Coot News

More Killing

One coot was killed early in January, and a second coot was killed on Marina Parkway on January 12. By this time last winter, at least a dozen birds had been killed by cars here. Perhaps the birds have learned to avoid the cars.

In this case I happened to witness the second killing. This coot had been driven from the park into the street by dogs, fleeing from one certain death to another. I reached the bird in a few seconds, but she was struck in the head, killing her immediately.

Legal Notes

Various signs appear on Port of San Diego Public Parks without any reference to who posted them or what their legal meaning may be. In a telephone conversation with employees of the Port of San Diego at (619) 686-6200 on January 7 they said that signs without reference to a UPD (Unified Port District) code have no legal effect. I also submitted a written request for information (UPD Information Request) on the UPD website. (Contact Us) . I verbally requested a written response by the end of January, and they agreed. If you are unsure about a sign posted with a legal code, you should research the code number by a Google search, and read the law. If you don't think the law is exactly applicable to the sign, or to the Port of San Diego, you should call the UPD at: (619) 686-6200. An employee will answer, and get back to you quickly with information if further study is required.

Questions about the signs here were prompted by a thread in the Yahoo crows group. (Message 59406) and (Message 59481) and other messages from pet store employees and wildlife rescue/rehabilitators discuss the situation at Knott's Berry Farm where "Do Not Feed" problems appeared. Property managers who try to dispose of live animals illegally, without the required federal and state permits, often cause hardships for animal rescue and rehabilitation agencies.

People from a UPD vehicle were seen feeding animals at this San Diego UPD park from plastic bags on January 8 (right and below right), where the above signs are posted.

No answer to my inquiry requesting written justification for the "DO NOT FEED" signs was received by the end of the month. Earlier, when I asked about their field biologist, I was informed that they didn't have anyone with that sort of credentials. Most agencies that occupy or manage a substantial amount of land, like Sweetwater Authority or the US Navy, employ field biologists.

So, you may think what you wish about any legitimate intention or purpose for any of the signs not citing a legal code.

Several new links are added this month: (Pet-Law.com) is an organization defending people and animals from harmful laws generated by abusive political and government agencies. Genny Wall is a lawyer who fights these things probono simply so all of you can keep your pets and maintain the freedom to get more should you choose to do so. (The Organization of Professional Aviculturists) published a letter by Genny Wall, as AFA Avian Welfare Chair (The American Federation of Aviculture). . Check the following site for legislative alerts in your state: (Legislative Alerts.) This Missouri bill that would force bird owners to register with the government certainly should look familiar to gun owners: (Missouri House Bill 1847)

(Michigan State University College of Law: Animal Legal & Historical Web Center) Use this link to search animal law by state, topic, subject, species, or world law.

(The Coalition of PA Aviculturists) is a Yahoo group started in January to keep abreast of current legislation affecting companion parrots.

Friendly Geese

The four (Greylag Geese) that arrived on December 26 are actually perfectly tame and are probably domestic Western greylag geese Anser anser anser that were abandoned in San Diego Bay. They remained at the park nearby until the middle of the month, and are fed by people there. Sometimes dogs drive the geese into the bay, making it difficult to feed them. The last time I saw them, the male ran up to me with his head lowered, protecting the females, and just touched the toe of my right shoe with his beak. Worries were soon gone as all the beaks were filled with slices of bread.

The geese made a nest under this ramp to the small boat dock at the park. On the morning of January 19, they were gone. Their fate is unknown.

Freddie's Head

Further study of Freddie's head injury lead to speculation that he may have been hit by a Round stingray or other fish with toxic venom. A linear cut appeared above his left eye where the swelling was the greatest. The general swelling is typical of the protein based toxin in some fish. This time of year the stingrays swim to the surface, and seem to try to attack the coots as they paddle around.

According to the California Department of Fish & Game, the best cure for a toxin like this is to put the affected part in water as hot as possible. This will break down the venom and give immediate relief. I have done this myself, and I know it works.

Another Grebe

This Pied billed grebe Podilymbus podiceps appeared from under the boat carrying a tasty morsel. This is one of the two species of grebes here.

In the breeding season these birds have the characteristic black and white beak giving the "pied" appearance.

Mandible Coloring

The yellow color in Missy's upper mandible continues to gradually increase. This color was thought to be an indicator of different varieties of coot species, but this color was completely absent when she returned from summer migration both last fall and a year ago. This color variation seems to be seasonal, increasing in spring, but extensive research would be required to determine the cause.

Facial Appearance

The shape of each coot's frontal shield is usually considered unique, and is used as a quick way to recognize individuals. However, this can change over a period of weeks and is not a certain indicator.

The image at the right shows Starvin' Marvin's face from last winter.

Both pictures show the same bird. The picture above shows Marvin's face from last winter, and the picture to the right is from this January. This change progressed gradually in December and January, and changed back to it's original shape in the last few days of the month.

Much of this individual's stupidly aggressive attitude is gone, but his kleptoparasitic characteristics continue this winter. Any of the other resident males can easily drive Marvin away if he becomes a problem.

On two or three occasions, I have seen Marvin with a female following him. She is always gone the next day as Marvin is oblivious to the advantages of maintaining a mate.

Toward the end of the month, some of Marvin's old attitude has returned, as he shows his good side to the other coots.

This is only part of the typical coot threatening display. In this hostile case, the coot's head is held outward as low as possible with the beak pointing forward.

When the coot's head is held straight up, the display of the white undertail coverts is a warning of a predator nearby. With the head held downward with the beak turned under, in a bow, this display is an invitation for mating or head nibbling.

This is Marvin's third winter here.

Weather

There was ice on all the boats on January 17. The previous night's dew had frozen, making a hard lumpy coat of ice on most exposed surfaces. The non-skid coating on decks was useless. I have never seen conditions like this before.

The Fish

Early in the morning of January 29 Beaky Coot was peacefully eating a cracker in the water behind the boat. He broke off a piece to eat and the rest was floating in front of him. Suddenly, a fish came up from under the water and struck at the cracker. He was terrified, and remains suspicious. The next day, the fish came up again, and I got a good look at it and took this picture. It is a Spotted sand bass, Paralabrax maculatofasciatus .

Flock Movement

In the last few days of the month, coots began to feed on the succulent vegetation along the sidewalk. Flocks of coots often travel around in winter, and a resident flock may be entirely replaced by a completely different population of coots in the same place.

Freddie and Mollie

Freddie and Mollie remain together and have expanded their territory slightly. They have moved into an area just south of the dock that marks the southern boundary of Beaky and Missy's territory. They appear well before sunrise every morning for a snack of crackers.

Coots seem to have very poor night vision, at least for near objects. They have difficulty taking food from my hand in the morning darkness, and their tendency to peck at things doesn't help.

The Coot News for April should tell if they left together on migration, and might return again next winter.

Beaky and Missy

Missy and Beaky stay together most of the morning patrolling their large territory. Often Missy will return to the boat to stay with me and perhaps get a worm or two. If Beaky returns to the boat without her, and she isn't there, he will worry and look around calling to her. When she appears he will scold her with a sharp "yipping" call, chasing her in circles. He threatens to peck her, but never does.

In March, Beaky will probably try to force her to sit on his stupid nest again.