able to drink water from his cup again.

Monday is gone on migration Monday morning March 22. She last arrived here on October 11, 2009.

She has the ability to immediately understand and solve any new problem, and simply take it in her stride. She is the only coot with the remarkable ability, and inclination, to walk down steps. Tame as a puppy, she tolerates petting and handling, but does not like it. It's unusual for a coot to return for more than two winters, and she will be missed.

The intelligent female that arrived on the same day as Monday last October was gone on Monday March 15. An aggressive and agile bird, she joined with Beaky and attacked Monday. Somehow, she immediately understand that she shouldn't do this, and moved to the south side of the dock where she caused no trouble. She will be missed.

The first swallow of summer arrived March 23. These birds will soon be catching tiny flies in midair and constructing their mud nests.

The first Tern of summer arrived March 24. These birds will soon be flying high overhead in the early mornings, making their familiar calls, and diving for fish in the bay.

This picture shows the bottom of a poison bait box that has been upended by the gardeners. It's important to remember that these usually contain an anticoagulant called Bromadiolone that is toxic to mammals, birds and fish. This link to Wikipedia describes this drug and how it works.

These bait boxes can be found around the Port of San Diego public parks, and the marina and RV Resort. They are often disguised or hidden and have no warning markings.

Rodents that are weakened by the poison bait can easily be caught and eaten by predators like this American crow. This link to WikiAnswers describes what may happen if a pet eats a rodent killed by this poison.

Unfortunately, no veterinarian will treat a wild bird, but This research paper states that the potential hazard bromadiolone poses to avian species is low.

As with any poison, long term neurological, or other subtle toxic effects remain unknown.

A few pairs of mallards venture back into the parking lot with hopes of nesting in March.

Since approximately half of the fifty mallards were exterminated here in September of 2008, and most remaining females with chicks were killed in March and April of 2009, the birds have been staying away from the parking lots.

This only means more work for managers and pest control agencies who have no concern about US Code Title 16, Chapter 7. Plus one pissed US Fish and Wildlife Service agent.

Plenty of irrigation water, green grass, and shrubbery for nesting, makes this a perfect duck farm.

Here is a movie showing the disgusting and horrific gull. Click on this link to see Clucking Gull, (15 seconds long, 5 Megabytes)

The gulls are fast and powerful and will eat an unlimited amount of food. This greatly complicates how smaller birds can be fed.

Even after their mass extermination by the marina management, a pair of mallards has also returned to challenge the coots. The ducks climb up on the boat and repel all boarders.

Here is a movie showing Marvin trying to find out how the coots get food. Click on this link to see Stupid Marvin, (11 seconds long, 3.5 Megabytes)

Oats are scattered over the boat's swim step. Marvin (and all the coots) become less aggressive at the end of winter, but Marvin would still rather fight than eat.

Apparently Marvin only eats in the early morning mass feeding with the wild coots.

Big Picture:

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Port of San Diego parks are decorated with bizarre "sculptures" perhaps representing birds exterminated by government redevelopment projects and their wildlife depredation practices. This picture shows a poignant effigy towering over a crippled male mallard with a freshly injured right leg.

The male mallard shown in the picture above appears to have a freshly broken right leg at bayside park on March 9. There's no legal (or illegal) way to do anything about this.

The biggest complaint about licensed agencies like Project Wildlife is that they won't come out to help capture an injured bird. But state and federal law makes it illegal for anyone else to handle a wild bird.

The duck can still fly and is impossible for one person to catch.

Sometimes a broken limb will heal crookedly, but remain as a useless burden. If the bird is lucky, it will be relieved of this useless inconvenience by spontaneous amputation.

Index:

Home

Background

Coot Food

Recipe for Coot Pudding

Coot Misinformation

Bibliography of Research

Coot Calls and Movies

Historical Summary

Links to Important Sites

Opinion

The Monthly Journal for Avocational Ornithologists