Lake Murray

I like to take a field trip over to Lake Murray, San Diego, to see the coots in the spring. You will always find a young male like the one at the right, ready to eat a cracker and follow you around. This bird was happily paddling around the reeds trying to learn how to crow.

The large white upper mandible of this bird makes it look like the Eurasian coot, Fulica atra. In this case, the frontal shield seems to be missing. These coots still have the marks on the beak of the American coot, however. The Eurasian coot has an all white beak.

The birds at Lake Murray have a greater resemblance to the endangered Hawaiian coot, Fulica alai (also called) Fulica americana alai. There is a variation in the facial appearance of these birds also. Hawaiian coot is a link to pictures from Hawaii.

It would be interesting to know the exact taxonomy of these variations, or if there is any genetic difference at all.

You always will see a few crippled and seriously injured coots at the lake. The bird at the right is suffering from parasitic eye-flukes that infest birds in San Diego lakes. Eventually the bird will be blinded.

You also will see seriously injured birds with broken limbs as shown at the right. This is a picture of the right side of the bird. The broken bones are never set, and the useless foot is just dragged around dangling behind, making an additional burden.

I suppose after several months the foot may become infected, resulting in spontaneous amputation. In this case the lucky bird will be relieved of this extra impediment.

In some cases, the foot may heal, but in a grotesquely malformed position.

It is sad that there is not a wildlife rehabilitation agency in San Diego that would pick up injured birds, and treat their injuries, so that they could be returned to normal life.

Beaky

Beaky Coot has done fairly well at adapting to his disability this spring. He only made a few futile attempts at migration early in the month. I guess that the radius and ulna of his right wing (Wing Structure Link) were broken and folded back, and the bones healed that way. This makes it impossible for him to fly any distance.

When bones are broken, it is critical to catch the bird and properly splint the broken limb. Severely injured birds may be difficult to catch since they will instinctively hide their weakness to avoid predation.

Beaky Coot doesn't eat as much now, but he is still eating. He seems to be hunting for some tiny particles of food on the windward sides of the docks and boats. I can't tell what it is. I believe he does this every spring and perhaps it is tiny crustaceans, or their eggs that are available in season.

At times, Beaky reverts to his maladaptive ways and calls for his mate. He uses the two syllable "crowing" call that may be the "cow-wah" call mentioned in Displays and Calls of the American Coot . He paddles around between his nest and old roosting spots every morning in a futile search useing the recognition call.

The Gulls

In at least two cases, these Western gulls (Larus occidentalis) were able to catch and eat live fish in the marina. The fish appear to be mullet.

You often think of these birds as scavengers, but they are able to catch their own live prey.

Bird Watcher's Digest of January/February 2008 had an article on identifying age in gulls.

All About Seagulls Has more information about gulls.

Mullet (Mulgil cephalus) are common here, and are often seen swimming around between the docks near the surface of the water. They often jump out of the water, a few feet into the air.

California mullet in San Diego Bay were fished commercially, but usually don't bite on bait. Sportsfishermen catch them by snagging with weighted trebel hooks.

The gulls tried to make a nest on top of the clock tower, but were unable to prevent their nest from sliding off the near vertical roof.

The Skunk

This dead skunk has been in the street for three weeks. I drive past it every day where the coots are killed by cars. In the past year, it has been very difficult to get the City of Chula Vista to pick up dead animals. They only want to argue.

The Swallows

The swallows returned in March, but I didn't get a good picture of one until May. They are ready to pose for any picture you like, now that their nests are complete.

In the summer, the swallows loop and dive in the air catching tiny insects, making a show for the coot and me to watch in the mornings.

I have never seen a lost or abandoned baby bird. I noticed the gulls waiting in the water below the swallow nests. A baby bird would make a quick meal for a hungry gull.

The Green Heron

This tiny heron has lived at the marina for several years. The heron is neither tame nor friendly, but tolerates people until they interfere with fishing. As is typical of most herons, this bird's concentration while watching the water is intense.

Big Picture:

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